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Scares in the Snow: Seven Games That Embrace the Horrors of Winter

Cole Henry — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:00:12 +0000

Winter is a season often tied in with endings, death, sorrow, and the macabre. Leaves wither and die, trees stand aloft like forgotten skeletons of a bygone era, and the lush greenness of spring, summer, and fall is swapped with cloudy weather and heavy snowfall. Furthermore, winter drags the night—darkness—into earlier hours in the day. Daylight loses in the winter. Thus, winter has an inherent spookiness about it. Yes, it is quiet, peaceful, and brings about the holiday season, but it is also ushers in an unshakeable melancholy. Winter is the perfect setting for anything horror-related—longer nights means that monsters and ghouls and ghosts can prowl even longer.

Many video games capitalize on winter as a form of horror in and of itself, and without further ado, here are 7 of the best winter-set horror video games. I hope you brought a jacket (and maybe a flashlight or a shotgun, depending on the situation).

7. Dead Space 3

Dead Space 3 is often seen as the black sheep of EA’s seminal third-person survival-horror series. But the bulk of its runtime takes place on a messed up, twisted version of Hoth. And, in the eyes of this writer, it may just be the scariest title in the series. It uses internal horror (the fractured mind of Isaac Clarke) to emphasize the horrific events going on around Isaac. Dead Space 3 broadens the horror canvas of the series and this expansion in scope and freedom-of-movement leads to some of the most unsettling moments in the series.

Many of these moments happen in broad daylight, where the sun reflects blindingly off of snow. Deep snow often hides unspeakable horrors and, in Dead Space 3, such horrors are often punctuated with torrents of blood and viscera. White snow turns red, but Isaac keeps moving onward and, well, what lies ahead is often scarier than what came before.

6. Don’t Starve

Klei’s Don’t Starve—a survival game infused with the quirkiness of turn-of-the-century weird tales—is not wholly set during the winter, but the parts of the title that use winter are unforgettable in just how lonely and unforgiving they are. Many survival stories take place in the winter and Don’t Starve really emphasizes just how terrible it all is. You’re always cold, hungry, and that fire you built with sticks and damp underbrush will never be as warm as you want it to be. Few things are as scary as being stuck with no rescue in sight, your only ticket to freedom is to press on, to endure. Winter makes that 100x harder.

Frigid, dark, and unrelenting—winter may bring about beautiful landscapes, but buried beneath those snow-capped hills are the frozen bones of travelers who made one wrong turn. Also in Don’t Starve, you better be on your best behavior. Someone is making a list and checking it twice—Krampus is afoot.

5. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

The Silent Hill franchise is like a roller coaster. It has its ups and downs and, when it is at a peak, the series is often a fascinating take on psychological horror. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is one such peak. Set in the town of Silent Hill, Shattered Memories feels like if the first game got steeped in perpetual winter. Everything is cold, frozen, and caked in snow. Ice sticks everything together. Nothing seems to move. It is almost like winter has bound the town of Silent Hill in place, but stranger things are afoot.

Time may be moving forward, it may not be, and everything starts to fold in on itself. Shattered Memories uses winter to evoke a sense of near-cabin-fever in the protagonist (and player, proxy) and untouched snow has a certain way of making one feel utterly and wholly alone. But there is always something watching, lurking just out of sight, and as snow fractures and compounds under the foot of the player, it does too for the otherworldly horrors around every corner.

4. Dead Rising 4

Endless zombies, a mall, Christmas, a man with a chainsaw tied to a stop sign—Dead Rising 4 is exactly what it aims to be. There are zombies and you have weapons that kill them. What comes next? Violence, death, undeath. Dead Rising 4 has it all and it chooses a mall in a cold winter town as its setting. Christmas lights shine off of white snow and that light starts to fade as the snow turns red and becomes obfuscated under the growing piles of undead that Frank West leaves in his MacGyver-from-Hell-like wake. Dead Rising 4 leans into the inherent comedy and zaniness of horror and, like Evil Dead 2, does so with a wink and a nod.

Yes, it ain’t no Evil Dead 2, but there is just something oh-so-satisfying about vivisecting a zombie with a giant candy cane as Christmas music plays through Willamette mall’s crummy speaker system.

3. Frostpunk

Frostpunk may not be the first game that comes to mind when you think of winter-set horror video games. It may not even be the second or third, but after playing it one will understand why it should come to mind. Frostpunk is a steampunk, apocalyptic city-building survival game where the world is beset with endless winter. Temperatures are uninhabitable and the only thing keeping your settlement alive is a giant heat-spewing generator. As the sun dims, these generators flicker to life in the long snowy dark. Cities live or die by how they’re planned around and citizens will do anything to keep the generators running.

But will you, the city planner, do anything? Frostpunk confronts players with harrowing choices such as using child labor to keep the city alive or turning entire populations away because you lack the resources to welcome them to your already-shaky society. The horror of Frostpunk comes through the choices it poses its players with, and those choices are born out of the dangers of winter. Furthermore, the title weighs heavy with an unshakeable nihilistic tone. Nothing is scarier than death and Frostpunk doles it out on a minute-to-minute basis.

2. The Long Dark

Few video games are as unrelenting as Hinterland Studio’s The Long Dark. It is a realistic survival game set in the Canadian wilderness after some undefined global disaster. Players must eat, sleep, find warmth, and fend off wild animals. Winter is an unstoppable force and no game gets winter just as right as The Long Dark. It wraps the player in its cold embrace and refuses to let go—even after you starve, get gutted by a polar bear, and fall asleep in the cold never to wake up again. It feels like real winter and that is why it works so well as a horror title.

It is almost always dark and every aspect of The Long Dark feels unrelenting. Things may be going your way but then a wolf corners you and howls for its friends to join him. All you have is a lighter and a crudely sharpened stick. What will you do to survive?

1. Until Dawn

Until Dawn, by Supermassive Games, was released in 2015 to various degrees of praise. Using roughly the same gameplay and branching choice-based narrative structure of the all-too-flawed Heavy Rain, Until Dawn takes the branching narrative formula into the realm of 80s slasher ephemera. There are dumb teens, bad sex, bloody endings, and it is fun all the way through. Winter is a key character in Until Dawn—characters complain about the frigid cold, some get snowed into various locales, and there just might be something inhuman lurking beyond the white wall of falling snow. Until Dawn leans more into the dark fun of horror rather than sheer terror.

Things go bump in the night, but the overall atmosphere is rarely one of dread. Instead, it is just plain fun to see what awful endings the cruelest and yappiest of teens in Until Dawn can have, and on the flip side, it feels good to steer one’s favorite characters through the game relatively unscathed by the time the credits roll. Snow crunches, hot cocoa is made, and Until Dawn revels in the utter coziness and disparate isolation of winter—that is until some annoying teen comes into frame, says something eye-rolling, and then gets disemboweled. Sound familiar?

Honorable Mention: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Is Donkey Kong, a somewhat human-like gorilla who is always naked minus a tie, inherently scary? Yes, obviously. Whether it be the crippling collectathon horror of Donkey Kong 64, the gangly monstrosity that is Lanky Kong, or the memories of getting little-to-no sleep when my younger brother fell head-over-heels in love with Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat (damn you, bongos), Donkey Kong has always unsettled me. But the series’ great music and comedic character design have always brought me back around.

Enter Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Here is a title that tested all of my platforming might (which is meager to begin with) and then laughed in my face as DK plummeted to his death time and time again. Ice, snow, and a, well, tropical freeze makes this title a winter video game and how such a cute game is so damn hard makes it all-too-scary.

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The ‘Dead Space’ Franchise Ranked, Including Main Games, Spinoffs and DLC Side Stories

Neil Bolt — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:30:40 +0000

It’s been ten years since Isaac Clarke found all manner of grisly trouble aboard the Ishimura and kicked off the whole “Dead Space” franchise. It’s also just over five years since “Dead Space 3” effectively closed the series off. Despite the brief lifespan, the “Dead Space” franchise managed to fit a fair amount of games into that time. Some are great, some are…less so.

But what are the best parts of this short-lived franchise? Where is the unforgettable dreck? Which ones packed the most cynical microtransactions in? We’ve ranked all of “Dead Space”, from main entries to spinoffs to DLC side stories and determined what’s worth revisiting.

So let’s begin with the bottom rung of the ladder.

8. Dead Space Ignition

Designed as a bridging point between “Dead Space” and “Dead Space 2”. “Dead Space Ignition” serves some story purpose, but it’s quite far removed from the rest of the franchise in terms of mechanics and its comic book visual style.

Set on the Sprawl in the lead up to the events of “Dead Space 2”, you follow the story of Engineers Franco and Sarah as they encounter repeated sabotage of the space station and rush to fix them before catastrophe strikes

In Ignition, puzzles are the focus, with Franco using logic to repair various aspects of the space station from elevators to computer systems. Of course, the Necromorph outbreak happens and things get a touch grim. Interestingly, the game ends with Franco reviving the main protagonist Isaac Clarke which ties into the start of “Dead Space 2” (and you’ll know what happens to poor Franco when he does wake Isaac up).

Unfortunately, story aside, there’s not much to recommend about Ignition as its puzzles are hardly innovative, and tend to be a bit dull. As such, it’s easily the weakest chunk of “Dead Space” gaming content.

7. Dead Space 2: Severed

This DLC side story, like Ignition, is set before (and during) the events of “Dead Space 2” but also serves as a sequel of sorts for “Dead Space Extraction” as that game’s characters Weller and Lexine return.

There’s a much deeper look at the mysterious Unitologist cult in this story as Weller fights his way out of a Necromorph outbreak in the mines of Titan and tries to protect his pregnant wife Lexine from the sinister clutches of the organization. In keeping with Ignition, being the lead in a short side story in the “Dead Space” universe is a death sentence and this short and grisly DLC really puts Gabe through the wringer before ending in a rather downbeat fashion.

There are some cool nods to events in “Dead Space 2” as Gabe travels about too. It’s a far more self-contained story than most of the “Dead Space” franchise spinoff content, but that also means it lacks the impact that “Dead Space 3’s” DLC managed.

