Grave Gamer News & Views — dead space 3

Dead Space 3: Co-op, Weapons, and More Detailed in Possible Info Leak

IGN has cracked open a planet’s worth of potential details regarding Visceral Games’ next Dead Space (which, for posterity’s sake, we’ll assume is Dead Space 3).  Citing a dependable source, the following list of deets further reinforces the rumors of a deserted tundra planet as a setting and the implementation of co-op throughout the story.

The original article goes in depth on the leaked information, but feel free to peruse the narrowed down list of notables below:

• Isaac Clarke returns to tangle with the vicious necromorphs, crash landing on an icy wasteland of a world where he discovers a mysterious facility.  This time he’s joined by a fellow RIG wearing man who serves as a sort of guide in single-player and is controllable in co-op.
• Speaking of, the game features drop-in, drop out co-op.
• You and your co-op partner can share inventory items as well as heal one another – though there is no revive system, meaning dead is dead.
• The story changes slightly to accommodate two players (usually plugging in your partner in moments where there would just be Isaac if you play solo).
• Work benches from previous games have been reconfigured to an unknown extent, but their effect will give you drastically different alt. fire modes for even once familiar weapons like the infamous Plasma Cutter.
• Isaac is still afflicted by those bug-shit crazy hallucinations.
• Your maneuverability sees new additions including the ability to crouch in order to harness cover and a new dodge mechanic that allows you to roll out of harm’s way.
• Isaac is “more nimble in the cold”…for whatever the hell reason.
• In a series first, you’ll fight humans as well as necromorphs.  Be wary, as the very same humans can still become necromorhps.  You’ll also want to throw some concern over to the skyscraper-tall beasts (like giant sandworms) roaming about.

I’ve got to say, it all sounds pretty darned feasible.  And what with the way rumors nowadays seem to blossom into beautiful, shiny facts, I’d be none too surprised to see all of this confirmed at the E3 reveal for the game.  Hell, I want all this to be real.  Co-op Dead Space where Isaac gets to roll around in the snow fighting necrotic thresher maws?  I’m insulted this hasn’t been pitched to me already.

Next Dead Space To Be Announced at E3

In an investors call EA held, a few familiar franchises (like yet another Need For Speed) were slated for reveal at this year’s E3.  Among those titles, another Dead Space game was confirmed to be in development, lending credence to the rumors circulating that a Dead Space 3 had began production.

The sequel’s storyline was rumored to see Isaac Clarke crash land on a frozen wasteland of a planet where he would encounter icy monstrosities along with his freshly depth-impaired comrade Ellie Langford (an alluring, capable survivor of the events depicted in Dead Space 2).  And to add more rumor to your rumor, rumor also has it that developer Visceral Games is looking to implement co-op gameplay.

Now, no one has gone on record to say that the next installment is actually Dead Space 3.  Allow me to point you towards the least preferred rumor involving Visceral actively looking to incorporate first-person shooter mechanics into the series, as inferred by a job listing the company issued for a multiplayer level designer versed in the FPS realm.  That last one smells a bit…decayed, but we’ll have a better grasp on where Dead Space is heading next at E3.

The Next Dead Space Going the Way of FPS?

Visceral Games is hiring and instead of lobbying for a designer with plenty of third-person horror experience, the Dead Space studio is looking for a multiplayer level designer disciplined in the FPS genre.  While it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the studio has something besides the necromorph slaughter-fest in mind with their help wanted ad, a recent bid, however, for an environmental artist to work specifically on the Dead Space franchise is signal enough that cogs are turning in favor of a sequel.

Or, perhaps, an FPS spin-off before we see Dead Space 3.  It’s hard to imagine Visceral reshaping the franchise’s mold within the third installment instead of pushing on with the gameplay set in the last two.  But a spin-off makes sense.  Dead Space is Visceral’s lynchpin title and branching out a la Resident Evil is a sure-fire way to generate even more fans.  I just can’t help but picture any sort of FPS take on Dead Space strongly riffing off of Doom.  And that sounds comforting, oddly enough.