Zero Punctuation: Dead Space 2
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
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Regardless of his gripes, many of which do have merit, it's still a fine game. It's "survival horror" not straight up horror. It's supposed to be in your face and sort of tense. I mean, let's be honest here, how many games have been geniuely scary over the years? I can think of....three: Silent Hill 2, Penumbra(both games counting as one together), and Amnesia: The Dark Descent.
Sure, some games have had scary moments, like Half-Life 1 and the other Silent Hill games, but most games aren't outright scary. Those three are scary because they don't try to be "slasher movie" scary, but "The Exorcist" scary, in which they fuck with your head and give you extreme paranoia. For example, in Silent Hill 3 I remember a scene where you walk into a small room, and find a diamond necklace around a mannequin, but it has no clasp and is too short to get over the mannequins head. So you start to walk out, hear a scream, and go back. The mannequin's head is now gone and there is blood all over it and the walls. Okay, that's pretty damn creepy, but most scenes before that are OOGA BOOGA BOO type shit. Compare that to Silent Hill 2, when you are being stalked by an unkillable beast of a man in Pyramid Head, and near the end of the game you discover there are two of him, and you can't kill them. Instead, they up and decide to kill themselves to let you proceed. Or just the much subtler bits that baffle you and freak you out, like the legendary graffiti "There was a hole here. It's gone now."
Sure, some games have had scary moments, like Half-Life 1 and the other Silent Hill games, but most games aren't outright scary. Those three are scary because they don't try to be "slasher movie" scary, but "The Exorcist" scary, in which they fuck with your head and give you extreme paranoia. For example, in Silent Hill 3 I remember a scene where you walk into a small room, and find a diamond necklace around a mannequin, but it has no clasp and is too short to get over the mannequins head. So you start to walk out, hear a scream, and go back. The mannequin's head is now gone and there is blood all over it and the walls. Okay, that's pretty damn creepy, but most scenes before that are OOGA BOOGA BOO type shit. Compare that to Silent Hill 2, when you are being stalked by an unkillable beast of a man in Pyramid Head, and near the end of the game you discover there are two of him, and you can't kill them. Instead, they up and decide to kill themselves to let you proceed. Or just the much subtler bits that baffle you and freak you out, like the legendary graffiti "There was a hole here. It's gone now."
Too bad to see Yahtzee getting on the "I don't like the Isaac voice over" bandwagon. Granted its not Oscar worthy, but it was about as good as game characters go.
And anyone who expected DS2 to be even remotely scary having played DS1 deserved a kick in the face. Which brings me to another point: how come we judge the game by what someone says it should be, in this case a horror game? True, its not all that scary, but its still one of the best shooters to come out in recent months. Take the game for what it is , not what someone tells you it should be.
Wet wolverine.... lol.
And anyone who expected DS2 to be even remotely scary having played DS1 deserved a kick in the face. Which brings me to another point: how come we judge the game by what someone says it should be, in this case a horror game? True, its not all that scary, but its still one of the best shooters to come out in recent months. Take the game for what it is , not what someone tells you it should be.
Wet wolverine.... lol.
That's actually the opening of DS2. I was thinking when I played it "Geez, this is totally in reaction to Yahtzee complaining that there's no threat in modern survival horror." You're essentially running around in a straightjacket trying to get away.
I dunno, his critiques are valid, but I still really love the game. I guess I'm not as hard hearted because the baby scene really creeped me out.
Then again, it's his job to be critical, and it's mine to have the best experience I can with my 60 bucks.
I've made through the entire second half of the game using only the Ripper and the Plasma Cutter, and I only used the Cutter when it was really necessary (with the exploding babies for example, seeing as you can't let them get near you to use the Ripper). But on the other hand, I fully upgraded the weapon to do that, and was constantly using Stasis (especially with those Stalker Necromorphs that peek at you from corners and the sprint in your direction). But still, there were moments where I could defeat 3 enemies with a single shot.Jandau said:
On the other hand, I only used the Ripper, Plasma Cutter, Line Gun and Javelin, so I can't give an opinion about the other weapons like the Detonator or Flamethrower.
Lol you guys need to calm down about this game not being some sort of psychological horror masterpiece. It was never billed to be.
It's a TPS with horror elements, and it's a great game for what it is.
I dont see anybody criticizing zombie games for not being scary.
It's a TPS with horror elements, and it's a great game for what it is.
I dont see anybody criticizing zombie games for not being scary.
I though he was going to talk about "the steps" and Stross and/or Ellie, and also, that thing you have to do the last or second-last chapter or was fucking harrowing (for me at least), but I love fighting the Stalkers because they are just hilarious, except when they bullrush you and take ½ your lifebar away.
+ The upgraded Assault Rifle is also really good, but it can eat lots of ammo.
Edit: I hate those fucking babies and pukers
+ The upgraded Assault Rifle is also really good, but it can eat lots of ammo.
Edit: I hate those fucking babies and pukers
Holy crap, the baby scene was just creepy! I was looking through the window and thinking "Awww, maybe there is a trace of humanity in these thiOOOOOOOH MY GOD!!!" and shortly afterwards "OH CRAP OH CRAP THEY'RE EVERYWHERE GO AWAY GO AWAY!!!!"lumpenprole said:
Exactly my thoughts on it. After around 10 more minutes (first level), I exited and deleted the game.
As for criticizing zombie games for not being scary.. it depends on how they are portrayed. L4D is a joke without a doubt, thus I don't care for bashing it. But Dead Space... tries so hard to be serious, yet uses totally unbelievable tools at it.
As for criticizing zombie games for not being scary.. it depends on how they are portrayed. L4D is a joke without a doubt, thus I don't care for bashing it. But Dead Space... tries so hard to be serious, yet uses totally unbelievable tools at it.
Lol you really cant safely say that.Soylent Bacon said:
The majority of people who play this(including myself) will say that in comparison to the first game, this is more and better. There's quite a bit of improvement here. The only complaint I have seen people make is that they liked the previous atmosphere more for the "feel" of being alone in space on a ship.
gl1koz3 said:
So games with horror elements can only be really scary or ironic? Otherwise it fails?
Sorry, but as far as intensity and atmosphere goes this franchise has been pretty spot on. It's an action game at heart.
I don't know what he's talking about with the saw gun. i really hated the ripper in dead space. unless you really upgrade it it wasn't that powerful. it was terrible when you got surrounded. and it was only useful from a specific distance. too close and the blade would go past the monster and you would have to coax it into moving into the foreground. too far away and you had to shoot the blade which like i said isn't very powerful and compared to the cutter isn't very accurate.
Huh, this didn't seem as negative as the first Dead Space review despite the large amount of criticism still present... maybe it's the tone, I don't know. What I do know however is that more people do like this game than they're letting on but every week you get the usual quick replies along the lines of "LOL I ALREADY THOUGHT THIS! THIS GAME SUX!"
Anyway I haven't actually bought this game yet despite enjoying the first, although this might just be because I rediscovered old PC games after many years.
YAY!
Anyway I haven't actually bought this game yet despite enjoying the first, although this might just be because I rediscovered old PC games after many years.
YAY!
there were only a few truly fucked up moments in DS2 the introduction to the baby-bombers ranks highest i would say