6. Dead Space 3: Awakened

“Dead Space 3: Awakened” is a decent slab of DLC story and is as close as we’re likely to get to a finale for the “Dead Space” franchise. It’s set in the immediate aftermath of the main game and sets up what is now something of a cruel cliffhanger with Visceral Games now being defunct.

Isaac and Carver miraculously find themselves alive and back on the icy wastes of Tau Volantis. From there, the pair must battle their growing insanity and fight off a Necromorph-worshipping cult whilst trying to get back home to Earth.

That cliffhanger? Having already defeated one of the Brethren Moons (giant Necromorphs that are the source of every outbreak-causing marker) at the end of the main game, Isaac and Carver discover that more have arrived and are set to cause an outbreak on a colossal scale. The story ends with the duo left unconscious and we’re left with a grim, unresolved tale.

5. Dead Space Extraction

“Dead Space” itself embraced and refreshed the core “Resident Evil” formula, so why not head down the on-rails shooter route for a spinoff as Resi did in the 90’s? Thus Extraction was born, and unlike Capcom’s wonky side-series, this was good at the first attempt.

It also started the Visceral trend of filling the blanks of the wider “Dead Space” franchise with prequel/bridging content as Extraction serves as a prequel to the events of the first game. You’ll see the removal of the ominous marker on the Aegis VII Colony and the first outbreak of Necromorph activity that leads to the infestation of the Ishimura.

It’s no surprise that for this was Wii game first. The console did well with on-rails shooters, even providing the first decent ones in the “Resident Evil” franchise. “Dead Space Extraction” managed to blend an interesting continuation of the “Dead Space” franchise with intense shooting that replicated the limb-picking action of the core series.

4. Dead Space 3

Ugly business practices aside, “Dead Space 3” garnered plenty of criticism for further diluting the formula of the original “Dead Space” with a higher emphasis on action and the introduction of human enemies. As such it alienated a significant portion of its fanbase and well, you know what happened to Visceral after that.

Isaac Clarke returns once again and is joined by EarthGov Sergeant John Carver as they seek to end the Necromorph threat once and for all.

Is “Dead Space 3” a bad game? No, not really. It has some great parts, including its main setting of Tau Volantis, an ice planet with a Necromorph-infested facility. The co-op is also excellent, with the players seeing things differently to each other due to the marker-induced hallucinations.

If “Dead Space” had carried on in the direction set here, a fourth entry would likely have been unpleasant and unwanted, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t regret and longing for what could have been.

3. Dead Space (2011) Mobile

It’s surprising enough that there is a good mobile spinoff of a third-person console survival horror game, but it’s more surprising that “Dead Space” on IOS and Android was almost good enough to be a full-fat entry with a story of its very own.

This new story occurs between the first and second mainline titles and takes on the viewpoint of a newly-converted Unitologist named Vandal who unwittingly unleashes a Necromorph outbreak on the Mines of Titan. Vandal decides to turn on the Unitologists and reveal their misdeeds to the world but first must escape.

Despite some minor control accuracy issues with the touchscreen, “Dead Space Mobile” controlled rather well and was genuinely a top-tier example of mobile gaming bringing console-quality experiences to the palm of your hand. The focus was more on action than the main series, but it still felt like “Dead Space” in a way only the first game did.

Oh and there’s a neat nod to Metroid in the story with the reveal of Vandal’s identity in the finale.

2. Dead Space 2

If the original “Dead Space” is Alien, with slowly-cranked out scares and cautious movement through dark corridors, then “Dead Space 2” is its Aliens, flashes of the same beast, but oh so much more spectacle ($60m worth in fact). That was something of a sore point for some fans of the first game who craved a more polished continuation of it.

Still, “Dead Space 2” is technically the best game in the series, a sleeker, gorier survival horror sequel that cleaned up the rough edges of its older sibling. Isaac Clarke’s Long Bad Day continues at an alarming pace here with horrific bloodshed and insanity-based hallucinations kicking things off straight from the start.

Unwelcome parts exist, however, with a cynically tacked-on multiplayer mode, and a stalking entity towards the end of the game proving more of an annoyance than intimidating. All the same, “Dead Space 2″is a barnstorming survival horror.

1. Dead Space

“Dead Space” should have been so much more than the start of an ill-fated five-year long franchise. Someone needed to take the baton from a flagging “Resident Evil” series and push survival horror somewhere new, and Visceral Games was the one to do it.

The template is borrowed, but the details Visceral overlayed are what makes it. The thematic consistency of Isaac Clarke’s Engineer background, for instance, means he’s only strong due to his engineering suit and an assortment of modified tools that serve as weapons (the plasma cutter is one of modern gaming’s most impressive and satisfying weapons).

Even better was the HUD design, where everything is represented via Isaac’s RIG suit, keeping the screen clear of clutter and opening up more places to watch fearfully for something to jump out at you.

And there was plenty to worry about. “Dead Space” is a masterclass in ratcheting up tension with great audio design and fake-outs constantly pushing your buttons to the point it’s almost a relief when something does show up and try to eat your face.

Yes, it’s rough around the edges, but if you’ve read our retrospective on “Dead Space”, you’ll know why that doesn’t matter.

What do you think is the best of the “Dead Space” Franchise? Let us know.

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Ex-Visceral Creative Director Laments ‘Dead Space 4’

Mike Wilson — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 16:28:41 +0000

To say that it still stings that Dead Space developer Visceral Games is gone (and along with them for the time being, the Dead Space franchise) is an understatement. It’s a sad reality of the industry when your game underperforms and your owner decides to cut its losses. There’s still that lingering question of “what if?”. Well, in an interview with Eurogamer, former creative director at Visceral Ben Wanat discussed just what the team would do had Dead Space 4 been given the green light.

For starters, Wanat talks about how after Dead Space 3, humanity would be on the verge of extinction thanks to the Necromorphs. As a result, the gameplay in Dead Space 4 would be more focused on the non-linear aspect of exploration that was touched on in DS3. “The notion was you were trying to survive day to day against infested ships, searching for a glimmer of life, scavenging supplies to keep your own little ship going, trying to find survivors,” explains Wanat. “The flotilla section in Dead Space 3 hinted at what non-linear gameplay could be, and I would have loved to go a lot deeper into that. I figured you’d start in a section of space, maybe following a trail of ship carcasses to an orbital station you think might have the parts and fuel needed to get your ship Shock-capable.” (In the Dead Space universe, the ShockPoint Drive was a means of interstellar travel invented by an astrophysicist named Hideki Ishimura.)

Speaking of those abandoned ships, Wanat says that the opportunity to go from ship to ship scraping up supplies would’ve opened the creative doors for the team to go crazy in terms of creating some interesting environments. “The ships you would visit are where the game would get really diverse. The Ishimura had some inkling of that diversity with the variously themed decks. But imagine an entire roster of ship types, each with unique purposes, floor plans, and gameplay. Our original prototypes for the Dead Space 3 flotilla had some pretty wild setups that I wish we had been able to use.”

As for the weapons system, Dead Space 4 would’ve revisited the crafting system introduced in DS3, which in his opinion, took away from the synergy that made the weapons special. “I think in our exuberance to really lean into Isaac’s mechanic background, we managed to diminish that synergy with the Dead Space 3 crafting system. I love that it gave players creativity in putting together their weapons, but it became very difficult to tune when you allowed players to break the primary and alt-fire pairings. There would have needed to be a focus on re-perfecting the weapon balance while still giving players plenty to tinker with.”

And then there’s the topic of series protagonist, Isaac Clarke. The ending of Dead Space 3 left the door open for Isaac, Carver or Ellie to take on the Necromorphs, or even have an entirely new character at the helm. “With the apocalypse, there was the opportunity for a clean break,” Wanat said. “It wouldn’t be necessary for the story going forward to include any of them.” In his view, however, Wanat said he’d have loved to do a game with Ellie at the helm and had always “imagined her as the protagonist of Dead Space 4“.

To read the rest of the interview, including Wanat’s opinion on the future of (if any) Dead Space instalments, you can check out the link above.

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Which Horror Game(s) Had the Best DLC?

Adam Dodd — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 21:00:24 +0000

Between the release of Layers of Fear: Inheritance earlier this week and the imminent arrival of Doom: Unto the Evil, August has two of the year’s most high profile DLC releases. This got me thinking about the somewhat divisive relationship between downloadable content (DLC) and the horror genre, which has struggled publicly to meet the growing demand for online functionality from a genre that typically prefers to isolate its players.

You might remember one of the more unfortunate phases the genre went through about a decade ago, when the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 effectively made online functionality a mandatory part of modern game design. This involved some tremendously clumsy attempts to introduce a competitive aspect to games like Condemned 2: Bloodshot, Dead Space 2, and Resident Evil 5, among others. And that was just the beginning.

DLC has been around for about as long as the Sega Dreamcast, and it’s far too complex to simply label as objectively good or bad. It’s a term that encompasses a wide range of topics, from free content updates to paid DLC, single-player vs. multiplayer content, standalone vs. add-on expansions, the worth of season passes, and so much more. Unfortunately, each of them is worthy of its own in-depth discussion, so let’s keep it simple.

Back in February 2015, I asked about the state of horror game DLC, to which nearly two thirds of those who participated in the poll agreed that DLC was still an obstacle for the horror genre — of which a startling 45% claimed it was a serious problem — with less than 7% who considered it a non-issue. Have the last 18 months done anything to change that opinion, for better or worse?

While we’re on the subject, which horror game(s), if any, do you consider the most successful in finding a meaningful approach to incorporating DLC? I’ve included some examples below to make this question easier to answer, but this list is in no way conclusive:

Alan Wake — The Signal, The Writer
Alien: Isolation — Corporate Lockdown, Crew Expendable
BioShock 2: Minerva’s Den
Bloodborne: The Old Hunters
Dead Rising 2 — Case Zero, Case West
Dead Rising 3 — Untold Stories of Los Perdidos
Dead Space 2: Severed
Dead Space 3: Awakened
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls
Dying Light: The Following
The Evil Within — The Assignment, The Consequence
F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn
The Last of Us: Left Behind
Left 4 Dead 2 — The Sacrifice, The Passing
Outlast: Whistleblower
Resident Evil 5 — Lost in Nightmares, Desperate Escape
State of Decay — Lifeline, Breakdown

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The ‘Dead Space’ Franchise is on Sale Today

Adam Dodd — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 20:18:44 +0000

Just a quick heads up to those of you who might be looking for something spooky to play on your PC — Steam’s daily deal for today is all about Dead Space. For the next 21 hours, the Dead Space pack — which includes the first two games — can be purchased for a (totally worth it) $8.74. That’s 75% off it’s original $34.99 price tag. Each game can also be purchased individually for $4.99.

