Designer Clarifies Enhanced Action In Dead Space 2
Dead SpaceHere's the thing: when a developer hints that a sequel or a follow-up title might feature a change of focus, fans of that original title are immediately skeptical...and a little annoyed.
And although many are anticipating Dead Space 2, early comments from EA concerning the amped-up action and the increased "bad-ass-ness" of the main character Isaac have prompted some negative feedback. The fans say this can ruin the creepy, freaky feel that made the first Dead Space so damn invigorating. In other words, keep that Hitchcock-ian feel and don't bother with the "Saw" approach, which we tend to agree with. However, EA wants to clarify; Dead Space 2 producer Steve Papoutsis spoke with Rely On Horror about this subject, and his words are definitely encouraging:
"Dead Space 2 is going to be just as scary, gruesome, and tense as the original game. The action comments are often misunderstood. What we are trying to do is augment the tense sections with moments where Isaac feels more capable or like he has the upper hand for a change. Remember Isaac has dealt with the Necromorphs before, he has learned some things, and so we want to give the player a chance to experience the upper hand. That does not mean it changes the rest of the game. These situations will still be scary and tense the only real difference is that they will also be a bit faster paced than the rest of the combat you might experience in the game."
Now that's what we wanted to hear! Isaac's increased capability shouldn't impact the atmosphere or overall fearful sensations we experienced in the original game; the character is simply a bit better when it comes to surviving. However, our only remaining question is whether or not the action sequences take up more of the gameplay than before...if they do, is that not a definite shift in focus? But really, we're immensely excited 'cuz Dead Space totally rejuvenated - and perhaps even revolutionized - the survival/horror genre. We can't wait for number two.
Related Game(s): Dead Space 2
4/13/2010 10:40:12 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (39 posts)
coverton341
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 10:59:27 AM
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"We looked at other games on the market and saw that people were buying Modern Warfare 2 type games and thought we should do that and make Isaac all Gears of War buff and bad ass but then everyone got pissed because apparently not everyone eats that up, so we have to back pedal and make the game right. Sorry"
EDIT: I am really looking forward to DS2 and I do think it will be a terrific game, I just think they were about to pull a Square Enix with all this "fast-paced" talk and then thought better of it.
Last edited by coverton341 on 4/13/2010 11:00:35 AM
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maxpontiac
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 12:14:22 PM
6 up, 1 down
hellish_devil
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 3:44:09 PM
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maxpontiac
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 11:55:16 AM
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THAT is what sold me on the first game. I don't want to feel like Batman in AA. I want a helpless game like the first. Bummer.
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coverton341
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:15:46 PM
Having Isaac come in all guns a-blazin' and better suited seems like it is going to take away from that edge of your seat feel.
But I guess there is a need to evolve the game or it would become stale playing the same thing with updated graphics.
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maxpontiac
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:34:41 PM
"Edge of your seat" is why I got the Platinum trophy on that game. The harder difficulties just made it more exhilarating, and not cheap as in the case of Call of Duty titles.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:55:10 PM
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Fatcat3788
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 5:45:42 PM
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SvenMD
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 12:18:17 PM
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I kinda take it like Ripley from Alien into Aliens. In the first one she is the only one that survives and she does it by hiding in a space suit....then in Aliens she turns into a kick-arse chick going after the aliens to save Newt....same philosophy here man.
And yes LV, Aliens IS the best movie in the series.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:56:32 PM
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LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 2:26:35 PM
I prefer the originality, setting, acting, mystery, and set design of the original. JC took all that made Alien unique and added "boom" to it all.
I do love Ripley though in Aliens and I wish Signourney had brought home the Oscar.
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godsman
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 12:46:03 PM
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I love Resident evil, even the 5th game. When a certain characters die in RE series, they die with honor, but in Dead Space, they get their limbs and head cut off. It's just not the kind of game for me.
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SvenMD
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 12:59:29 PM
You mean shooting a zombie in the head allows it to die honorably, but shooting the limbs off of a necromorph causes you so much anguish that you can't even play the game??
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coverton341
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:12:13 PM
I mean shoot a zombie in the face and his head pops. Shoot a necro in the face and cut him off at the jaw. No dignity or honour in either of those if you ask me but to each their own.
If you mean the way playable characters or non enemy characters die then you really need to at least give Dead Space a rental and find out that you are dead wrong. Team characters and non playable partner type characters are not dismembered.
EDIT: Also, the movie doesn't have much to do with the way the game plays out or its overall feel.
Last edited by coverton341 on 4/13/2010 1:17:54 PM
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Banky A
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 6:07:48 PM
Last edited by Banky A on 4/13/2010 6:08:33 PM
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Alienange
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:08:21 PM
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Whatever they do I'm sure it'll be great. They did a good job on the first one so I'm not about to tell them how to make the second one.
