Into the Void

Dead Space
Atmosphere. It can make or break a game -- particularly one as derivative as Dead Space. If you don't buy into the game's mise-en-scène, Dead Space is going to feel like a shallow rehashing of Resident Evil 4's over-the-back game mechanics with a cynical splash of BioShock and Half-Life [does every FPS have to shoehorn in a telekinesis function now?]. Which, to be perfectly clear, it kind of is.

But - and this is a precipitous but - the stunningly cinematic environments may also have you suspending your disbelief and stealthily lurking down the eerily lit corridors of the USG Ishimura because you are honestly a little bit scared of what might be lurking behind the next blind-spot -- even though it is just another silly game.

Perhaps the highest compliment I can give: as soon as this game was over, I couldn't wait to start over and play through it again.

Grade: A-