Snap Judgment: Dead Space Extraction
by Justin McElroy 
{ Sep 30th 2009 at 1:20PM } 
When we review a game without finishing it, we call it a Snap Judgment. Read why here.
Time played: 3 hours
I'm personally a big fan of on-rails shooters, a genre that I think rarely gets its due. I'm not all that big on exploration, and I'm lazy, so having someone else take the reigns for me is a welcome relief, allowing me to focus on the all-important business of murder.
So it's quite a treat to see a game like Dead Space Extraction that strikes a blow for lazy guys everywhere by finding the strengths of the genre and running with them.
Gallery: Dead Space: Extraction
A prequel to the 360/PS3 game, DSE returns you to familiar locations like the Ishimura and Aegis VII as you and your rugged and expendable band of colonists try to survive the Necromorph invasion. Besides just being narratively connected, DSE brings along some of Dead Space's weapons and enemies, as well as its focus on dismemberment (a perfect fit for an on-rails shooter). There's even an alternate fire mode for each gun -- triggered by turning the Wiimote on its side.
You also have access to Dead Space staples like Kinesis (which is how you grab ammo and weapon upgrades) and enemy-slowing Stasis, which now recharges over time, a welcome change from DSE's older brother.
Sure, there are the requisite motion control gimmicks -- the most notable and frustrating is a welding minigame that requires the rock-steady hands of a surgeon -- but they're blessedly rare.
The biggest and most pleasant surprise is that putting the experience on rails never feels like a de-evolution. While Visceral has taken away your camera control for most of the game, they're very good stewards of it. You're always oriented towards the most exciting thing on screen, and there are plenty of cinematic sequences that are really amazing to experience in first person. Sliding down a nearly pitch black tunnel as you take frantic potshots at the wave of Necromorphs in front of you is a special brand of terror that I'm not sure the original game could have ever replicated.
It's a testament to both the world of Dead Space and Visceral Games' skill that the series can shed both some hardware power and its own genre and still be able to scare the hell out of you.
You also have access to Dead Space staples like Kinesis (which is how you grab ammo and weapon upgrades) and enemy-slowing Stasis, which now recharges over time, a welcome change from DSE's older brother.
Sure, there are the requisite motion control gimmicks -- the most notable and frustrating is a welding minigame that requires the rock-steady hands of a surgeon -- but they're blessedly rare.
The biggest and most pleasant surprise is that putting the experience on rails never feels like a de-evolution. While Visceral has taken away your camera control for most of the game, they're very good stewards of it. You're always oriented towards the most exciting thing on screen, and there are plenty of cinematic sequences that are really amazing to experience in first person. Sliding down a nearly pitch black tunnel as you take frantic potshots at the wave of Necromorphs in front of you is a special brand of terror that I'm not sure the original game could have ever replicated.
It's a testament to both the world of Dead Space and Visceral Games' skill that the series can shed both some hardware power and its own genre and still be able to scare the hell out of you.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
WREturns (Looking for a graphic designer) @ Sep 30th 2009 1:24PM
I just decided that I'm buying this. My love for Dead Space outweighs my hatred for On-rails Shooters.
knor @ Sep 30th 2009 2:35PM
no lie, i kinda wanna buy a wii to play this game.
and i get paid friday...
Freakwincy42 @ Sep 30th 2009 3:05PM
Wii just price dropped, you know. there are some truly great games for the system, as long as you dig them out from under the shovelware. that's why they call it shovelware, a reference to the tool needed to clear them away from the good stuff. maybe. it's an excellent second (or third) system. great for a handful of exclusives, and for when friends come by who suck at CoD.
WREturns (Looking for a graphic designer) @ Sep 30th 2009 9:16PM
Just bought it, will be playing later tonight.
Jose @ Sep 30th 2009 1:28PM
Loving these Snap Judgments more and more, and it's great to see one go the other way (unless I obviously missed a few installments).
Mr Khan @ Sep 30th 2009 1:30PM
So the question of whether removal of control would hurt the experience has a positive outcome?
I figured it would, so long as the game was given the proper tlc. It was more a question of whether this would be good or bad overall, than whether the element of control would come into play.
