Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 79 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 594 Ratings

  • Summary: In the bold and often-bloody Dead Space gamers step into a third-person sci-fi survival horror experience that delivers psychological thrills and gruesome action. Set in the cold blackness of deep space, the atmosphere is soaked with a feeling of tension, dread and sheer terror. In Dead Space, players step into the role of engineer Isaac Clarke – an ordinary man on a seemingly routine mission to fix the communications systems aboard a deep space mining ship. It is not long before Isaac awakes to a living nightmare when he learns that the ship's crew has been ravaged by a vicious alien infestation. He must fight through the dead silence and darkness of deep space to stay alive. [Electronic Arts] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 79
  2. Negative: 0 out of 79
  1. Gruesome. Visceral. Engrossing. Stunning. There are just so many words you can use to describe Dead Space and not one would be negative. EA has excelled itself on both technical and mechanical levels, pushing Dead Space up from ‘one to watch’ to ‘one of the best games of the year, nay generation’. Just go ahead and try not to be impressed by it. We dare you.
  2. 100
    Dead Space continues the charge for the new EA and in the process has turned out to be one of the most surprising titles of the year.
  3. It’s scary at first, but once you get a bigger gun it becomes a Horror Action game, with no real threat present. That being said, Dead Space is an excellent game that’s worth checking out, even if you don’t like horror games.
  4. None of these criticisms will detract from your enjoyment, provided all you want from a game is the opportunity to repeatedly turn evil monsters into red mush in gorgeous HD detail. Dead Space easily delivers on that promise, but fails to turn its polished production values into something truly memorable over the long haul.

See all 79 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 5 out of 125
  1. 10
    I think that the atmosphere in this game does it all. The sound effects are simply amazing and the enemies never stop to surprise me when I am playing. The graphics are really well done and I often found myself completly "in character" because of this. Everything is top notch! I cannot wait for the sequel. Expand
  2. 8
    Instant classic for any fan of horror sci-fi. The setting, tone and sound design are superb, and the graphics for the time were top notch. However I will say the pitfalls of this game really stood out after Dead Space 2 was released. With a 'mute' Isaac, you get no sense of character and story which Dead Space 2 and 3 really focused on, which is a real shame because there was a lot of potential there. On top of this the game play feels a little wonky as well, but these are things you can quickly get over on another play through. Despite that, this is still a great game and definitely worth playing. Expand
  3. A beautifully atmospheric game, but the reliance on jump scares killed my enjoyment many times.

    The, 'huh wonder if some thing is going to ju
    mp out of that obvious grate' feeling pops up constantly, yet it still made me jump as fast moving objects tend to do for me, not so much fear as adrenaline.

    I would have preferred more sinking horror and less of a surprise fest.
    Expand
  4. Great atmosphere and sounds indeed. However, the enemies look and function at a hilarious level of unrealism. There are parts that I could compare to Jimmy Neutron episodes in terms of unrealistic. Here you have very realistic graphics with monsters that look anything but. In fact they're so stupid looking It kills the fear of the entire game for me; and without that this game is just a really repetitive shooter with an upgrade system. Not to mention painfully boring. Not a recommended title unless being chased by special ed class terrifies you. Expand

See all 125 User Reviews