Dead Space 2
From the subtle to the visceral, Dead Space 2 is a horror game that has no problem discussing concepts such as religion, the afterlife, and evolution. While the original title talked about many of the same issues, it’s the sequel that cranked everything to 11 all while offering a more in-depth character exploration of our hero Isaac Clarke. Set on a space station dubbed the Sprawl the hero from the original game, Isaac Clarke, has been admitted due to extreme PTSD caused by the events of the last game. One thing leads to another and eventually the reanimating monsters known as the Necromorphs return and lay bloody siege to the floating city. Players then go on a tour of various gruesome locations in order to not only survive, but discover the truth of what happened.
What makes Dead Space 2’s story so memorable is how it understands and leans into the haunted house tropes that make up the majority of its scares. There are a lot of horror games that approach their gameplay and narrative in this manner, with scares coming from monsters jumping out of nowhere, moving shadows, and flickering lights. Yet, Dead Space 2 masterfully molds them around an interesting story, letting the various set pieces such as a hospital, school, and shopping area simply serve as a backdrop. Not only does this give the story room to breathe, but it also offers a solid amount of visual storytelling that allows players to understand who the people were on the Sprawl. Dead Space 2 may not be full of nuanced discussions, but it embraces the summer horror movie aesthetic and owns every aspect of it.
