Dead Space 2

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Very scary shooter with severe violence, gore, and cussing.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Dead Space 2 is not only very scary -- with disturbing-looking creatures who can jump out of the dark at you -- but there is also plenty of violence, blood (and bile), and gore. It is an M-rated game that earns its rating and is not meant for kids or teens. Enemy creatures can be stabbed, shot, lit on fire, dismembered, and beheaded with the myriad of weapons at your disposal. And when your character dies, you can be impaled in the head by your enemy's spiky appendages -- and the camera becomes very close so you can see all the gory detail. Humans and aliens cry and shriek in pain when killed, blood stains the floor and walls, and body parts are strewn throughout some environments. The game also has coarse language, including the "f--k," heard during dialogue sequences. The TV commercial for the game promotes the fact that it's very violent and gory, showing mothers' shocked and disgusted reactions to the video game playing on the screen.

  • While you're a human trying to survive a brutal alien invasion (and get healed from your alien-induced dementia), you rely primarily on extreme violence to complete the task.
  • Isaac Clarke seems like a good guy, who is simply trying to stay alive, but he uses tools at his disposal, including all kinds of weapons, special suits, and some powers like telekinesis. He doesn't seem to enjoy what he's doing to these Necromorph aliens, though -- it's a matter of survival by any means necessary -- but the means are violent, gory, and excessive.
  • As with Dead Space and Dead Space Extraction, this new game in the survival horror action series is fairly easy to control -- especially for seasoned players. There might be a slight learning curve at the beginning of the game but the tutorial and manual can help.
  • As with its predecessors, Dead Space 2 features many graphic scenes of severe violence, including enemies you can stab, shoot, dismember, decapitate, impale, and light on fire with the various weapons and powers in the game. Players will see copious amounts of blood and gore -- including violent attacks on you, the protagonist, who might get a spiky appendage through the forehead and see blood gush out of the gaping mouth. Or your head might be chewed off. There are even "Necromorph" enemies that look like babies and others that can spew toxic bile. Blood can be seen smeared on walls and floors, along with human bodies and body parts.  
  • Not applicable.
  • The game has some strong language, right from the beginning of the game, including "f--k," "s--t," "holy s--t," "damn," "hell" and "bitch."
  • Not applicable.
  • You can stomp on crates to reveal medical packs for healing.

What's it about?

Taking place 500 years in the future, DEAD SPACE 2 is a sequel that begins shortly after the events from the first game. Isaac Clarke, an engineer assigned to restore a mining ship's damaged communications systems, awakens from an amnesiac spell on the Sprawl, a giant metropolis orbiting Saturn. He finds himself wrapped in a strait-jacket while being interrogated by an officer, during another relentless attack by the vicious "Necromorph" creatures. You, as Clarke, soon discover you're suffering from dementia caused by an ancient artifact you found in the first game; and not only must you escape the carnage, but must also find a mysterious woman who claims to have a cure for your illness. Played from a third-person perspective, the game has plenty of nail-biting moments as the enemies jump out from the shadows with claw-like appendages, ready to impale you.


Is it any good?

 

Dead Space 2 is terrifyingly good -- if you can stomach the gore and you enjoy fright-filled moments. You'll acquire many high-tech weapons, melee attacks, and powers such as telekinesis, which allow you to
pull objects toward you (such as a nearby crowbar or even human bodies)
and push them back toward the various types of Necromorphs. Along with wandering the creepy corridors and rooms on the Sprawl, Dead
Space 2
also lets you visit other locations not revealed in this
review for fear of spoiling the surprises. The game features high-definition graphics, cinematic camera angles, and
Hollywood-quality music and sound effects. Along with the solo campaign, which should last about 12 hours, multiplayer has been added to the franchise with online support for
up to 4-on-4 matches. Electronic Arts' mature space adventure lives up to the hype and
sets the bar high for other videogames in 2011. But be sure you like
being scared before you buy, as this is one to play with the lights off
and speakers turned up.