Dead Space 3 isn’t a part of this deal because it’s not on Steam. It is however, on EA’s Origin platform, and it just so happens that the game is currently discounted to $9.99 (50% off).

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The Hunt for Meaningful DLC in Horror Games

Adam Dodd — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 09:30:32 +0000

When it comes to horror games, their post-release support tends to be lacking. Bad DLC is everywhere, sure, but for fans of this genre, it’s less of a mixed bag and more a bag that almost entirely consists of DLC that’s either unnecessary, unfinished, poorly realized or some combination of the three.

Let’s look at some examples, shall we?

For Resident Evil, for example. Ever since Capcom made the misguided decision to try and shoehorn a competitive element into Resident Evil 5, much of the DLC revolved around new multiplayer modes that most people had absolutely no interest in playing. That kills the multiplayer mode right there by fragmenting the audience that’s active online.

Resident Evil 5 wasn’t all bad. It also gave us Desperate Escape and Lost in Nightmares, the latter of which was surprisingly great and a welcome return to the series’ roots in survival horror.

Then there’s Capcom’s other zombie franchise: Dead Rising. Looking specifically at the latest game, which saw an impressive amount of post-release attention from the publisher in the form of five story expansions. I can’t speak for the final add-on, but I did play the other four, and they were universally terrible for reasons I’ve already gone over.

Capcom may be one of the worst offenders, but they certainly aren’t alone. We need only to look toward gaming’s other popular open-world zombie series to see another awful example of how to mishandle DLC, this time for the Techland-developed Dead Island games.

The Bloodbath Arena was a waste of time for most, mostly because there were already many other series that had implemented similar modes, ranging from Halo to Resident Evil, Left 4 Dead and Call of Duty, among others. We have Gears of War to thank for that massively popular trend.

I won’t even go into the Ryder White expansion, because it’s really not worth reliving.

Unfortunately, it seems as if Deep Silver hasn’t learned as much as I would’ve liked, because the season pass contents of Dying Light — an otherwise great game — don’t sound like they’re going to make it worth returning to the game, if you’ve already beaten it.

Even Dead Space has struggled with this. The second game’s Severed expansion had an interesting narrative, but that wasn’t enough to make the fact that most of its paltry running-time was made up of back-tracking. Dead Space 3: Awakened was a small step up, but that, too, wasn’t as good as it could’ve been.

There are plenty of other examples out there, but I’m getting bummed out, so let’s cleanse our mental palates by recognizing a few of the games that have been considerably more successful.

Minerva’s Den managed to be more thoughtful and refreshing than BioShock 2, Left Behind managed the impressive feat of being as memorable as The Last of Us, the Left 4 Dead series DLC wasn’t perfect, but most of it was good stuff.

Horror-themed DLC shouldn’t fail as often as it does. This genre works great when it’s consumed in smaller portions, much like what episodic games are doing right now. More developers are realizing this and exploring it with their own games, like Resident Evil Revelations 2, Alan Wake, Siren: Blood Curse and Telltale’s The Walking Dead, among others.

Then there’s my favorite: Alan Wake.

With its themes of light vs. dark, it’s fitting that Alan Wake may be the shining beacon for how to use DLC to add to the experience in meaningful ways. Both The Signal and The Writer were fantastic, thoughtful and new experiences.

I think this is partly why horror-themed DLC for non-horror games works so well. The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned was a great addition to Borderlands, as was Red Dead Redemption’s standalone expansion, Undead Nightmare, and inFAMOUS did a fine job honoring my favorite holiday, Halloween, with its vampire-themed Festival of Blood expansion.

So what’s going on here? Why does the quality of the post-release support that horror games receive underwhelm so often, when this same problem doesn’t seem to be quite as severe for other genres?

It is worth mentioning that there are signs that this trend could be becoming less of a problem. Alien: Isolation has received a ton of DLC, and much of it has been rather good. There’s also The Evil Within, which is scheduled to receive the first of three planned add-ons next month with The Assignment. It looks interesting, but it’s too early to tell.

I’m not bringing this topic up because I have a solution. Outside of asking developers to put a little more thought into the post-release support they give their games, or refusing to buy the particularly bad stuff until they up their game, there’s not much we can do.

The reason I wanted to write about this is because I do think this is a legitimate problem, and as a life-long fan of the horror genre, I’d really like to see it vanquished as soon as possible so I can have a reason to return to the horror games I’ve completed because there’s a new bit of DLC that looks worth my time. And yours.

Granted, this could just be me. I don’t think it is, but it’s possible.

So I’ll leave it to you.

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How Do You Feel About Multiplayer in Horror Games?

Adam Dodd — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 00:00:13 +0000

For the longest time, multiplayer and horror games were two things that should never, under any circumstances, be brought together. That’s no longer true, as it seems like every other horror game has some sort of multiplayer component. Seeing otherwise great games (Condemned 2, Dead Space 2) get multiplayer modes forced upon them so a publisher could check another box on its list of features had some horror fans understandably upset.

The tides began to turn when games like Dead Space 3, Dead Island and Left 4 Dead were able to use the maligned feature in ways that benefited the experience. Now, the idea seems to be pretty widely accepted.

Asymmetrical multiplayer is a term I’ve started to use more often here as a growing number of developers turn to it as a nifty way to add a multiplayer element to their game without sacrificing how terrifying it can be. It basically means each team has different objectives.

When it comes to horror games, the term usually means one player is being pit against a team of players. Evolve, Depth, Damned, The Flock, Last Year and the upcoming Friday the 13th game are all examples of this.

Multiplayer horror is here to stay, but that doesn’t mean you have to be excited about it. I’d understand if you weren’t. That’s why I’d like to ask you this simple question:

How do you feel about multiplayer in horror games?

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5 Annoying Things Horror Games Need to Stop Doing

Adam Dodd — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 13:00:30 +0000

As much as I love the horror genre, it’s far from perfect. Much like the SHODAN, this genre is always evolving, learning and adapting. It’s always studying those puny insects who play its games, the same predictable sacks of meat and bone who return year after year looking for their horror fix.

Every once in a while our favorite genre imitates its human creators and does something wrong. The result is something that we — the insects I mentioned earlier who habitually return seeking to satiate our hunger for delicious horror gaming goodness — with a game or even a small part of a game that’s not very good. The level of suck one feels when this happens is made exponentially worse when the game in question is good, or worse, great. How could a mistake like this be made, you ask, as tears of frustration blur your vision and the screen that’s still displaying the mistake that tried to ruin your good time.

Because recognizing the problem is the first step to remedying it, I’ve compiled a list of what I consider to be some of the horror genre’s worst offenders. If/when I miss something, I’ll leave it to you to set me straight in the comments.

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‘Dead Space’ is Still a Very Important Franchise for EA

Adam Dodd — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 05:18:58 +0000

After working on the series almost nonstop for seven years, developer Visceral Games is taking a break from the action horror franchise to work on Battlefield Hardline. Part of the reason behind this change is simply to give the developer a much-needed break, but most of it stems from the relatively unsuccessful Dead Space 3, which landed with a dull thud when it released last February.

Speaking with Kotaku UK, Visceral Games general manager Steve Papoutsis confirmed that while they’re taking a break from it now, Dead Space is still a very important franchise for them, and that he’s even excited to see what a new game on current-gen consoles would look like. That’s about a much hope for the series as we’re likely to get, and it mirrors what EA Studios executive vice president Patrick Söderlund said back in June, and what EA Labels boss Frank Gibeau confirmed last August.

Dead Space is coming back, but it will likely be awhile before we hear from it again. Or rather, hear something new — I’m sure the future has a bevy of “Dead Space isn’t dead” confirmations left for us until EA finally gets around to bringing it back.

When it comes to horror franchises that are MIA — Dead Space, Alan Wake, Condemned, FEAR, Left 4 Dead, etc. — is there one in particular you’d like to hear from the most?

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This $200 Isaac Clarke Figure Needs Something to Shoot

Adam Dodd — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:00:42 +0000

The last entry in Visceral Games’ Necromorph genocide simulator series might not have been as well-received as the first two games, but that shouldn’t keep you from checking out this awesome — and expensive — Isaac Clarke figure. It features everyone’s favorite Necromorph slaying badass as he was last seen in Dead Space 3.

I like the snow suit, it’s a nice look. You’d think it’d be difficult to clean though, what with all those red and squishy giblets flailing about during every fight. Cleaning the fury bits must be a real pain.

Or maybe that’s something the suit kiosk handles?

Anyway, this 1/6th scale replica will run you $190. It can be preordered now, with shipping expected on July 18th.

Dead Space 3 1/6 Isaac Clarke (Snow Suit version) specs:
*figure stands at 1/6 scale, ~12-inches (30.5 cm) tall
*Isaac snow suit gleams a dull greenish under the lights, and to bring out the texture of the metals & fabric material.
*fully articulated figure based on his latest look in Dead Space 3.
*one pair of relaxed palms, one pair of fists, one right palm for holding gun, one left palm for holding rifle.
*lots of attention to details, inducing incredibly detail mechanic parts, resembling characters as seen in the video game.
*realistic paint application to highlight all the details in armor parts and fabric clothing with impressive weathering effect.
*comes with highly details weapons 211-V Plasma Cutter & Aug Shotgun.
*light-up LEDs feature at front shield of the helmet & backpack.
*AG1 X 6 button cell batteries (battery not included)

Check out all of Isaac’s angles in the gallery below.

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‘Dead Space 3’ Among Free PlayStation Plus Games for July

Adam Dodd — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 20:44:15 +0000

Starting tomorrow, PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to grab a slew of new free games on the PS3, PS4 and Vita, including a title that may be of interest to us horror fans — Visceral Games’ action horror game Dead Space 3. From here on out, each platform will be getting two free titles, with all of them available on Tuesday, July 1st. See the full list below.

