Review by Anthony Bacchus
(UCC Slumdog) aka The best looking out of the bunch
EA has really pushed their Dead Space franchise since they announced it two years ago. Even before the launch of Dead Space, they had a rather strong viral campaign, ARG, comic book series and even their own animated movie, a prequel to the events leading up to the beginning of the game. A year has passed since gamers first traversed through the decaying corridors of the Ishimura fighting off wave after wave of alien beings known as Necromorphs. It was a thrilling and satisfying entry in the survival horror genre, a genre that has been in need of something fresh. So while we wait for the inevitable sequel, what are fans supposed to look forward to? Why, another prequel of course!
Enter Dead Space: Extraction, a prequel (yes, another) to the smash hit original built exclusively on Nintendo’s machine. Visceral Games has made one of the most enjoyable, interactive and memorable on-rail shooters in quite some time. With Resident Evil: Dark Side Chronicles just on the horizon, it can be easy to overlook Extraction, but that would be one grave mistake.
As mentioned before, the story in Extraction begins before Isaac and his crew first board the Ishimura. In a clever nod to fans of the first game, Extraction starts off in the same area as the last level in the original. Here, we get to see the discovery of the strange artifact known as the “The Marker” and it’s gradual and chilling effect on the residents of the ship. The opening chapter is awesome and just as engrossing as its predecessor. It’s clear from the get-go that a lot of commitment and passion was put into the game to make this a Dead Space experience and not some cash-in shovel ware that is all too prominent in the Wii library.
-Gameplay-
You see, Extraction does what few games are willing to do: To completely immerse the player in its narrative and never ease up until the credits roll. The concept is simple, intuitive and easy enough for any novice player. You will take control of a set of new characters as they unfortunately are caught in the middle of the outbreak on the ship. This element is what makes Extraction so much like a movie. The player already knows the outcome of most of these characters. The character you are playing as is never safe and can be snatched up at any time. This foreboding feeling is what makes Extraction work and it doesn’t ever feel like a fight for survival but rather a tragic beginning to a promising series.
Let’s talk controls for a bit. Just pick up the Wii remote, aim and blast! Extraction is a 2 player game (sorry players 3 and 4) with a really basic control layout. Players use the remote to aim and shoot with B. They can pick up items around the environment with Kinesis by pressing A and yeah, there’s a reload button too. Player 1 can melee, change weapons and reload with the nunchuk attachment while player 2 has all the same functions except melee. Every weapon in the game has a primary and secondary fire which leads me to one of the simpler and imaginative Wii concepts: the player has to turn the remote on its side to operate the secondary fire option. These small details don’t ever feel like gimmicks but are all necessary to immerse the player in the game.
-Graphics-
Graphically, this game is quite a looker. Extraction never looks quite as good as its HD brethren but Visceral Games has really pushed the Wii’s capabilities here. Animations are spectacular and fluid, character and enemy models look great and lighting and particle effects are strewn about to enhance the environment. Some areas are a little too dark where it becomes difficult to see enemies and some textures look pretty ugly when up close, but this is still an awesome achievement for EA and the Wii. The only major gripe to be had is the framerate. The game runs at a steady 30fps most of the time but it does take a hit when multiple enemies are on screen. However, the slowdown never becomes a nuisance or ever hinders gameplay.
-Sound-
In the audio department, Extraction is great. The music creates just the right amount of tension to keep you on the edge of your seat. The voice acting is solid and the weapons sound like they should. A feature that doesn’t exactly work is the audio logs. For whatever reason, the audio log is played through the Wii remote speaker. Every time one of these logs is found, the player then has to bring the remote to his/her ear like a cellphone to hear the log. It’s a cool feature that just isn’t utilized as well as it could have been simply because of the poor quality that comes through the speaker.
-Multiplayer-
As a multiplayer experience, Extraction is a bit of a mixed bag. Don’t feel too discouraged because if you and your friends are all fans of the first game, then you will all dig this. The downside is that Visceral Games has clearly designed this game for the fans and not for the casual gamer. You see, Extraction has A LOT of story, and in order to tell the story, there are many, many times where you and your friend will be staring at the screen, waiting for the next Necromorph to jump out. There are moments of action for literally twenty seconds and then forced to watch a heavy dialogue sequence that lasts for nearly two minutes. While most of these sequences are entertaining, it can create an almost unbalanced multiplayer experience. For those itching for some heavy action, House of the Dead: Overkill is still the way to go.
Lastly, while Extraction is a great action romp from beginning to end, the game is never truly scary. This could be a minor complaint, but I was a little dissatisfied when compared to the original which is arguably one of the scariest games in the last couple years.
-Final Thoughts-
Dead Space: Extraction is highly recommended for Dead Space fans and Wii owners. EA and Visceral Games have created a game that brings gamers closer to an interactive movie experience. Fans will love the tie-ins and references to the original. Casual gamers might grow tired of the lack of action in the beginning chapters. The game can be completed in about 6-8 hours and the challenge modes really are, well, challenging. The Dead Space franchise has proven that this series is here to stay and that we are hungry for more Necromorph dismembering action. Bring on Dead Space 2!
Rating
