Dead Space Extraction (Wii) - Review by Chris

Introduction

2008 saw EA push for a greater variety in their software line up by bringing many new intellectual properties to all consoles to sit alongside their long standing franchises. One such new title was Dead Space, a third person sci-fi horror game similar in make up to the more modern Resident Evil titles. It was met with both critical and commercial success, being labelled one of the best titles in a year which was filled with must have games, but didn't see a release on the Nintendo Wii. Electronic Arts and developer Visceral Games didn't want to leave Wii owners out so earlier this year, they announced an exclusive iteration into the story for the Wii. And the end result is as good as its forbearer, albeit one which many wouldn't have expected.

Gameplay

The story of Dead Space Extraction takes place prior to the events of the original game and its protagonist Isaac Clarke as he battled his way off of the USG Ishimura. Extraction sets to tie the story together and disclose the reason why people have been going insane and where the necromorph infestation has come from. You'll play as, for the most part, one of four survivors from the Aegis VII colony, which has started to deteriorate quickly after the extraction of a red alien marker. These characters, Nathan, Lexine, Gabriel and Warren, have been thrown together through the shocking events which take place within the first two chapters of the game and through their struggle for survival, you'll have pilot these characters through a series of 13 chapters in an on rails shooter experience, which is something that will undoubtedly disappoint many fans of the original and those looking for a good third person horror game. Yet, the fact that this is a guided experience does not detract from the overall feel of the game one bit and the end result is one of the most cinematic experiences on the console.

Each of the game's 13 chapters lasts between 20 and 40 minutes in length and within each, you'll constantly be running from one fear only to be confronted with another. This was one of the aspects that made the original Dead Space game so chillingly good. The same mechanics used in that game are employed here so if you are used to conventional light gun games, you're going to have to adapt because aiming for the head simply won't defeat the alien infestation and you'll be dead before you know it. Strategic dismemberment was one of the defining factors for Dead Space, setting it apart and making it one of the most original survival horror games in years, and you'll have to make use of this technique to strategically rip the limbs from the creatures in the game to impede their movement and take them out. It adds a layer of tension, which emanates throughout the entirety of the experience, unseen in any other light gun game as you'll need a steady hand to pick off limbs and take enemies down in as few shots as possible if you want to conserve you're minimal ammo. You also have stasis and kinetic abilities at your disposal, with the stasis being used to slow enemies or objects down and the kinetic ability used to picking up items for your benefit, such as ammo and logs, or for throwing at your enemies. The game does provide a hefty challenge, filling the screen up with multiple types of enemies at a time meaning you'll have to keep track of what is going on and where, but you'll never truly feel like your incapable of progressing through a level as, while ammo is scarce, there's generally enough to get your through and the inclusion of a pick axe like weapon accessed through motion of the Nunchuk means you've always got some form of defence.

The game takes a particularly linear line of progression but there are opportunities, albeit infrequently, to decide whether to take one route or another at a branching path way. There are no right or wrong choices here as the routes will always end in the same place but normally, certain routes have specific items, such as more ammo, audio or video logs or even upgrades for weapons so it is wise to explore. You'll also get opportunities to look around the environment when at a standstill and this gives just enough of a breather to prepare you for what's to come. The massive boss battles from the original return in a similar vein here and provide epic conclusions to a few of the chapters, with character eclipsing monstrosities that will sooner squash you should you take things too lightly.

The longevity of the game outlasts many similar titles on the console, clocking in at the 4 to 6 hour mark which is pretty substantial given the gameplay. The only problem is that once completed, there's little in the way to come back to after finishing expect for tackling the game on a higher difficulty. It's a shame because it represents one of only a small number of issues that bring down an otherwise fantastic experience. Even with this downside, it easily blows the other light gun titles on the Wii out of the water and sets a new standard for gameplay in the genre.

Controls

Making use of the Wii-mote and Nunchuk, you'll simply point at the screen and press the B button to shoot while the A button gives access to your kinetic abilities and the C button uses your stasis with the analogue stick used to access your weapon cache. It's an incredibly simple set up that works extremely well with the only downside coming from having to twist the Wii-mote to access the alternate fire capabilities of the weapons you'll possess but even this is workable. You have no control over your movement but it's never a problem as the game does a good job of pointing you in the right direction when things get tense.

Graphics

Visually, Dead Space Extraction is one of the best looking games on the platform. Locations from the original game have been faithfully recreated here in meticulous detail, with the only difference being lower resolution textures. The lighting, which is key to the game's tension, is spot on, providing dark corridors and rooms for you to work your way through and at times making it hard to define enemies. You can adjust the brightness to alleviate issues of not being able to see through the darkness but I wouldn't recommend it as it does decrease the tension that the game provides so expertly. Character models, both human and necromorph, are of an equally high standard, looking great and are animated extremely well. There is some noticeable slowdown when things get hectic on screen but it never reaches the levels seen in the likes of House of the Dead: Overkill.

Sound

The original game received many awards for its use of sound and the same expertise has been used here. The music provides a sense of isolation in the midst of an otherwise tumultuous storm, and builds up the tension to a crescendo expertly. Dialogue between the characters feels suitably natural, with the voice work being of a high standard, if a little on the cheesy side providing some light relief from the pervading darkness. The Wii-mote's speaker is also put to good use, being used to broadcast the audio logs you'll pick up throughout the game's chapters and these serve to provide some back story to the events.

Final comments

Even as a light gun game, Dead Space Extraction is a fantastic success. It takes everything that made the original so great and makes it work in completely different style of gameplay. The graphics and sound go hand in hand with the gameplay to not only make one of the most highly polished but perhaps the most cinematic one on the console. There are drawbacks, such as the replayability and some frame rate issues, but these are minimal when you consider how good a game this is. It is genre defining and now sets a high standard that up and coming light gun games will find inherently difficult to match. This is a must have for fans of the original and mature gamers who own the console.

Pro: The most cinematic experience on the console, tight gameplay, fantastic visual and audio presentation
Con: Little to come back to when finished, some frame rate issues
Final score: 8.7

Share on Twitter or Facebook

Comments