Game #867: Dead Space 3

 Also known as how EA closed down one of their best, most versatile studios.

 Picture this: You're the lowest of the low, meaning, you are EA, and you've got this amazing, very versatile studio that has been doing a fantastic job at producing licensed golf games, well received James Bond games, the well received Simpsons game, the highly original LAPD Future cop and also the guys that proved Survival Horror sold through their Dead Space series, heck, they even made a well-received God of War clone with Dante's Inferno! This studio knew what they were doing, they had the chops and the experience. So, for the third iteration of their beloved survival horror series, Dead Space 3, you'll cut their budget, expect them to make over 5 million sales(More than DS 1 and DS 2 combined!) and force them to shoe-in microtransactions while also make them go in less scary direction. Of course, the game tanked, but instead of accepting their responsibility they just shut down this fantastic development team.

 So, Dead Space 3... First things first, this game isn't bad by any means. It's the weakest game in the series, probably even below the spin-off, Extraction, but it's still the good. The core gameplay elements are more or less as solid as they were before, even if the game got tweaked in less than desirable ways. It's a fun game, and it's easily the beefiest entry yet, there are plenty of side missions, and there are also exclusive co-op cutscenes that might make a second playthrough enticing... if only the game had offline co-op.

 EA wanted to nickel and dime its players, so the entire weapon system got overhauled for a disappointing crafting system. While in previous games you could carry up to four very different and fun weapons, each one with their own alternate fire, now you can only carry two. Each weapon must be built by combining a frame with two main pieces, which are your two modes of fire. You can create the previous games' weapons, yes, if you find the blue prints and the required parts to build them. I'll admit, you can create some interesting guns, but they lack the personality that the series' weaponry used to have. What's worse, Visceral Games were forced to justify this system by claiming that this was put in the game to combat players relying on a single weapon. Which is hilarious, because building an over-powered weapon isn't hard, and ammo is UNIVERSAL in this game. In DS 1 and 2 I had to use my entire weaponry since I'd run out of ammo for my favorites, or sometimes, I wanted to hoard my favorite's ammo. In this game I only switched guns if I felt like I wanted variety since I got bored of the one I was using.

 RIGs are just cosmetics in this game, your armor, health and Stasis upgrades are obtained by using the same parts you use to craft guns. The game isn't particularly stingy with parts, I think, but the overall system left a sour taste in my mouth. Besides parts you get from fallen enemies or crates, you can also send bots to scavenge for parts through a dumb and time-consuming radar-mini-game thing. Basically, you hold out the radar and follow a signal, once the radar screen turns green it means you'll maximize the amount of parts your bot will have gathered once it finally returns to the work bench. Here's the thing, through microtransactions you can get any part that you need right then and there or purchase more bots. It's idiotic. You don't really need to purchase these microtransactions, but it's hard not to wonder if the pace in which you upgrade your equipment is alright or if it's been made slower due to EA's want for money.

 Another way to earn parts is to go through side-missions. These optional missions are usually a bit tougher than the main game, but I liked a few of them... even if a few of them recycle entire layouts. What really sucks, however, is that a few optional missions are exclusive for co-op. If only it had had split-screen....

 While the horror elements took a step back, although it seems they are more prevalent in the co-op exclusive cutscenes, that said, enemies are tougher than before. They don't flinch as much, so until you get the parts you need to build one of the overpowered weapons, you'll have to rely on this pathetic short roll by double tapping the run button. There's this recurring, four legged boss, that tackles you every now and then. You'd think that the roll would be perfect.... but it's not, if you're lucky you'll dodge 1 out of every 4 tackles. The only way to reliably avoid its attacks... is by running around rocks or stacks of boxes which will interrupt its charge. It's as dumb as it sounds, it almost feels like you are doing and exploit, since the roll should've been the expected way to dodge out of it way.

 While Dead Space 2 went out of its way to prevent you from fighting humans... That's not the case in this one. You can crouch with the R3 button, or take cover by pressing L1, the button you use to AIM, near short barrier-like objects. The cover mechanics are mediocre, and the bits in which you fight humans add nothing to the game.

 Chapter 13 has some awful, AWFUL, ice-wall climbing sections. The wall climbing mechanic gets used a few times afterwards, but it's not as bad.

 There are a few tougher puzzles than the ones in the previous games, and... I didn't really like them too much. Some aren't even hard, you see three symbols on the screen and you have to match them on a machine, there's no time limit and no punishment if you get it wrong.

 As fun as Dead Space 3 can be, one can't help but feel disappointed. Dead Space 1 and 2 are classics, thanks to their timeless, fun gameplay, as well as their settings, environments and the whole horror atmosphere they crafted so well. This game is the gameplay without the rest of the elements that made it so great, and even so, the gameplay isn't as good, for you see, the crafting system was a huge step backward, and I really think it soured the rest of the experience, since many poor design choices were made around it. For instance, finding a new Power Node felt so rewarding in previous games, here I'm just hoarding resources until I can purchase the next armor upgrade. Universal ammo was a really bad idea. And, y'know, I don't blame Visceral games for what happened, I'm sure they did the best they could under EA's horrible orders.

 7.0