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kevyd09
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:13:06 PM
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tlpn99
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:14:25 PM
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Kangasfwa
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:55:55 PM
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You have this feeling of power after a huge battle and then this thing comes out that you have no chance of fighting off. You get chased around until you find something in the environment to take it down. Then cue the dramatic music.
I would be back on the edge of my seat waiting for something else to happen. That feeling of vulnerability would be even better--for me--after something like that. I may be more capable now, but there are still things I don't stand a chance against.
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Phoelix
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 1:56:49 PM
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I'd much rather see the necromorphs getting smarter and Isaac still being outmatched.
On another note, what is the premise of DS2? Clarke, having escaped the first abandoned spaceship full of necromorphs, mistakenly lands on yet ANOTHER abandoned spaceship full of necromorphs? Somehow I think the first game actually did end. EA needs to make sure they don't go all Pirates of the Caribbean on us and ruin the story by tacking on crappy sequels.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 2:00:34 PM
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LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 2:29:38 PM
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sunspider13
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 2:58:10 PM
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I always thought this game was the spriritural successor to the first 3 Silent Hills. I have hope that the second one is just as frightening.
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Godslim
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 4:36:41 PM
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little dreamer
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 3:58:20 PM
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Lairfan
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 4:10:40 PM
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SoulController
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 4:18:06 PM
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BeezleDrop
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 4:19:00 PM
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No but seriously, I am not really the action junkie, unless it is in the right context. But I do believe Dead Space 2 will be awesome, I was quite surprised by the 1st, and I have no doubts they could do the same again.
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just2skillf00l
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 8:49:05 PM
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King James
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 9:27:50 PM
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I hope so!
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___________
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 @ 2:59:46 AM
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you want scary, go play the suffering not only does that give you the fright and jump but its scary on a psychological level, just fu**s with your mind!
i remain skeptical only because it sounds like they want to have a action period than a horror period, have a break in between.
you cant do that because it takes the atmosphere away from the game, you either go for one or the other.
if im playing a horror game i want it to slam me against the wall and hold me there till im done with the game.
i want to be in the corner shrieked up into a ball shaking, covered in sweat, and constantly swinging around screeching WHAT WAS THAT!
if the games not doing that, than sorry it has failed!
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OriginalSin
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 @ 3:57:54 AM
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I think it's becoming harder every time because people will say well that's not new.... But they did that before...
I am not saying it is impossible I just think we have gotten use to a lot over the years. These days (and I blame the new generation of gamers for that) OTT gore seems to rule. For a lot of kids these days the want to see blood and guts and heads explode, they couldn't care less about walking on the streets of Silent Hill with a crow bar and broken radio, not knowing what's out there....just crapping your pants for the next time that f**** siren goes off...
So now what do the developers do? Go with heads exploding or actual psychological fear? I guess they can do both but where is the perfect balance?
I will get Dead Space 2 the first one for me was one of the biggest surprises of that year. I just say they should head in the "Event Horizon" direction....
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___________
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 @ 8:20:47 AM
like in dead space it never scared me only because i knew what was going to happen.
the music was perfect, the build up was spot on, it built the tension nicely.
the same with fear 2 it had perfect music, it built the tension nicely but it never has a climax so to speak.
a game with just tension is not a horror game, you need that spike to make the person paper their pants.
dead space especially was so predictable, like there was one part where i was walking down a coridoor, creepy music started playing, i entered a elevator the camera was facing the wall opposite the doors, there was a loud bang, lights went out, camera quickly switched to doors closing.
and i said let me guess, a necromorph is going to leap out and try to pry the doors open, and guess what happened.
same as fear 2, both games are just far to predictable.
they need to go back play through dead space, get a few people, and ask them what were you expecting at this part.
than do the opposite.
you can not be scared if you know whats going to happen.
its not age either because well im not exactly hard to scare, in a seance im a pu*** and im playing resident evil on my psp and its still scaring the sh*t out of me!
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Jed
Thursday, April 15, 2010 @ 10:13:03 PM
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Back on subject, I think you guys might be getting a little paranoid about this one. The comment does make you wonder, but I don't think they will stray to far away from the superb gameplay and atmosphere that made the first one so great.
I just got a promo from Sony in the mail saying that DS is now a greatest hit. So any of you who haven't tried it no longer have any excuse not to.
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Mamills
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010 @ 10:58:56 AM
if they can keep the horror element while ramping up the action and all the while the action moving. it will be golden. by the way didnt i read somewhere that this seaquel will have coop?