As pretentious gamers, it’s easy to write off EA as simply an outlet for shallow licensed games which are underdeveloped and quickly forgotten. I suppose it was only a matter of time before they proved us all wrong. With Dead Space, EA Redwood Shores has not only delivered a solid horror action title, but the finest entry in the horror genre since Resident Evil 4 (or BioShock if you qualify that as a horror title, I suppose).

You take on the role of Isaac Clarke, who is part of a team of engineers responding to a distress call on the USG Ishimura, a mining ship in a remote corner of the galaxy. As you might guess, there is something amiss aboard the Ishimura, and it’s more than mechanical failure.

In Dead Space you are never safe. And while that may sound like a cliché to be slapped on packaging, in this case it is genuinely true. Want to check out your inventory? Well you’d better make sure you’ve cleared the room. That’s because every interface in the game, be it upgrading guns at a work bench or buying items from the store takes place in real time. And just because an enemy is on the other side of a wall now doesn’t mean they aren’t a threat. They will routinely use the vents to find you. It’s quite a rude awakening when you realize that you have just been killed because the standard operating procedure of games has been abandoned in favor of a terrifying level of immersion. And it doesn’t stop there; Dead Space oozes atmosphere at every turn. A great touch is the lack of a HUD. Health remaining is indicated by the light on the back of your armor (aka your “rig”) and ammo remaining is projected by the gun itself.

The story is also presented with a lack of cut scenes, relying almost entirely on in-game audio transmissions and video logs projected from the rig. And although it certainly doesn’t break any new ground in storytelling, the plot and characters are serviceable and the acting is quite good in a few cases.

And as solid as the presentation is here, the gameplay is just as good. The controls and camera are very reminiscent of Resident Evil 4.  This means that you can’t simply run circles around enemies, and also that you have a limited enough viewing area to have you nervously checking behind you more often than you’d like to admit.

Mechanically, the aiming system is fine, and while the variety of weapons isn’t astounding, it’s varied enough and all are upgradeable. The only real issue to be had is with the melee attacks. Both the punch and curb stomp are awkward to perform and nearly impossible to land on the generally very fast-moving enemies. These moves become more useful as ways to conserve ammo by stomping item crates instead of shooting them.

The addition of kinesis and stasis powers are also very welcome and allow for a wide variety of options for taking down the hideous monsters overrunning the Ishimura, known as necromorts. You will be swarmed by these things and even though it’s tempting to just fire away, Dead Space really requires accuracy above all else. The fastest way to dispose of enemies is not by shooting the head, but by blowing away their limbs. If you simply try to overpower them with pure force, you aren’t going to last very long. Not just because you will be killed, but because the game is a constant struggle to maintain a decent amount of ammo. You can burn through a full supply very quickly if you aren’t very careful. This lends itself to the intensity as much as any other aspect of the game.

Of course a game that relies on atmosphere so heavily could only work with great visuals, and Dead Space delivers an incredible experience both artistically and technically. The production design is clearly inspired by classic motion pictures in the genre, namely Alien, and the dramatic lighting and crisp textures bring it all to life. The audio fares just as well, with a fantastic surround mix (complete with all the startling bumps in the night you can imagine) and an unnerving suspense score.

Unfortunately the conclusion of the game is a bit underwhelming. The final boss is fairly straightforward and the resolution of the story doesn’t provide much resolution at all. Nor does it provide an interesting cliffhanger, making for an unmemorable end to what has been a very memorable game. There is also a bit too much backtracking aboard the Ishimura. Even though the destination is always clearly indicated, you will find yourself visiting a few of the locations multiple times.

In the grand scope of the game, however, these are really just mild disappointments. Dead Space is an incredibly intense game that should satisfy anyone craving a lot of scares and a lot of carnage. EA Redwood Shores is clearly a very talented developer and they have crafted an intense and immersive title that is among the best games I’ve played this year.

Gameplay: 9.0
A fantastic combination of intense action and exploration, along with a modest, but welcome, amount of customization.

Graphics: 9.0 
Very good art direction is brought to life via incredibly rendered, gritty environments and excellent physics. The framerate isn’t perfect, but it never affects play either.

Sound: 9.5
Solid voice acting and a suitably creepy score are completely overshadowed by the incredible sound effects, particularly the various clanks and clangs of a derelict ship.

Difficulty: Medium
Difficulty is selectable, but the game is certainly no pushover. Conserve your ammo!

Concept: 9.0 
While the idea of horrific monsters in space is far from original, and the controls are obviously inspired by Resident Evil 4, the execution here is top notch all around. The presentation is excellent.

Overall: 9.0
Dead Space is a top notch action game that will undoubtedly keep you at the edge of your seat. It’s highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good scare followed by a lot of gunfire.