PlayStation 4: Strider, Towerfall Ascension
PlayStation 3: Dead Space 3, Vessel
PlayStation Vita: Muramasa Rebirth, Doki Doki Universe

You’ll have the entire month to download them before they’re replaced by August’s batch of freebies.

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GameStop Sale Brings Discounts on a Slew of Horror Games

Adam Dodd — Fri, 23 May 2014 01:07:49 +0000

I’m admittedly not a huge fan of GameStop, but what I am a fan of is cheap games. It just so happens that GameStop is offering some quality video games on the cheap, so I figure that basically balances out how any dislike I may have for the retailer. If you’re a PC gamer who has been looking for something new to play, their Spring Sale is actually pretty impressive.

BioShock — reg $19.99, now $6.79
Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition — reg $29.99, now $8.99
Dead Island GOTY Edition — reg $19.99, now $13.39
Dead Island: Riptide — reg $29.99, $20.09
Dead Space 3 — reg $19.99, now $4.99
Dementium II HD — reg $14.99, now $3.74
Doom 3 BFG Edition — reg $19.99, now $9.99
Dishonored GOTY edition — reg $29.99, now $17.99
Mirror’s Edge — reg $19.99, now $2.99
Outlast — reg $19.99, now $6.79
South Park: The Stick of Truth — reg $59.99, now $40.19
The Darkness II — reg $29.99, now $7.49
Thief — reg $49.99, now $29.99
Typing of the Dead: Overkill — reg $19.99, now $9.99

The abysmal The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is also on sale, but I highly recommend avoiding it like the plague.

You can find the full list of deals over here.

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‘Dead Space 3’ in CryEngine Needs More Gore

Adam Dodd — Tue, 20 May 2014 18:30:24 +0000

If you’re patiently waiting for more strategic dismemberment, the mixed bag that was Dead Space 3 has all-but-guaranteed we won’t see a new entry in this series for some time. So until Isaac Clarke and friends return, we’ll just have to rely on folks like Daniel Harris to give us a taste, however small, of what could be. Harris decided to take it upon himself to recreate one of the environments from early on in Dead Space 3’s campaign using the powerful CryEngine, and it looks pretty good.

The result is essentially a better-lit version of the game some of us played last February. I’d say the only things this version is missing are a few odd Necromorphs and a tasteful smattering of mutilated corpses. Oh, and flickering lights. You can’t have a Dead Space game without faulty wiring.

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5 Horror Games That Will Mess With Your Head

Adam Dodd — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 13:07:05 +0000

I recently watched Oculus and enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. It’s a trip, and if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend you get on that. Also, if you haven’t yet, don’t fret, I won’t be spoiling anything here. The reason I bring the film up is because it inspired this list. Thanks to some clever storytelling and editing, I spent a large majority of the film not really know what I was seeing. Or rather, I knew what I was seeing, but I never truly believed it.

That’s smart. And it’s particularly effective for a horror film, because it kept me engaged the whole time, and that’s crucial for gauging the efficacy of a horror film (or even a game, book, TV show, etc.) If you enjoy that sort of thing and would like to experience it elsewhere, I’ve compiled a list of horror games that use similar toolsets to get in the player’s mind. Enjoy.

Ah yes, the classic. When it comes to video games that use sanity as a tool for gameplay, Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is likely to be one of the first that comes to mind. Released in 2002, this game was one of the first to break the fourth wall. If bleeding walls, voices, and the myriad other horrifying hallucinations didn’t break you, then it would take things to the next level with simulated errors with your television or GameCube.

That game features a number of scares, but the fake “Blue Screen of Death” was by far the most effective.

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6 Horror Games To Play As The World Freezes Over!

Adam Dodd — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:00:40 +0000

Did you hear? There’s a polar vortex sweeping across the country, The Day After Tomorrow style, and unless you’re brave enough to risk instantly freezing as soon as you step outside — like those poor helicopter pilots, they will be missed — the only escape is through video games. Or Dennis Quaid. Since we’re in for a deep freeze, with most of the country already enduring ridiculously low temperatures, I thought I’d come up with a list of horror games we can all enjoy.

Read on for my list of six horror games to play as the world freezes over!

Dead Space 3

The latest installment in Visceral’s bloody strategic dismemberment simulator wasn’t as beloved as the two that came before it, but it’s still very much worth playing. Dead Space 3 is a fantastic co-op action horror game with a decent replay factor, thanks to the return of New Game +, a bevy of modes, unlockables and all that jazz. It’s co-op is entirely optional, so if you’d rather go it alone, you can do so without being hindered by an annoying AI partner. You can also take solace in knowing that as cold as it may be for you now, Isaac has it way worse on the surface of Tau Volantis.

Lost Planet 3

I have mixed opinions when it comes to Lost Planet 3. It fixes many of the issues I had with the other games, but it does so at the cost of being less fun. Lost Planet 2 was stupid, but it was stupid fun, and it certainly didn’t hurt that it had four-player co-op. This is the first to feature a genuinely interesting story and cast of characters, and I love that the RIG is treated as something you need to survive, rather than just a badass tool for tearing apart giant Akrid in two. It might not have completely reinvigorated the franchise, but it’s definitely worth a rental.

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Here Are The Winners Of The ‘Dead Space 3: Awakened’ Caption Contest!

Adam Dodd — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:42:58 +0000

Last week we held a caption contest asking you to come up with your best captions from a screenshot I took while playing Dead Space 3. Now, I have chosen the winners. You guys did a wonderful job in shying away from any “balls to the face” submissions, so kudos for that. Great job to everyone who participated, now read on for your winners!

If you’re one of our lucky winners, send me a message and I’ll reply with your code! And reply soon, because if you don’t within 48 hours I’ll have to give your code away to a runner up. No one wants that — except, maybe, the person who would get your code.

From possiblypirates:

From stratusfear:

From Lou:

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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‘Dead Space 3’ Sells Well, Tops February NPD Charts

Adam Dodd — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:58:38 +0000

Despite a cooler than expected reception from fans and critics, Dead Space 3 still looks to be selling well. In February, the game topped the NPD charts, selling 605k units and beating Black Ops II for the top spot. Its inclusion of optional drop-in/drop-out co-op undoubtedly helped the game sell better, and while not everyone is a fan, we sure enjoyed it. Head past the jump for a list of the best-selling games of February.

Here are the top selling games of February 2013.

1. Dead Space 3 (360, PS3, PC) – Electronic Arts
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (360, PS3, Wii U, PC) – Activision Blizzard
3. Crysis 3 (360, PS3, PC) – Electronic Arts
4. NBA 2K13 (360, PS3, Wii, Wii U, PSP, PC) – 2K Games
5. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (PS3, 360) – Konami
6. Aliens: Colonial Marines 2013 (360, PS3, PC) – Sega
7. Just Dance 4 (Wii, 360, PS3, Wii U) – Ubisoft
8. Far Cry 3 (360, PS3, PC) – Ubisoft
9. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3, PSV) – Sony Computer Entertainment
10. Madden NFL 13 (360, PS3, Wii, PSV, Wii U) – EA Sports

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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[BD Caption Contest] Win ‘Dead Space 3: Awakened’ On Xbox 360!

Adam Dodd — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:54:53 +0000

SNOWFIGHT! Ouch, that had to hurt. Poor Carver. He’s just trying to make sure everyone makes it off Tau Volantis alive and that lizard faced woman keeps throwing snowballs at him.

So I have three download codes for the recently released Dead Space 3: Awakened epilogue DLC (REVIEW) that I’d like to give away to all of you. They’re for the Xbox 360 (no PS3 or PC codes, sorry) and it’s not standalone DLC, so you do need to own DS3 to be able to play it. If you’re still interested, might I suggest clicking that Read More link for more details? I warmed it up just for you.

Contest Rules:

1. Below you’ll find an amazing screenshot I took from Dead Space 3 — I want you to unleash your inner creativity and submit your best captions in the comments below.

2. Like the other caption contests we have fairly regularly here at BD, you are allowed to submit as many times as you like, but each submission must be in a separate comment, and be sure to keep them short enough to fit on the image. Also, please be considerate. Any hateful, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise hurtful or juvenile comments will result in your disqualification. No one wants that.

3. I’m going to pick three winners and unveil them on Tuesday, March 19 (since I’m sure you’d like your codes ASAP) — so get make sure you get your submissions in before then. When I announce the winners I’ll do so on Dead Pixels (HERE) where I’ll address you by your BD Infected name. If you’re one of the lucky three, just send me a message confirming you’re being very much alive and I’ll reply with your code! Also, because these are codes, this means everyone can enter, no matter where you are.

Now get to work, people!

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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‘Dead Space 3: Awakened’ Review: Is It Real Or Is It Marker-ex?

Adam Dodd — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:37:53 +0000

Written by Brittany Vincent, @MolotovCupcake

In many ways, Dead Space 3 was inferior to its predecessors, but it still valiantly forged ahead as one of what will ultimately be the year’s best third-person action games. While it eschewed classic survival horror convention for in-your-face (albeit usually generic) action, it did have its moments, namely, any time Isaac Clarke or his partner suffered from hallucinatory visions. Dead Space 3: Awakened is the first round of DLC released to further expand upon the schizophrenic shooter, and while it’s short on content, it packs an interesting wallop as an additional epilogue and surrogate survival horror section. And if you’re anything like me, that’s a good thing.

Awakened is set immediately following the events of Dead Space 3, so for those who haven’t completed the campaign, it won’t make much sense to tackle this adventure. It’s also tough to delve into without divulging at least some of the secrets that eventually unfold throughout the course of the game, but in a nutshell, Isaac (and his good buddy Carver — wait, at least we think they’re buddies now) are getting the heck off of Tau Volantis. I won’t divulge why, so for the sake of keeping things under wraps: Awakened revolves around those wacky Unitologists and their bizarre pet who wants you dead, and that abomination usually accomplishes this by way of beheading our favorite Clarke. And while it looks spectacular and all, it’s not especially endearing when you find yourself having to restart at checkpoint after checkpoint. But wait until you see that thing in action. It’s a beautiful thing, really.