Duke @ Sep 30th 2009 2:24PM
I disagree, I think those of us who have the PS3/360 versions knew the game contents itself would be solid and the question was whether the "control" or on-rails treatment would ruin the experience.
Nigeria: Charmy Bee DF @ Sep 30th 2009 1:30PM
I can't wait to play this game, but I can't justify buying it yet while I find myself immersed in the Metroid Prime Trilogy. But come October, I am so going to buy this game.
Being a horror, I do wonder how the scare tactics manifests itself throughout the duration of the game. If it's the jump out of the closet type scare, ala Doom 3, it might get a bit tiresome after 20 minutes or so. But I've heard good things about this so I probably shouldn't worry too much.
RobLink (Alex Kidd incarnate) @ Sep 30th 2009 1:52PM
"But come October, I am so going to buy this game"
So tomorrow then?
Nigeria: Charmy Bee DF @ Sep 30th 2009 2:23PM
Dude, I clearly meant Rocktober. I think so, anyway.
Oh, also, I'm glad to hear McElroy has come out of the closet and declared himself to be a rail shooter fan. Genuine fans of this most awesome of genres seem to be few and far between around these parts.
RobLink (Alex Kidd incarnate) @ Sep 30th 2009 2:59PM
With the quality on rails games on the Wii, there's bound to be plenty more now than a few years ago.
Shimrra @ Sep 30th 2009 1:32PM
This game is a rental at best. It is worth playing but after 2 runs thru it you pretty much have seen everything.
uncle jesse @ Sep 30th 2009 1:35PM
I was one of the many that was quick to dismiss this title, but it seems like it's getting a pretty positive response from almost everyone who's tried it out. I guess the saying still goes that you can't judge a book by it's cover...or a video game by it's DSG.
I'm might be picking this one up now.
charlie b. @ Sep 30th 2009 1:36PM
this article needs more Dead Space Girl.
cylet @ Sep 30th 2009 1:51PM
needs more "terrifying" example of dead space girl
bongoes the Black Lantern @ Sep 30th 2009 2:59PM
I'm disappointed. She should be showing up every where to celebrate the game.
Maulok @ Sep 30th 2009 1:42PM
Definitely on the amazon wish list now!
tmacairjordan87 @ Sep 30th 2009 1:43PM
Yeah, still a rental at best for me. Not enough game here to warrant a purchase, not to mention it is a rail shooter.
Anti-Villian @ Oct 1st 2009 6:46AM
We all know you're not going to rent it.
Stix Remix @ Sep 30th 2009 1:52PM
So you played the game for three hours. How long is the game? Do you feel you were half way through? A quarter finished?
I know this isn't a "review," but a bit more information would be useful.
ponceturtle @ Sep 30th 2009 1:57PM
I bough it yesterday. I have to say that there are some goods and some bad things.
goods: great graphics for a wii game, intriguing story, very disturbing scenes,
bad: rail shooter, sometimes i missed a lot of items and details, get repetitive in many ways, it becomes more action that scary.
this game should have to de either a FSP or a third person view game the reason is that when you feel that you move the character and where to go it gives you the creeps and make you live the moment.
as a rail shooter you are just obligated to walk and do things and it becomes to demanding as tedious.
all my complaint all about the rail shooting thing in the game.
Miku @ Sep 30th 2009 2:02PM
I'm glad it sounds so good, I love rail shooters (total arcade nostalgia!) and like getting use out of my Wii that isn't party-game oriented so this is a win/win for me.
Kewlrats @ Sep 30th 2009 2:34PM
On-rails shooters are the new FPS. I'm calling it now. And then after that, the FPS will be the new FPS. I'm calling it 7 years in advance.
dronesensor @ Sep 30th 2009 4:42PM
I'll probably enjoy this more than the original. Running through the same damn corridors for hours was not suspenseful or exciting to me. I fucking hate forced backtracking in games that are as linear as Dead Space, so this more "focused" experience sounds like an improvement over the mind-numbingly boring "exploration" of the original game.
blob wii fan @ Oct 14th 2009 12:50AM
keep it comin'! this review is great!
http://wiichronicles.com/store/best-wii-games/dead-space-extraction