Dead Space Extraction

Posted 3 years ago By - Brian Edey

Built from the ground up and developed exclusively for the Wii, Dead Space Extraction is a prequel that reveals the events leading up to Isaac Clarke’s mission on the USG Ishimura in the original Dead Space game released in 2008. Dead Space Extraction marries the innovative motion controls of the Wii Remote with a frenetic first person perspective to create a new action-packed horror experience. Dead Space Extraction tells the story of a handful of space colonists desperately struggling to escape from a horrific infection on the Aegis VII mining colony deep in the furthest regions of space. The game introduces a new heroine to the fiction and as the crew fall victim to a mysterious contagion aboard the ship, it becomes clear that protecting her may be their only hope for survival. Dead Space Extraction introduces all new characters, weapons, enemies, puzzles and co-operative multiplayer gameplay.

Gameplay

Dead Space Extraction is one game in a genre the Wii was certainly built for, the on-rails shooter. There have been a few outstanding examples of this genre type such as the recent House of the Dead Overkill. When EA and Visceral announced that their new Dead Space game was not like the first game and was actually an on-rails shooter I had to admit I was a bit disappointed. When the game was finally released I have to also admit it blew away any expectation I had.

The gameplay is simple. You use the Wii-mote to aim at the screen and use the B button to shoot and the A button to pick up items and boxes throughout the game. The nunchuck is used for reloading your weapons and the C button is to use your stasis weapon which is handy for slowing down objects and more importantly the faster enemies and if you move it you will melee with a rock pick.

The Wii-mote is also used for light in very dark areas and the source of the light is referred to as a glow worm which you turn on by shaking the Wii-mote in dark areas. Turning the Wii-mote on its side turns on alternate fire modes for your weapons and like most games, alternate or secondary fire is better than your normal weapons.

The weapons in Extraction are the same for the most part as the first game such as Plasma Cutter, Pulse Rifle and Ripper but a couple of new ones such as the Rivet Gun and P-Sec Pistol. The Rivet gun always has ammo and is used in a couple of mini-games. It does not have much destructive power but it can save you during those hectic areas when you run out of ammo and your stasis weapon and rivet gun are your only choices.

Beyond the lengthy single player game which is excellent, you can play the game with a friend but only locally and there is also a Challenge Mode where you face off against incoming enemies as you play the games earlier levels. These are unlocked as you play the single player campaign. There are also animated comics which you can view after you unlock them which add to the overall lore and story of the Dead Space games.

Graphics

The Wii might be the weakest of the three consoles this generation in terms of overall graphic prowess, but this is a great looking game which should not be looked at lightly. The game runs at a smooth frame rate from start to finish, the animations for all of the characters and necromorphs are great and the special effects are excellent. Even the level design which was outstanding in the first Dead Space game is just as good this time around or even more since this is a game which follows a pre-determined path. I cannot think of a better looking Wii game in general terms.

Audio

Dead Space Extraction’s audio is excellent. The familiar audio from the previous Dead Space game is all there so as you travel throughout the levels the same eerie environmental sounds and ghostly whispers. The voice acting is also excellent for every character you play and come across in the game. I was especially impressed by the voice acting for the voice logs you come across which are spoken through the Wii-mote’s speaker. This is certainly one of the best sounding games on the Wii.

Value

Dead Space Extraction is a great game and well worth playing over and over again by yourself or your friend in the local Co-operative mode. Surprising graphics, audio, voice acting and gameplay make this a hell of a good time and a high value game. Even the bonus unlockable animated comics are fun to watch and add to the overall value of the game and series.

Bottom Line

Dead Space is by far one of the best Survival Horror franchises on the market. It brought many new and familiar interesting features to the table on the big consoles but many people were wondering if the Wii could handle this game. Well Electronic Arts and Visceral Games have knocked this ball out of the park and we have possibly one of the best games on the Wii. Buy this game, do not stop and think about it, just buy it and prepare for some survival horror on rails action.