Isaac once again assumes his role as intergalactic errand boy, all the while dodging the Unitologists’ mobile guillotine for the spread of Awakened, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more violent space miner. For a while, he’s up to his old tricks. Stomp a Necromorph here. Stasis one there. Kid stuff. But as you head into the second chapter after sifting through all the normal “get me gas” and “take this item there” hullaballoo, something refreshing happens: the horror comes back. For a few shining moments, namely nearing the end of the DLC, we see the true potential of what Dead Space 3 could have been in the first place. And, like we mentioned before in that review, the expansion does such a wonderful job of keeping the tension up that like the original campaign, it’s best enjoyed alone.

Most of the tension is culled from the fact that the DLC is peppered with multiple “is it real” moments by way of chilling illusions and some of the best trolling we’ve ever seen by way of video games. Sometimes, you genuinely can’t predict what you’re going to see next. And that’s Dead Space getting back to its roots. It’s stripping itself of what made it stray from the excellent path it was on, and for that reason the three or four hours you’ll spend escaping Tau Volantis is made all the more special.

The Final Word: An explosive finale that begs questions about the inevitable Dead Space 4 and a massive chunk of story that feels as though it was excised from the campaign and sold separately for a $10 admission fee, Dead Space 3: Awakened is an excellent add-on for fans hungry for more. It’s a spellbinding yet annotated tale of Isaac, the Marker, and the horrifying effects it taints all it comes into contact with. It’s pricey for what it is, but for a real ending that delivers what we asked for in the first place, it’s worth the admission price.

This review is based on a digital copy of the Xbox 360 version of Dead Space 3: Awakened, which was provided by the publisher.

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[Podcast] Dead Pixels: EP 45

JonathanBarkan — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:00:23 +0000

The boys get themselves trapped on an island in the latest episode of Dead Pixels. They talk about how awesome Tomb Raider was, and how much more awesomer it could have been. Dead Space 3 gets a little love, Adam talks about to joys of being stuck in Iowa for 3 weeks with poor internet. Since the Playstation 4 was just announced they chat it up about that and the upcoming new Xbox. TJ professes his love for Best Buy’s gaming section, and their handy J trade in deals. WHAT?! Nothing.

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‘Dead Space 3’ Returns To Its Horrifying Roots With ‘Awakened’

Adam Dodd — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:28:40 +0000

Isaac Clarke’s latest adventure has proven divisive among Dead Space fans. The move away from dark, claustrophobic corridors, and the introduction of co-op — even optional — has angered fans of the first two games. Personally, I’m all for it. Dead Space 3 wasn’t the strongest entry in the series, but the optional co-op was a welcome addition and it still manages a few scares, even if they are few and far between. With Awakened, we’ll see what happened to Isaac and Carver after the events in the main game. The DLC will return the game to its roots with a focus on the dementia moments which are just one of the side effects of being in close proximity to the Markers — the other being a slow and agonizing death.

Awakened launches on the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 for $10 (800 MSP) on March 12th. Check out a trailer and some screenshots after the break.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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In The Future, All EA Games Will Have Microtransactions

Adam Dodd — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:53:22 +0000

In Dead Space 3 you had the option of using real money to purchase additional resources for crafting items. It’s entirely optional, and opting out of throwing more money at the game you just spent $40-60 on doesn’t really affect the experience. Apparently, it’s only one of the first of many future EA games that will come with microtransactions. At the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media, and Telecom conference — which sounds absolutely riveting by the way, I’m really sad I missed it — Electronic Arts CFO Blake Jorgensen said “We’re building into all of our games the ability to pay for things along the way, either to get to a higher level to buy a new character, to buy a truck, a gun, whatever it might be, and consumers are enjoying and embracing that way of the business.”

The microtransactions in Dead Space 3 angered a few fans, but until it becomes an issue of pay-to-win, I don’t mind EA trying to make a little extra money off the games they make. Video game development is expensive, so if tossing down a few dollars-turned-Microsoft Space Bucks means they’ll churning out Dead Space games, I’m all for it. What about you – do microtransactions bother you, or are you okay with it?

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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Isaac Clarke Drops Some Mad Lines In This Epic ‘Dead Space 3’ Rap

Adam Dodd — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:13:01 +0000

The only thing Isaac Clarke engineers in this video are some mad lines, yo.

When he’s not constructing brutal weapons that he can use to strategically dismember the unsuspecting denizens of Tau Volantis, Isaac can usually be found practicing his rap skills. He’s got mad skills too, and there’s no denying he’s had a tough life after surviving multiple Necromorph encounters only to see his girl Ellie leave him for a total dick, plus there was that whole needle to the eye bit in Dead Space 2. I’m sure he uses all that strife as fuel for his rap career. I’m sure that’s real healthy.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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Listen To The Dead Space 3 Rap Song “Keeping Me Human”

JonathanBarkan — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:39:15 +0000

I’ve never had the image of Dead Space‘s Isaac Clarke wearing bling and flashing gang signs before but all that changed today when I saw YouTube user skullkruncher13‘s original Dead Space 3 rap song entitled “Keeping Me Human”. Surprisingly, the song isn’t that bad. In fact, it’s fairly sharp and definitely hits all those little things that make and encompass Dead Space. Give it a listen below.

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

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Here Are The Winners For The ‘Dead Space 3’ DLC Contest!

BurnTheBlueSky — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:24:42 +0000

You guys are creative. Twisted, but creative. The Dead Space 3 DLC contest spawned a lot of hilarious comments. And per usual, a lot of horror movie related jokes. But alas 3 winners have emerged. And they are entitled to a shit load of DLC for their respective consoles. J-SiN wins for the Playstation 3, Joshua Turney for the Xbox 360, and Hitch for the PC. All 3 of you must message me and give me your email addresses. I will then have the PR company email you both sets of DLC codes, remember you get DOUBLE! Head past the break to see the winning submissions, and the list of DLC the winners get. Be jealous. I know I am.

From J-SiN:

From Joshua Turney:

From Hitch:

The winners get:

– Tau Volantis Survival Kit (bundle of Marauder, Sharpshooter, Tundra, and Bot Accelerator)
– Marauder suit pack
– Sharpshooter suit pack
– Tundra suit pack
– Bot Accelerator
– Bot Capacity
– Bot Personality

Playstation 3

Xbox 360

– Marauder suit pack
– Sharpshooter suit pack
– Tundra suit pack
– Bot Accelerator
– Bot Capacity
– Bot Personality

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[Podcast] Aural Pleasures EP 18: In Which Adam Cries For Help

JonathanBarkan — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:00:40 +0000

Team Aural Pleasures is back with another sexy podcast for all you Bloody-Disgusting readers! Bill, Adam, and Jonny are back to chat some more music, horror, and silliness. In this podcast, Adam explains his long absence, Bill questions the worth of Prince, the guys all bring up some songs that are good for…well…engaging in extracurricular activities. The guys also bring up the music of some of the biggest horror video game titles to be released this year, including Devil May Cry, Dead Space 3, and Aliens: Colonial Marines. Enjoy it all below!

Make sure to subscribe to the Bloody-Disgusting podcast channel via iTunes to download all of our podcasts for the low, low price of free!

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

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This Is Some Of The Best ‘Dead Space’ Art You’ll Ever See

Adam Dodd — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 04:44:33 +0000

To celebrate the launch of Dead Space 3 in Europe, EA collaborated with the Dernier Bar Avant la Fin du Monde in Paris to hold an exhibit exclusively showcasing Dead Space fan art. It’s beautiful, and easily some of the best I’ve ever seen. Because it’s Dead Space, you might think it’d be pretty macabre, but that isn’t the case. There’s a little bit of every style. Pop art? Check. Typographic art? Check. Gritty, bloody, and twisted art? Check, check, and check. See for yourself after the jump.

The above image is the work of Deviant Artist Andry-Shango, and was one of the pieces featured in the Dead Space exhibit.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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[Interview] Dead Space 3 Composer James Hannigan Takes Us To Tau Volantis

JonathanBarkan — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:37:22 +0000

Bloody-Disgusting is excited to bring you an exclusive interview with Dead Space 3 composer James Hannigan. Below you can read about Hannigan’s work with Jason Graves (who also composed for the game), how the planet of Tau Volantis changed the scoring approach, Hannigan’s thoughts on sci-fi and horror, and much more. You can also hear nearly 45 minutes of Hannigan’s Dead Space compositions.

The Dead Space 3 OST is currently available for digital purchase on iTunes and Amazon.

Bloody-Disgusting: Tell me a bit about how you got to work on Dead Space 3.
James Hannigan: I simply got asked to create some test music for the game, which I then did, and I found myself on board a number of months later.

BD: Jason Graves’ work on the Dead Space series thus so far has been lauded. Did that affect your compositional approach and mindset?
JH: I was of course aware of Jason’s work, and we had a similar scenario on a title called Command and Conquer: Tiberium Twilight a couple of years ago, which resulted in a good soundtrack, I feel. My overriding hope was that there’d be something of myself that I could add in there without detracting the great work Jason does for the series. The game is quite broad in scope, both in terms of scale and the kind of experiences it offers, and there’s a slightly broader emotional palette at work in the music as a result. We worked on different aspects of the game most of the time, and I feel that what we ended up with is complementary, really.

BD: In Dead Space 1, there was a brief sequence that took place out of the Ishimura at the end of the game. In the sequel, the entirety of the game was in the Sprawl. Both of these settings were very industrial, mechanical, and manmade. In Dead Space 3, Tau Volantis is the setting and there is a great deal of nature and the impact of the elements. Did this change from “artificial” to “organic” bear any sort of influence on your compositions?
JH: That’s a very interesting question, and is exactly the kind of thing I’d ask myself. Sometimes, I do feel that a dichotomy between music and visuals can work well – for instance, very organic music set against a high-tech environment, but ultimately I think it comes down to something deeper than just the environments and setting, but also about what the music actually exists to say. Star Wars is a classic example of this sort of dichotomy (I’ve often heard it said) in that it presented a very high-tech and somewhat alienating visual experience to audiences when it came out, but this experience was somewhat grounded and humanized by John Williams’ rather romantic score, which spoke to audiences about the characters, their hopes and dreams, more than it did about the high-tech nature of the world they occupy. It’s Luke’s journey we’re emotionally invested in, and the eternal fight between good and evil, and that is what informs the music. Similarly, in Dead Space 3, there are times when the music is somewhat organic and personal – perhaps when it is trying to comment on the feelings of characters and the situations they are in, and at other times is a little more ‘literal’ in terms of how it relates to your environment. And it’s with the latter where I think you may hear something a little more high-tech, for instance, to evoke the feeling of a bustling, futuristic cityscape or a speeding train. Similarly, some of the music may almost try to describe the hostility of the Tau Volantis setting and what it would feel like to physically trudge through snow in such a harsh environment. The focus of the music can change depending on the situation you are in. And I dare say that the approach to these things varies between films and games as well, because games often try to immerse you in the reality of a game and convince you that you are ‘there’ whereas films often stand back and take more of a sweeping view of events, treating you as a passive audience. A game like Dead Space 3 does a little of both, I feel. Sometimes it’s personal, sometimes it’s interactive cinematic spectacle, and the music I hope reflects that.

