Well.
This is going to be as comprehensive as I can manage.

I played through the entire game and the DLC Awakening. I will be reviewing that in its own little thing at the end of this. I also played entirely in co-op with a friend of mine.

Dead Space 3 is a game that *screams* 'executive meddling'. From the writing, to the pay-to-win mechanics (now partially broken due to EA closing the unprofitable storefront), to the co-op inclusion, it is very clear that people who didn't know what they were doing insisted on inserting things into the gameplay and plot.

Underneath that is some fun to be had - especially with weapon crafting and being able to inflict unique forms of pain upon necromorphs and Unitologists - but it isn't 'Dead Space' fun, it's 'generic shooter game' fun. Said shooter game elements are really not properly integrated into the gameplay, either. It's...generally just a mess of things.

The game has some of its most effective moments during the co-op missions, where you and your partner, due to being affected differently by the Markers, see different things, increasing the tension and creepiness. However, these are, obviously, locked behind co-op. Without them...well. The plot and the characterization doesn't gel too well.

The writing, especially the characters, goes sharply downhill in this game. There's a love triangle added in for no discernible reason, a main villain who lacks the hammy fun or dogged determination or eldritch freakishness of previous antagonists, and a semi-nonsensical plot that actively confuses a lot of the lore for no real reason. It doesn't work, is what I'm getting at.

The environments, though, are pretty good. Hampered by the gameplay changes, but definitely keeping the enclosed and 'functional sci fi tech' vibe. The natural environments are interesting to see as well.

The new enemies are a mixed bag between 'added for shooter gameplay fodder' and 'genuinely weird and interesting', with the latter forming a lot of the late game.

Overall, I can't recommend it if you're a Dead Space fan, unless you're a die-hard completionist, in which case, this is 5 bucks on Steam when sales happen usually and so you can grab a friend, buy a copy each, and have some dumb fun mocking the writing and killing necromorphs for a few hours until it's wrapped up.

Now, Awakening.

Awakening takes the writing back to its roots. It's still hampered quite a bit by the co-op inclusion but given it's essentially 'mind screw, the levels'...it's fun, is what I'm getting at. Dead Space style mind♥♥♥♥ery.

Well. This is going to be as comprehensive as I can manage. I played through the entire game and the DLC Awakening. I will be reviewing that in its own little thing at the end of this. I also played entirely in co-op with a friend of mine. Dead Space 3 is a game that *screams* 'executive meddling'. From the writing, to the pay-to-win mechanics (now partially broken due to EA closing the unprofitable storefront), to the co-op inclusion, it is very clear that people who didn't know what they were doing insisted on inserting things into the gameplay and plot. Underneath that is some fun to be had - especially with weapon crafting and being able to inflict unique forms of pain upon necromorphs and Unitologists - but it isn't 'Dead Space' fun, it's 'generic shooter game' fun. Said shooter game elements are really not properly integrated into the gameplay, either. It's...generally just a mess of things. The game has some of its most effective moments during the co-op missions, where you and your partner, due to being affected differently by the Markers, see different things, increasing the tension and creepiness. However, these are, obviously, locked behind co-op. Without them...well. The plot and the characterization doesn't gel too well. The writing, especially the characters, goes sharply downhill in this game. There's a love triangle added in for no discernible reason, a main villain who lacks the hammy fun or dogged determination or eldritch freakishness of previous antagonists, and a semi-nonsensical plot that actively confuses a lot of the lore for no real reason. It doesn't work, is what I'm getting at. The environments, though, are pretty good. Hampered by the gameplay changes, but definitely keeping the enclosed and 'functional sci fi tech' vibe. The natural environments are interesting to see as well. The new enemies are a mixed bag between 'added for shooter gameplay fodder' and 'genuinely weird and interesting', with the latter forming a lot of the late game. Overall, I can't recommend it if you're a Dead Space fan, unless you're a die-hard completionist, in which case, this is 5 bucks on Steam when sales happen usually and so you can grab a friend, buy a copy each, and have some dumb fun mocking the writing and killing necromorphs for a few hours until it's wrapped up. Now, Awakening. Awakening takes the writing back to its roots. It's still hampered quite a bit by the co-op inclusion but given it's essentially 'mind screw, the levels'...it's fun, is what I'm getting at. Dead Space style mindfuckery.