Following numerous leaks, EA has finally unveiled the third entry in the Dead Space franchise, complete with footage, story details, and a release date.
Please enter the url to a YouTube video.Dead Space 3 is a direct sequel to 2011’s Dead Space 2. After narrowly escaping from the Sprawl, protagonist Isaac Clarke and Ellie Langford crashland on Tau Volantis, an icy planet infested with – you guessed it – Necromorphs. Isaac and Ellie are separated, but Isaac meets with a man named John Carver, and sets out to find her.
Please enter the url to a YouTube video.Dead Space 3 features possibly the biggest changes to the series yet. The game removes the competitive multiplayer modes seen in Dead Space 2, and adds drop-in, drop-out co-op gameplay; as Isaac and Carver navigate their way across the planet, they will come across obstacles that require both players to work together to overcome. In addition to the Necromorphs, the duo will engage in gunfights with soldiers who want Isaac Clarke dead. To make said gunfights more fun, the game now has a cover system.
Speaking of guns, Dead Space 3 changes how you handle your weapons. The game now has universal ammo, meaning that ammo pickups will work for all weapons rather than just your Plasma Cutter or Line Gun. The workbench from previous games returns, allowing each player to decide their own path for leveling up.
If the idea of co-op in Dead Space is making you worry, don’t fret. Visceral Games has taken care to make sure that people playing single player will still get the classic Dead Space gameplay. In single player, Carver will only appear from time to time, leaving Isaac on his own for the most part. The trade off, however, is that Carver’s character isn’t developed quite as much, and players will miss out on some conversations and events.
Dead Space 3 is definitely a step forward for the series. While the co-op may possibly remove some of the horror-ness from the game, people who play on their own should still be scared out of their pants. Dead Space 3 releases in February of 2013 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.