BD: Dead Space 3 marks the first time that you can do co-op with another character, John Carver. Dead Space 3 is also the first entry into the Dead Space series where you, another composer, teamed up with Jason. Did this strange coincidence come up between the two of you at all?
JH: I hadn’t thought about that, but I guess you’re right and we ended up composing in co-op mode for Dead Space 3!

BD: What was the process like with the two of you working on the music for the game? Did you work together or separately and what were the benefits and challenges of each of these situations?
JH: You just have to go with the flow when it comes to these things, and stay flexible and ready for anything. Games development is an iterative and dynamic process, and things are rarely absolutely set in stone in terms of exactly what is needed for any given area of the game. Things change day by day. What you’re trying to do (in conjunction with the development team of course) is create a synergy between the music and other elements of the game and not be working against the goals of the design or what kind of emotional message the team want conveyed at any given moment. Along with that, you keep things stylistically appropriate when you can, and try to keep music on the same page in the hope that it will eventually be integrated into a seamless whole. Dead Space 3 is a pretty vast game so we were working on different areas of it or aspects of the story, but there are chapters that include music from both of us.

BD: What are some tones and instruments that have the ability to send shivers up and down your spine?
JH: I’m quite a sound-based composer at times, and I was acutely aware of how well Jason’s existing Dead Space music and the underlying techniques he used work in the context of the series. So, apart from a few cases, I didn’t go into his territory very much at all, as that would have been pretty pointless, but looked instead for a way to complement it and add something of myself. With the music being a little more high-tech than it has been in the past, I looked for various electronic sounds and textures to up the fear a little, but in a new way perhaps. For instance, there are various otherworldy ‘growls’ in the soundtrack that somewhat blur the lines a little between literal sound effects and music, and I think those can be quite effective. They’re sort of musical ‘monster effects’ you could say, but embedded in the music itself with a gestural quality to them. They also hint at some kind of alien intelligence and culture, but I don’t want to give anything away.

BD: This isn’t music related, but I’d like to know your thoughts. Horror and sci-fi have long gone very well together, from Shelley’s Frankenstein to the tongue-in-cheek sci-fi/horror films of the Cold War era. Why do you think that the vast majority of sci-fi games/media see a future that is fraught with terrifying possibilities rather than something to look forward to and aspire towards?
JH: That’s another very interesting question, and possibly something linked in with our own views of where we’re heading as a species, and it’s a culturally specific phenomenon as well, I expect, as each culture seems to envision the future in its own unique way. Ironically, at times of great difficulty for instance, during world wars, I think entertainment industries, writers etc… have looked to give us all hope, and it’s during those times of uncertainty we see a lot of ‘positive’ and Utopian views of the future emerging or more in the way of fantasy art and uplifting works. There are obviously exceptions though. It’s a little difficult to square all that with now, I must say, when we appear to be living through a difficult economic era presenting us all with a lot of uncertainty, but still appear to enjoy reveling in visions of a somewhat dystopian future! Having said that, a lot of these stories, although very dark in essence, do seem to involve good or moral people overcoming difficult circumstances which may have some meaning and put this in context. Batman and even Dead Space’s Isaac are good examples of what I mean! As a society, it seems as though many of us are resigned to the idea that things could be ‘getting worse’ in many ways but we’re interested in knowing how people can contend with change, and how they will cope in future and, above all, stay human in difficult circumstances.

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

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(CONTEST OVER) Video Game Caption Contest: We Have Boat Loads Of ‘Dead Space 3’ DLC Codes For You And Your Valentine!

BurnTheBlueSky — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:41:31 +0000

(The contest is over, make sure you check the WINNERS article to see if you won!)

What could be a better present to give your Valentine than Dead Space 3 DLC? That’s right, we have a LOT of codes for you to win. Here is how this contest will work. There will be 3 winners. One for the PC, one for the Playstation 3, and one for the Xbox 360. The winners will win double codes for SEVERAL different DLC packs. One set of codes for you, the other set for your Valentine. Head past the break for the rules, and PLEASE read them because they have changed a bit for this contest.

THIS ISN’T THE IMAGE YOU COMMENT ON, READ ON!

Rules:

1. We pick a screen from the game (or game related items) you can win. You head to the comments section and submit your best one-liners, zingers, pathos riddled couplets etc… It can be from the POV of one of the characters, or a comment on it as a whole!

2. You can enter as many times as you like and submit as many captions as you want, but each caption must be in a separate comment. Otherwise it will be too hard to tell where one caption ends and the other begins. Your entries can be posted anytime after the still is announced – just be sure to check that I haven’t announced that the contest is closed in the comments (you don’t want to submit your winning zinger after we’ve picked the winner). Also any racist, sexist, homophobic or generally hateful jokes will be disqualified. You don’t have to be insanely PC – just use your best judgement. Try and keep it brief! It has to fit on the photo now! ALSO make sure you state whether you want your codes for the PC, PLAYSTATION 3, or XBOX 360 ALONG WITH YOUR CAPTIONS! This is very important so I know who wants what codes!

3. Once the commenting has calmed down, I will pick the 3 best captions, and I will update the post stating that the contest is over. I will then do a new post with the winners captions on the photos where the winners will be announced!

THE IMAGE BELOW IS WHAT YOU MUST COMMENT ON! This image should bring about some incredible captions.

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Hear 30+ Minutes Of Unreleased Dead Space 3 Music From Composer Jason Graves

JonathanBarkan — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:20:52 +0000

Composer Jason Graves has uploaded 30+ minutes of unreleased Dead Space 3 music, which you can hear below. The music is not featured on the OST, which is currently available for digital purchase on iTunes and Amazon.

Dead Space continues the story of engineer Isaac Clarke as he takes on Necromorphs who have been reanimated by an ancient alien artifact known as The Marker. You can read Brittany Vincent’s review of the game here.

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

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Dead Space 3 Soundtrack Now Available

JonathanBarkan — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:00:37 +0000

Dead Space 3 came out last week and has been met with generally favorable reviews, including our own from Brittany Vincent. And now, for fans of the sonic landscapes created by composers Jason Graves and James Hannigan, you can purchase the soundtrack today! Head on over to Amazon to snag a copy and enter cold harsh environment of Tau Volantis whenever you pop on your headphones.

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

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‘Dead Space 3’ Review: Deadly Errands

Adam Dodd — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:00:21 +0000

Written by Brittany Vincent, @MolotovCupcake

In space, no one can hear you scream. Luckily, they can’t hear you cursing out a puzzle while your human partner fends off waves of bloodthirsty monsters, either. Dead Space 3 ensures you’ll do one or both of these things — sometimes out of fear, and sometimes out of frustration. The third installment of EA’s blockbuster franchise is strikingly different from the previous two entries, introducing a slicker, more streamlined iteration of the fantastic third-person horror the franchise has become synonymous with, but it’s not without flaws. Terror takes a backseat to frenetic shootouts, some frustrating cooperative puzzles, and a few bizarre design decisions surrounding a narrative that barely makes it all worth trudging through. And yet, somehow, it manages to remain a bone-shattering good time.

Isaac Clarke, engineer extraordinaire, returns once again to the fray in order to keep the rampant Unitology cultists from overrunning society. He’s all but shut himself off from everything, living out his days on a lunar colony secluded from the insanity of the past two games. Former love interest Ellie has long since left him on a sojourn to uncover the origin of the mysterious Markers and their true purpose — you know, beyond turning normal human beings into grotesque mutations of their former selves. After practically being torn from his home Isaac accompanies Captain Robert Norton and Sergeant John Carver to find Ellie, her team, and try to make sense of it all before EarthGov and all of civilization meets their doom. Oh, and Ellie’s got a new boyfriend — as if Isaac hadn’t suffered enough psychological trauma already.

The stretch of space you’re tasked with exploring is just as desolate as ever, punctuated by unsettling, atmospheric orchestral arrangements and the oppressive steeliness of abandoned ships. It’s a veritable melting pot of classic genre conventions, amplified further by the spreading Necromorph infection and hallucinations Isaac and co-op partner character Carver are intermittently plagued by. Yes, this time around you can bring a friend along for a cooperative experience that for the most part works itself in seamlessly to the solo campaign.

While several missions are reserved strictly for those of us with willing accomplices, playing it solo is the way to go for those looking for a more faithful Dead Space adventure. Should you bring a partner into the fold, you should expect tougher enemies, more plentiful encounters, and additional dialogue and story sequences to further flesh out your newfound friend’s back story. He may seem like just a stoic militaristic type, but he’s a fiery balance to Isaac’s detached, numb personality this time around.

Unfortunately, some of the areas within the game designed with co-op in mind detract from the experience and break the immersion factor quicker than you’d hit the B button for a quick health boost after a pop-up Necromorph attack. There are entire areas of Dead Space 3 that force one partner to stave off advancing hordes of monsters while keeping the other safe, and the other is asked to solve a puzzle. These sequences happen much more often than is actually fun, and in many areas reduce the game to little more than an exercise in frustration.

But while these sections of play can be easily overcome with trial and error, a more obnoxious design decision cannot: ladders. Yes, ladders. Time and time again Isaac and Carver will need to ascend or descend one in order to advance, and unless timed perfectly, one player will have to wait until the other has completed the action before they can do it as well. It matters not if Isaac is a few feet away from the top while a partner is trying to ascend it, as the game still will not allow you to climb. When you’re clearly nowhere near the top of the ladder and still cannot ascend and there are droves of Necromorphs on your tail, you can imagine this quickly becomes a nightmare. Not only does it detract from the experience, but it looks and feels lazy.

