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Dead Space: Extraction
(EA Games/
Visceral Games)
Having been born and raised in an economically depressed locale, I’ll be the first to openly admit my affinity for all things video game and video game-related. And who could blame me? Serving as an idealistic from of ‘Fantasy Escapism’, even after succumbing to the acne and hormone-laden of puberty, my desire to broaden my horizons was minimal, at best. Fortunately, my desires and needs (as well as the genres I partake in the most) were dramatically altered as I aged and, eventually, matured, leaving me both wiser and more culturally diversified. However, despite this, my thirst for awe-inspiring action or gore remained largely unabated. As a result, when I was initially approached regarding writing a review of Dead Space: Extraction, the latest highly-anticipated offering from acclaimed publisher Electronic Arts, I was once again only more than happy to oblige.
On the brilliant Dead Space: Extraction (2009, ESRB: Mature, MSRP: $49.99), an expertly assembled first-person Survival Horror ‘…Rail Shooter…’, the game commences with a miner (Sam Caldwell) working as part of a woefully misguided reconnaissance crew to extract a Red Marker from within the Aegis VII space colony. Occurring prior to the events contained within 2008’s equally impressive Dead Space, and, confusingly enough, during the same time frame as the curiously-overlooked animated film Dead Space: Downfall, the gamer is immediately plunged headlong into a continuously evolving realm of frequently breathtaking action that, oddly enough, only heats up following Caldwell’s untimely demise. The carefully orchestrated insanity that ensues, while obviously reminiscent of it’s most memorable predecessors, is uniquely riveting without being redundant.
With the bulk of the game’s ‘on-the-edge-of-your-seat’ action wisely distributed amid a bevy of visually stunning, painstakingly detailed levels, the proverbial average gamer is burdened with the task (as Detective Nathan McNeill) of battling a seemingly never-ending array of Necromorphs (i.e. re-animated, mutated corpses of dead humans), which, not surprisingly, is most definitely not for the faint of heart. Thoroughly occupying it’s participants with a nearly non-stop onslaught of ‘…Astro Zombies…’ and the veritable tidal wave of delightfully frantic carnage that invariably follows in their wake, the game wastes little--if any--time driving home each focal point with a truly sickening ease. Boldly intertwining a conspiracy theory sub-storyline involving the fictional Church of Unitology, the gamer is left utterly intrigued, only wanting for more.
Fortified throughout via a series of increasingly difficult ‘puzzles’ (think soldering) and branching pathways that expand upon the game’s otherwise entirely linear approach, the majority--if not all--of the decidedly intense gameage contained herein is seemingly destined to inspire repeated, long-term abuse, a much-welcomed (or perhaps even outright rare) characteristic that will undoubtedly separate Dead Space: Extraction from its contemporaries. Although the game’s somewhat unfortunate distinction as a prequel to does arguably subtract from the already maddeningly infectious charm and mystique of the game’s numerous plot devices (particularly in regards to the heart-wrenching, Necromorph-fueled epilogue), the end result(s) of EA/Visceral’s more than considerable efforts are, without a doubt, very easily worthy of the highest of critical and commercial accolades.
The real downside(s)? Fortunately for all parties involved, they are few and far between. In fact, at this point, I highly doubt things could actually get any better. While disappointingly brief (an exhaustive, thought-provoking epic this most definitely ain’t), the overall effectiveness--and thus the ultimate enjoyability--of the über slick, high-impact blockbuster that is so often Dead Space: Extraction is both immediately palpable and lastingly satisfying, resulting in an experience that can only be accurately described as the most exhilarating Wii title to date. Needless to say, if you’ve once again found yourself in search of a genuinely action-packed alternative to the hopelessly bloated, overly-hyped major studio offerings that are so often ‘force fed en mass’, then this, my friends, might just be the high octane cure for what ails you. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Select Gameology
Dead Space: Extraction (2009)
Dead Space: Downfall (Animated Film) (2008)
Dead Space (2008)