The blood and gore are main concerns, I don't find the language horrible but the violence is top-notch. And my copy (purchased at gamestop on NOV 8 2009) came with a coupon to save three dollars when buying the movie, dead space downfall. This movie is bloody, gory and has even more bad language than the game!
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Dead Space
(2008, Video Games - Survival Horror, Rated M, Play it on: Xbox 360)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Exreme blood and gore splatter mature horror game.
Why We Rated This 
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Dead Space was written by Marc Saltzman
Parents need to know that they should take heed of the "Mature" warning. Just like horror films that served as an influence in this video game thriller, players will shoot at alien creatures who spray blood and fall in a bloody heap to the floor. This is an extremely bloody and gory game. You will find decapitated humans (and can kick around their heads, as all items in the world operate on real physics). Human body parts can also be found and you can target specific parts of the body in combat. Extreme foul language abounds.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about whether EA went too far with the amount of blood and gore in this game. Could they have evoked the same spine-tingling effect without it all? Or do gamers, like many horror movie fans, enjoy all the "splatter"?
More on Dead Space
What’s the Story?
A refreshing change from all the video game sequels and movie tie-ins these days, DEAD SPACE is a brand-new thriller that combines a sci-fi storyline with "survival horror" game-play elements -- therefore it's no surprise the game makers refer to it as a cross between Alien and Resident Evil. Dead Space takes place 500 years in the future, when a rescue team travels to deep space to investigate a mining ship that has abruptly ceased contact with Earth while orbiting above an ominous-looking planet. You play as an engineer, Isaac Clarke, tasked to restore the Ishimura's communications system, but while roaming the eerie corridors you discover the ship's crew has been decimated by vicious aliens. And the E.T.s are still here.
Played from a third-person perspective, you navigate Clarke around gorgeous, high-definition environments with no icons, numbers, or maps on the screen to remind you this is a video game. Instead, you'll keep an eye on the back of the protagonist's spacesuit as it reveals his health (indicated by a glowing turquoise meter), an air supply timer (ideal for zero-gravity sequences), and on the back of most weapons, you'll see a digital number that counts down how much ammo is left. The only thing that ruins the suspension of disbelief is pictures of floppy disks you'll find strewn throughout the spaceship, which is where you can save your progress during the game.
CloseIs It Any Good?
Dead Space offers plenty of action (with the ability to target and dismember specific alien body parts); puzzle-solving challenges (such as getting machinery to work or opening locked doors); handy gadgets (like gravity boots and purchasable items using found credits); and boasts a Hollywood-worthy script, tense atmosphere, and a music soundtrack that begins with a haunting rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Kudos to EA for creating an exhilarating and nail-biting mature adventure to play alone, at night, and with the lights off. Note: the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC versions of the game all play out the same. Close
Publisher’s Details
Released on 10/14/2008, price $47-60, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language)
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language)
Our Members Say
See all 12 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
For teens and above, at least!
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
BLOWN AWAY BY IT'S AWESOMENESS
Dead Space, by EA Games, is one of the top games offered for the Xbox 360. It has a storyline driven by fear and suspense, but it has been expertly written so that every second of the game keeps you desperately wanting more. The game tells the story of Issac, an Engineer with a background in large-scale space missions. His primary goal is to reach the U.S.S. Ishimura and see what the deal is and why they have suddenly gone off of the grid. However, a slight malfunction in the ships navigation controls and mechanics causes him to hurtle towards the Ishimura, and into the most terrifying experience of his life. The gameplay is excellent, powered by an unstoppable, daunting atmosphere; the lighting engine is superb, as the walls seem to bleed with darkness. Light is just a commodity in this game, as even when you find it, it is only stale fluorescent lights (no warmth or life to the lighting aspect of the world). The sound in junction with the light makes for one hell of a ride; the audio is so expertly mixed, every sound crumbles before you and seems to be right at your shoulders, whispering into your ear. There have been many times throughout this game where I actually had to pause the game and turn around because it sounded so real! Also, the combat mechanics are loads of fun: strategic dismemberment anyone? The only way to kill these necromorphs, these transformed human beings, (THEY ARE NOT ALIENS, and NEVER HAVE BEEN...DON'T GET IT WRONG AGAIN REVIEWERS!), is to take them apart, cruelly and with much effort, limb by bloody limb. Body shots are just pud. And head shots? That only makes them more angry at you. Also, these little demented humanlings will even "play dead," and they are very convincing with it. The dialogue is beautiful, so I won't go into detail about it, just trust me, and the voice acting is spot on. They capture the fear and the intensity perfect. The only problem I have with this game is some control bugs (but they're rare and very minor things); it just seems that the kinesis module is very touchy at times, and sometimes the Zero-G physics don't always work out for they player's best intentions (i.e. DEATH). The violence is expected: this is a very horrific Survival Horror game, and there is a LOT of blood. But it's all in good, scary fun, so if you're child is mature enough to recognize that it is only a game, you're all set. I give Dead Space a 5 out of 5. Perfect game.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
perfect for preteens
its a little scary but a awsome shooter
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
Great game! Scary to heck and back though.
Dang now this game is a piece of work! Literally they did the best dang job on graphics. Also the story line is next to Bioshock in greatness. You have to read the comics and watch the movie if you have live this should be easy. The Comics are animated... And gory... Dead Space: Downfall the animated movie was worse in the gore than either comic or game even if you add both to gether. Each of the basic necomorphs or whatever are personalized. And then you don't just see body parts ripped off but whole entire faces and stuff like that. It's a good movie in the telling of the story of the fall of the Isumura but made me wanna barf my first time watching it.... But back to the game. It is pretty scary thats for sure... But interesting if you get really deep into its hidden codes.
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
Yea... 2nd most violent game ever.
For a gamer like me it wasn't too scary, but for the average person the ways you can die will make you wet yourself. I'm not even kidding. The audio, graphics, and timing are spot on. The only thing that makes it number two on my list is the fact that you get used to it very fast. But basically the huge load of violence in it makes it very older people only
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Ratings at a Glance
| 67% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 67% | of parents feel the site is safe |
| 67% | of parents say kids find it easy to play |
| 67% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 67% | of parents say there are good role models |
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