Additionally, the inventory cannot be manually sorted — you’ll go to quickly heal yourself and since a Large Med Pack is the first in line, consume that rather than a Small Med Pack to regain a tiny bit of health. In the same vein, only one player can change suits at a time while both can work at a Bench station to edit weapons. Why couldn’t it sport two stations? Quirks like these and more begin to add up, and fast, making some cooperative sessions more like homework than a deliciously tense thrill ride.

Luckily the combat is there to keep things interesting, and the singular way Dead Space 3 becomes a game you simply can’t keep from enjoying, even if to a lesser extent to its predecessors. Though “strategic dismemberment” has become little more than a footnote (carving off legs and arms is a no-brainer by now) it’s still as satisfying as ever to have the odds stacked against you while you and a friend eliminate a room full of the disfigured creatures. Most of the joy stems from the new crafting system, where you can customize weapons to your own satisfaction rather than upgrading the simple premade forms readily available. Want a ripper-cum-line gun? That’s up to you, as long as you have the materials.

Components and other packages are readily available through microtransactions, but unless you’re entirely too impatient normal play will unlock an abundance of supplies for you to create the gun of your dreams. Combined with RIG augments that make Isaac’s already superpowered suit even stronger (and a variety of new ones for all you fashionistas) and the useful bots that can be sent out to scavenge for supplies, grinding out each chapter by way of mopping the floor with Necromorphs is the meatiest part of the game. Just try and tell yourself that stomping on a de-limbed flesh eater that bested you one respawn ago isn’t satisfying. You’d be wrong if you said otherwise.

Solo players can enjoy an easily 15-20 hour first playthrough, with co-op players looking at a bit shorter runthrough, though most of the game finds you running back and forth to fuel something, picking up parts, or backtracking through frustrating sections to pick up a puzzle piece that could easily have been lifted from an earlier section should the need arise. Isaac the Errand Boy’s adventures aren’t exactly entertaining in the context of the story, but as Visceral once stated, they certainly weren’t aiming to make this game scary, unless you happen to think piecing together two parts of machinery so they fit together a certain way is terrifying, in which case you should prepare to soil your underwear.

Dead Space 3 is more about the journey than the actual destination, which arrives so suddenly and so unbelievably that it feels forced. Boss fights are little more than longer combat endeavors unlike the spectacles of the last two games, and there’s little reward for all the times you risk running out of air to nab a part from space or to research a ship Ellie’s nuts for you to explore. Thankfully the gore, additional cooperative missions that house some intriguing effects, and the tension of hallways filled with enemies keep you coming back for more. It’s nowhere near as ambitious or engaging as the past few efforts, but it’s still a great weekend play for you and a friend who feel like taking some excess anger out on some disgusting aliens. Especially if you hate ladders.

The Final Word: Dead Space 3 is rife with enemies to annihilate and loot to hoard, but the rough narrative and more sanitized action-oriented adventure may not appeal to the same audiences who enjoyed the first game. Elements of cooperative play are clumsy and break the immersion factor – not to mention the fact that Isaac is a glorified errand boy. The kills come easily though, and making a souped-up Isaac or Carver is ultimately while you’ll boot up your system again and again. Just don’t expect to be scared out of your wits. Not anymore.

This review is based on a retail copy of the Xbox 360 version of Dead Space 3.

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“Atmosphere Is Key” In ‘Dead Space 3’

BurnTheBlueSky — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 18:45:47 +0000

I can rhyme, now so can we. The Journey Through Terror video series is going very in depth on the Dead Space series as a whole. The latest video Part 3 in the series focuses on atmosphere, the use of mining tools over conventional weapons, Isaac’s suits, and the importance of stasis and kinesis. Check out the video past the break!

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‘Dead Space 3’ Needed To Be More Action Oriented To Grow

BurnTheBlueSky — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 05:39:45 +0000

In an interview with Now Gamer Dead Space 1 writer Antony Johnston states that the action in Dead Space 3 is “a necessary evil in order to broaden the fan base.” He goes on to say that was the plan from the start. “I know the developers always wanted to go bigger, in terms of scope. And I’ve mentioned before that the universe we created was huge, with lots of elements, which simply didn’t make it into the first game.” He’s right. People definitely complain about the over the top action in the new Resident Evil, but would have keeping it stuck so small have stunted its growth? I think Visceral Games probably has that fear. But when you create such a big universe in a game series, it’s hard to keep it from growing. Read the full interview/article HERE!

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Let’s Take A Journey Through Terror In ‘Dead Space’ Shall We?

BurnTheBlueSky — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 04:29:41 +0000

Dead Space 3 is out today, so instead of reading this you should be playing it and ignoring me at least until next week. If you didn’t buy it yet, then, oh hai! Welcome! Below you can feel free to take “A Journey Through Terror” Part one of four. A more in depth look into Isaac Clarke’s journey through space. There are some spoilers from the first two games so if you haven’t yet gotten around to them (shame on you) I don’t recommend watching. Enjoy!

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‘Dead Space 3’ Releases Today, First DLC Announced, Play Catch Up With A New Trailer

BurnTheBlueSky — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:40:20 +0000

If you didn’t go wait out in line at midnight last night with the weirdos that hang out in a Game Stop late, you’ve probably quickly snuck in and out of a Best Buy today to pick up Dead Space 3. If you’re new to the series and this is your first Dead Space experience, I suggest you head past the break and check out “The Story So Far” trailer. It gets you up to date on what some of the history of the games and without major spoilers gives you info on the 1st 2 games. It’s also good if you need an all around refresher like me. Head past the break for info on the 1st DLC, screens, and the trailer.

Immediately following Dead Space 3’s release, also announced the “Awakened” DLC. In Dead Space 3 Awakened, players will experience the franchise’s darkest chapters as the Necromorph battles become even more gruesome and terrifying than ever before. The pack will be available in March on the PlayStation®Network and PC via Origin.com for $9.99 and Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for 800 MS Points. Quite a vague description, but this statement from Steve Papoutsis makes it all worth not really knowing what it is. “In Dead Space 3 Awakened, gamers will experience some of the most disturbing content they have ever seen in a Dead Space game – they are going to love it.”

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Now THIS Is A ‘Dead Space’ Trailer

BurnTheBlueSky — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:00:17 +0000

I wasn’t very impressed with the last Dead Space 3 trailer. Just when I think a Dead Space trailer couldn’t possibly be any dumber, they go and do something like this….and totally redeem themselves! (Reference, anyone?!) This new story trailer is kick ass, heart pounding awesomeness. It feels like a movie trailer, and those are my favorite. Check it out past the break and revel in all it’s gory glory.

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‘Dead Space 3’s’ Take Down The Terror Launch Trailer

BurnTheBlueSky — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 05:43:08 +0000

Not every trailer can be super great. This one sure isn’t. It also features a meh version of Phil Collins classic “In The Air Tonight”. Will that put me off from playing the game? Fuck no. I’m gonna play this game in the dark until I shit my pants. Check out the Take Down The Terror Launch Trailer below, and let me know what you think. February 5th bitches!

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Get Deep Inside ‘Dead Space 3’s’ Necromorphs Before They Get Deep Inside You

BurnTheBlueSky — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:25:51 +0000

One of the best parts about a Dead Space game is getting a good look at the incredibly demented creatures that are going to be destroying you. Ripping you limb from limb, and playing around with your giblets. Every creature is straight from the depths of your nightmares, and they keep getting better and better. If you head past the break you can get an inside look at some of the Necros you’ll be seeing in Dead Space 3 along with descriptions of them. Dead Space 3 is so close I can feel my space madness approaching. February 5th on the PC, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360.

Feeder

There are several strange stories of cannibalism related to a military expedition to Tau Volantis. While some can be attributed to madness, most were the result of desperation. Trapped in snow-covered shacks with an empty larder, Necromorphs pounding at the doors, and no hope of fresh supplies these soldiers began to lose hope. The only things they had in abundance were bullets and Necromorph corpses piling up outside. Those that broke down and consumed the flesh of their reanimated former friends were only temporarily sated. Soon after ingestion, the tainted flesh began to kill off their internal organs one by one and take them over. Their bright lights began to hurt their eyes and the hunger became worse. The only thing that seemed to make it better was consuming more flesh. This continued until their vital organs were attacked internally and the victims died one by one. When the Necromorph conversion was complete, they rose again as Feeders; insatiable, ravenous and deadly. They travel in groups and exist only to feed. Be wary about interrupting Feeders on the prowl. Once they’ve caught your scent, their screams will alert their companions and soon you’ll be running for your life.

Swarm Infector

The Swarm Infectors are small, highly mobile, spider-like creatures that seek out corpses to transform into Necromorphs. They typically enter the corpse through the mouth, burrow their plump bodies down the esophagus and self-detonate, releasing viscous, yellow goo. The fluid quickly enters the body’s natural conduits and soon the corpse spasms uncontrollably as the Necromorph infection takes over. What once was a lifeless corpse rises as a deadly Necromorph now intent on creating more corpses to join its ranks. When Swarm Infectors cannot find a corpse, they make a beeline for the nearest living target and swarm them. Helmets can only deter these clever creatures for so long and if even a single one reaches your mouth, it will be too late to stop it.

Twitcher

Militaries have been using adrenaline units for years to keep their soldiers going in the thick of battle. On Tau Volantis, this method was used to allow dig teams to perform extended work shifts as they delved for the planet’s secrets. But something deadly was waiting for them in the snow. As the Necromorph infection took over their lifeless corpses, it merged with the excess adrenaline creating blindingly fast aberrations known as Twitchers. They can cross a canyon in the blink of an eye and tear a man to pieces in seconds. Your only hope of survival is to use a Stasis Module to slow them down long enough to dismember their limbs.

Waster

The Wasters are seemingly unmolested corpses save for a luminescent goo that oozes from their eyes and mouth. They arm themselves with makeshift weapons which they use with brutal efficiency. But this human-like façade hides a more alien interior. Lopping off their arms and legs can cause the Waster to shed its human layer releasing the masses of writhing tentacles that reside within. This adaptability makes them fierce and unpredictable opponents. Unless it’s stopped moving entirely, the Waster should always be considered a major threat.

