Dead Space 3 - Unfinished Review

I have been pressed for time for awhile now and haven't had time to sit down and write up a proper review. So this is a work-in-progress that I don't have time to flesh out just yet, and probably wont ever get around to finishing, unfortunately. But I decided it was still worth putting up my thoughts on Dead Space 3 as well as an an insight into my process. What you will see below is my version of notes; when I am reviewing something I typically write random things down like evocative words, descriptive sentences, anything that comes to mind while in the review process. I generally leave the sentences scattered throughout the write-up and pick and chooses from my collection of thoughts. Oftentimes they are reworded to fit a different flow or even torn apart to get to the germ of the idea and sometimes they are completely discarded as they are minor problems that are addressed or are simply unusable ramblings. So enjoy and feel free to question my process. *I never completed the game so my final thoughts are TBA.

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Hokey writing

Combat against enemies with guns is new for Dead Space but it quickly justifies itself by varying up the challenge between the hoards of necromorphs.

Dead Space 3 continues with the series tradition of well-tuned combat that is immensely fun and satisfyingly challenging without being aggravating. (seems a bit easier though)

The game looks fantastic at times, the zero-g exploratory sequences are a real standout.

Predictable, contrived, forced-sequel

Carver is hilariously blunt

Dead Space 3 displays a soap-opera level of storytelling that is baffling and eye-roll inducing, but above all else completely unwarranted and disturbingly coy, as if to let the player know its a joke, but then why even attempt such a ridiculously cheesy story.

Weapon customization is a ton of fun but oddly under-explained, encourages experimentation which complements the great combat which is largely unchanged from the previous game.

Infuriatingly, character motivations and feelings change at the drop of a hat. All in service of a painfully written, melodrama soaked narrative that has no place in a Dead Space game.

Uncharted-lite, over the top but lacking ingenuity

The lack of inventive and memorable set-pieces that its predecessor had in spades is sorely missed. In its place are overlong combat sequence that while engaging feel like padding.

The game also seems eager to stretch for time, oftentimes sending you through the same areas multiple times to retrieve separate items that could have just as easily been rounded up in one trip.

Optional Missions as the game calls them are sometimes interesting divergences that flesh out minor events that occurred before Issac and his team turned up. These vignettes are oftentimes more eerie and well told than the main story line and a welcome addition if not entirely unnecessary.

Dead Space 3 maintains the series supremely high quality standard but overall falls short with a handful of poor design choices.

There were moments of pure unfettered joy to be had while playing Dead Space 3 but they were all times where I was blissfully unaware of the ongoing story, but I promise that those joyous moments of narrative brevity were magical.

Dead Space 3 doesn't do much for the franchise as a whole, but its a superbly well made game that is, at times, one hell of a fun time.

3 or 4 out of 5, can go either way (fuck this story is terrible)