Online interaction: Gamers can take the fight online against human opponents (humans versus Necromorphs), up to four-on-four, and chat with each other via headset microphone to strategize. Language is not filtered and can be unpredictable.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the appeal of these survival horror games. Do players enjoy the scary moments, not unlike a game of Silent Hill or Resident Evil, or is it the intense action sequences as you fight to stay alive against hoards of alien creatures? Or perhaps it's the sci-fi setting in the 26th century that appeals to players the most? A combination of all three?

  • Could EA have made the game with less violence, gore, and profanity and make it just as thrilling?


This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Parent of 10, 12, and 14 year old
February 27, 2011
 
This is the most gory game EVER!
I have to admit dead space 2 is as gory as hell, if you like that sort of thing, you are going to LOVE this game. However, this game is NOT to be played by Kids and teens. Expect copious amounts of gore, language and scares! The atmosphere is so tense, it makes resident evil look like Scooby doo. Also there is the multiplayer, this is one of the best multiplayer games since MW2. The fact you can decapitate other people online is highly amusing and invigorating. All in all this is one of the best (goriest) games of the decade, up high with the likes of mass effect 2, MW2 and halo reach.

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Adult
February 26, 2011
 
This is the most violent and gory game i have ever played it is all around messed up there is like 50 different ways for isacc clark to die all including insane amounts of blood and gore i played a part where guy a goes crazy and slits his throat resulting in blood all over the window next to him

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Parent
May 25, 2011
 
OK for some 12 year olds
This game, while fairly violent, is not really all that bad. You can shoot the limbs off necromorphs, the monsters in the game, but they hardly even look like humans anymore. The cursing only comes up when the main character talks with someone else, which really doesn't come up that much. Overall, this game is ok for some 12-year-olds, and if they played any other game where you fight zombie-like monsters, this will not be much different.

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Teen, 18 years old
April 23, 2011
 
I fiind this game as an exciting introduction into the world of horror gaming (Dead Space being the FIRST horror game, which then lead me to Dead Space 2.) Being a 17 year old myself I do agree that it IS a gory and violent game, but that is what the developers made it to be. It's suitability for those younger than 16, is poor as it depicts a very unusual and horrifying situation in which violence IS a major part. But, it's still a good game nevertheless and I would recommend it to those over 16 or to whom could handle/enjoy these types of games.

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Teen, 14 years old
April 18, 2011
 
if u want the best horror 3rd person game out there here it is if not want to peep your pants i wouldn't buy it but over all good game.

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Teen, 16 years old
January 31, 2011
 
YAAAAY

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Teen, 18 years old
February 23, 2011
 
One of the most amazing games to ever grace any game system.
This game is beyond amazing. I have never been more simultaneously terrified and invigorated in my life then when I play this game. What you need to know going in is, even by horror standards, this game is extraordinarily gory. Expect every encounter with a Necromorph to include one or more of the following: dismemberment, decapitation, impalings, combustion, evisceration, stabbing, and much more. This game is incredibly violent, but I wouldn't have it any other way. The violence is necessary to convey the terror. It bothers me that CSM can't see that. Also, they mention that Isaac uses violence to get out of intense situations. What else do you expect? We're talking about mindless abominations that want nothing more than to kill and breed. How would you recommend taking care of the problem? Anyway, the graphics are stellar, the atmosphere makes Resident Evil look cute, and the overall experience is positively riveting. The variety of weapons and powers that can be used keeps combat fresh and interesting. You may have to pause the game and put it down for a half hour every once in a while, but it's thoroughly enjoyable. This game is not for kids or young teens, but if you've got a strong stomach, dive in and enjoy.

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Teen, 14 years old
March 11, 2011
 
(wiper,scream,gore)
if you buy it you will want bars on your window and you will want to sleep with a shotgun but all good fun

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Teen, 16 years old
April 18, 2011
 
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
A terrifing game. But good graphics and a great story.

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Parent of 8 and 11 year old
February 9, 2011
 
Big fun but also big scares.
Although it is great, it is not a kids game. It has lots of violence, blood, gore, and langauge all displayed in an over the top, distubing enviornment.

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This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Platforms:Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
Available online?Available online
Genre:Survival Horror
Developer:Electronic Arts
Release date:January 25, 2011
Price:$59.99
ESRB rating:M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

This review was written by Marc Saltzman

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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