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Penny Arcade Comic Asks An Important Question About ‘Dead Space 3’

Adam Dodd — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:36:56 +0000

Have you ever wondered how those wacky Unitologists could continue their zealous fight for rebirth through the Marker when all around them their friends are being transformed into pairs of murderous crazy legs with waggly tentacles protruding from their midsections? I don’t know about you, but as soon as that started happening I would’ve started weighing the pros and cons of converting to a religion with a lower death rate. Today, Penny Arcade took on Dead Space 3 by asking that same question. It’s pretty great. You should most definitely head on over to their site and check it out.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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Sexy N7 Armor For ‘Dead Space 3’? Yes Please

BurnTheBlueSky — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:00:04 +0000

The Dead Space series has always had some kick ass outfits for Isaac. Well let’s just say that Mass Effect 3 and Dead Space 3 have been fooling around behind closed doors. The outcome is the magical N7 Armor for Isaac and Carver in Dead Space 3. How do you get it? Easy. As long as you have yourself a Mass Effect 3 game save, and you purchase yourself some Dead Space 3 and BAM. That easy. Check out the video below to get a look at the suits. February 5th! So close!

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[Contest] We’re Giving Away TEN Early Access Codes For The ‘Dead Space 3’ Demo!

Adam Dodd — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 19:00:36 +0000

If you signed up for early access to the Dead Space 3 demo, you’re probably enjoying some hands-on time with it right now. Everyone else has to wait until January 22 to get their anxious hands on the game’s bloody, Necromorph spanking co-op goodness. But don’t worry, I have ten codes for the Xbox Live demo to give away. Since I want to get these in your hands as soon as possible, this contest is going to be a quick one. All I want you to do is comment telling me which of the game’s two leads would win in a brawl: Isaac Clarke or John Carver? No plasma cutters or telemetry spikes, I’m talking full-on fisticuffs. I also want to know why you chose who you did. Now get to work, because I’m picking the winners on Friday, 1/18 at 12pm PST.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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Get Your Hands On An Exclusive Weapon If You Pre-Order ‘Dead Space 3’ At GameStop

BurnTheBlueSky — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:57:36 +0000

If you like sub machine guns and Dead Space, Game Stop is where you want to go to pre order Dead Space 3. I personally hate Game Stop but I won’t let that stop you from getting your hands on the Game Stop exclusive EG-900 SMG. Check out the trailer below to get a taste of the machine gun in action. And don’t forget, Dead Space 3 releases February 5th!

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Visceral Games Announces The ‘Dead Space 3’ Dev Team Edition

BurnTheBlueSky — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:00:40 +0000

The Dead Space 3 Dev Team Edition is one of the few you can get either with or without the game. It fetches a high price tag either way. With the game you’re looking at $160.00, and without the game you’re looking at $100.00. They don’t skimp on the goodies though. If you head past the break you can check out a video and the list of all the items you get in the Dev Team Edition. And yeah, there’s a lot. Dead Space 3 is coming, February 5th, PC, Playstation 3, and Xbox 360.

Dead Space 3 Dev Team Edition includes:

Dead Space 3 Limited Edition (North America only): Includes the “First Contact” and “Witness the Truth” packs.
Tin Collector’s Case: Measuring nearly 14”x9,” this case is covered with mysteries and trivia from all three Dead Space games, debossed with full color art based on the designs from Ben Wanat (Creative Director for Dead Space 3) and Dino Ignacio (UI Designer for Dead Space 3).
Serrano’s Journal: Dr. Earl Serrano’s journal full of clues and haunting artwork of his findings on Tau Volantis has come to life with exclusive content by Chuck Beaver (Story Producer on Dead Space 3).
Art Book: A 4.75”x6.5” hardbound book containing 96 stunning full color pages, plus exclusive material from the Dead Space art department headed by Alex Muscat (Art Director for Dead Space 3).
Flip Book “Data Pad:” A 10”x7” book with a metal cover that contains 9 image sets made with clear PET cover sheets over heavy-weight cardstock. The flip book was designed by Dino Ignacio to be a functional prop version of the Dead Space User Interface in the game.
Marker Statue: A 8” hand-sculpted, custom-molded polyresin statue that’s coated in metallic paints to replicate the maddening glyphs of the Black Marker.
Med-Pack: The med-pack in the game has been recreated as a 14 oz. PET water bottle, perfect for carrying your beverage of choice.
Poster Pack: A set of three 5”x10” single-sided posters replicating the nostalgic posters found throughout Dead Space 3 that depict an older age of space travel.
Postcard Set: A set of six 3.75”x6” Peng themed postcards, double-sided with art on the front and Dead Space-branded postcard information on the back.

“We’re super excited to team-up with Treehouse and make something extra special for gamers that have been supporting us since the first Dead Space game,” says Steve Papoutsis, VP and GM of Visceral Games. “We, as a development team, really wanted to put our personal touch on these exclusive items so that they feel authentic and meaningful to our passionate fan base.”

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‘Dead Space 3’ Kinectomorphs

BurnTheBlueSky — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:00:40 +0000

OMG JK but seriously, Kinectimals, lame name. How about a Kinect exclusive for Dead Space called Kinectomorphs? Moving on. Past the break you can check out a video for Dead Space 3 that shows you how cool the Kinect can actually be in game. There are a number of basic game play commands but what makes things a lot smoother are the multiplayer commands. “Give partner ammo” or “give partner stasis” for instance. Check it out past the break, February is closing in!

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This Is The Best ‘Dead Space’ Cosplay I’ve Ever Seen

Adam Dodd — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:28:53 +0000

Cosplay can be a wonderful thing. If I were creative enough or had any discernible talent I’d love to be a cosplayer. I’ve seen a fair share of Dead Space cosplay over the years, but none have been as fun to look at as Kevin, who you can see in the supremely badass armor of Isaac Clarke (if we want to get really nerdy I could say he’s wearing the Security Suit from Dead Space 2), and Léa Charvin, who portrays Ellie Langford in many of the shots. Check them out after the break!

Kevin’s suit is so good he’s done promotional work for EA, and Léa’s also portrayed other characters that are dear to many a horror fan’s heart, including Resident Evil’s Claire Redfield and Sherry Birkin, as well as Heather Mason and a nurse from Silent Hill.

If you want more of Kevin and Léa’s work, you should definitely visit their Deviant Art portfolios — you can find Kevin here, and Léa here.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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‘Dead Space 3’ Demo Announced, As If You Weren’t Going To Buy It Anyway

BurnTheBlueSky — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 05:15:17 +0000

Recently announced by E.A. and the magical Visceral Games is a playable demo for Dead Space 3. It’s going to be coming to the Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade on January 22nd. Xbox 360 users however can get access to the demo a week early just by signing up over at DeadSpace.com. It’s said you’ll be able to try the single player, the co-op, and use the Kinect voice commands in the demo. Dead Space 3 is a game I will definitely be buying, so the demo might get shoved aside so I don’t spoil any of the campaign for my 1st play through. Anyone else?

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If Santa Knows What’s Good For Him, He’ll Get Me This Isaac Clarke Statue

Adam Dodd — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:15:54 +0000

Kotobukiya’s ARTFX Statue Line will soon include gaming’s resident Necromorph slaying badass Isaac Clarke, and he looks real good. The attention to detail in this figure is incredible, they even placed LEDs in the visor, RIG, and locator. Between this and the gorgeous Silent Hill figures Toymunkey Studios was at Comic-Con back in July I don’t think my wallet can keep up with my new-found love for terrifyingly awesome video game statues. The Isaac Clarke statue stands at just a little over 12 inches tall and comes with that bloodied display base you can see after the break.

It’s a little unusual that in the statue, Isaac’s RIG is blue, when it should be teal (Carver’s RIG is blue). Even still, it looks great. This statue will be available in June 2013 — that gives Santa (or a generous reader?) more than enough time to get me one. Or several.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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‘Dead Space 3’ Gets Fresh With The Kinect, GameStop, And Amazon. Filthy Dirty Whore

BurnTheBlueSky — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 02:38:51 +0000

“Better with Kinect” is becoming a surprisingly popular slogan. Dead Space 3 is going to be one of those games with Kinect support. Also Destructoid is reporting you have 2 avenues of pre ordering the game that will get you some hot bonus action. Pre order at GameStop to get the EG-900 Sub Machine Gun, and Amazon gives you the Enervator. It sounds a bit more brutal than the EG-900 and I must admit I’m a way bigger Amazon fan. Head past the break for a new trailer showing you 2 ways to play the game.

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Get Your Wallets Handy (Again), Here’s Your 2013 Video Game Release Schedule

Adam Dodd — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 16:00:55 +0000

You thought you were safe, didn’t you? You thought because the busy holiday reaching its end and the year’s remaining games have finally made their way to store shelves that you could start saving up your hard-earned money again. What you failed to realize is this was only the beginning. Over the last few years, the months following the holiday season have become just as busy, and often busier, than the holiday season itself. Early 2013 is the new crazy, and boy does it look wonderful. Head past the break for a complete rundown of the games you can expect to see draining your wallet when 2013 rolls around.

January

Anarchy Reigns — January 8
DmC: Devil May Cry — January 15
Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 — January 15
Painkiller Hell & Damnation — January 22
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch — January 22
The Cave — TBA January

February

Dead Space 3 — February 5
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time — February 5
Aliens: Colonial Marines — February 12
Lollipop Chainsaw Valentine’s Edition — February 13
Crysis 3 — February 19
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance — February 19
Rayman Legends — February 26

March

Tomb Raider — March 5
SimCity — March 5
MLB 13 The Show — March 5
Castlevania Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate — March 5
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm — March 12
God of War: Ascension — March 12
Gears of War: Judgment — March 19
Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel — March 26
BioShock Infinite — March 26
Fuse — TBA March
Devil’s Third — TBA March
Metro: Last Light — TBA March

April

Dead Island Riptide — April 23
Dark — April 26

May

The Last of Us — May 7
South Park: The Stick of Truth — May 14

November

Grand Theft Auto V – November 5

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

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