Not to us, our invite was no doubt lost in the post, but some early impressions have been filtering through and it seems like the game will be based on some kind of hub and spoke system.
Basically, some of the spokes will be required for the game to proceed, but others will offer up the option to go and find some secrets – audio logs, that sort of thing.
It seems that because of the co-op aspect, the developers wanted people to feel more free to explore together.
From what we can gather, when you do go off the beaten bath, the scares won’t be as consistent as there’ll be less scripting and so the game won’t know what you’re about to do. Hopefully there’s still some kind of structure and it’s not just randomly spawning enemies.
And the sense of dread and claustrophobia so well done in the first two games? That’ll be the snow then, which will allow the developers to make enemies come out of the whiteness for jumps and shocks. The screens above (which are a bit naff, to be honest) show some interior sections.
I’m a little bit lost here, not really knowing what the game’s about or who it’s aimed at. Feels a bit like Lost Planet in terms of setting and structure, and less like the Dead Space games I loved.
hazelam
is it weird that i still can’t get over putting a personal health monitor on the guys back, where he can’t see it.
it’s like the lights on Fishers night vision goggles.
mind you at least the health gauge on the guys back is there for the sake of the gameplay, i don’t see any gameplay purpose served by Sam’s lights.
anyway.
it’s funny, but i’m getting a bit of a zombie flavoured shooter vibe from those pic.
Sympozium
I don’t know… i guess there’s a way to tell. if the health ting explodes after so many hits then maybe that’s how someone could tell.
Youles
I like that the Health Bar, Ammo count etc are all built into the character and his equipment/weapons, it’s much better than having a HUD floating in every corner of the screen.
p9ul
I’ve always assumed that he had all that info on a HUD inside his helmet…
Sympozium
So If he.. dies, does he explode and turn into a Necromorph? :3
Moshbag
He may realise his health is low when he feels blood gushing from his abdomen, or a sharp stabbing pain travelling up his arm.
rht992
It would be really cool if in Co-Op only your partner could heal you. Meaning you’d both have to keep an eye on each others backs.
psychobudgie
Anyone surprised that EA would radically change the gameplay or mechanics of a successful game or series even if it means all the fans of the original being pissed off or not buying it should go look at Dragon Age 2.
Winning critical acclaim and selling 1-2 million copies is not as commercially acceptable as a meh game that sells 5-6 million copies and subsequent DLC.
Shame as I liked the first 2.
fs
Yeah I really enjoyed Dragon Age 2, once I saw some details on Dragon Age 2 I didn’t even bother with it.
Sympozium
I’m surprised EA would attempt to change it, I’ve never played them but its just odd cause I knew they were like millions each. They’re crazy, even more crazier for not getting a better Mirrors Edge to be going in development after..like four years.
Hello, we at ea are not happy with sales so.. we clo..eh.. no… we cance.. no we make sequels to be more appealing like Lost Planet and then trash talk the rival to be famouz. (?) wat…
Sympozium
was going to add… but mistake; DS3 is interesting simply because the Co-op might add something to it that might be cool to experience with a buddy or something, probably see what the other games are like now I have free time. COnsidering they’re not linked has stories like a trilogy… I loathe that in games.
Youles
Regardless of all this negativity, I can’t wait for it!
Sympozium
I can’t remember what they’re annoyed about, co-op seems fine though.
Youles
People just seem to have written the game off before playing it, much like DS2 when people haven’t finished it. I’m particularly looking forward to co-op and the new settings, and some of the set-pieces in the 20 minute trailer look on-par with scenes from Uncharted, possibly even better visually. Some of the “scare” might have been taken away, but I wouldn’t want a repeat game of DS1 all over again – they’d probably get accused of making the series stale if they did that – I like that they’ve changed the series each time, it keeps it interesting. They also haven’t forced multiplayer – it wasn’t good so have focused efforts elsewhere. I think people just have to accept that it’s not so much survival horror anymore, stop moaning about that fact, and judge it accordingly.
KeRaSh
“much like DS2 when people haven’t finished it”
DS2 bored the hell out of me after playing the first two hours. Doesn’t really make sense to me if I have to play at least another five hours to get to the point where I start enjoying the game and then shortly after that the game is over.
I guess it’s just like when people complain about Final Fantasy being too boring for the first 10 hours. I can’t relate to them because I love Final Fantasy games so I guess you feel the same about the Dead Space series. The difference is, after 10 hours of FF I usually get at leats another 40 out of the game, whereas in DS it’s much less. ;)
Youles
You’re absolutely right – I probably shouldn’t have written that line as it wasn’t the focus of my point.
People seem to judge it based on it not being Dead Space 1, rather than it (most likely being, going by the previous 2) a game that has good graphics/lighting/story/controls/environments/co-op/customisation/enemies/set-pieces/bosses. I can honestly say, in my opinion, it’s one of the best series since neither installment (including Extraction) has had an element that has let the game down in some way, or that it’s been broken/glitchy. These days there aren’t many games that can boast that – it’s only flaw seems to be that it’s not as scary as Dead Space 1.
Origami Killer
“Some of the “scare” might have been taken away”
This is my worry, the whole campaign may be designed for coop and you can’t have scary in coop.
I haven’t actually played the first, only bits. Dead Space 2, however, was very atmospheric, loved every second of it, apart from the bits where I was jumping in terror :P
Youles
Yeah it is a concern, but for me it’s not a deal-breaker, as I like the action side of it too. Hopefully co-op will be more of an add-on option to what is essentially single player game. Ideally it would be good if you can go off in different directions – one goes to complete objective A, the other objective B, and meet at C. Also you may have to provide cover, revive, you may even lose contact and get seperated. It opens up some decent possibilities.
Origami Killer
That does sound good actually, coop but with the sense of still being on your own :) If they are going to put coop in, they may as well add in a split screen option. Its a long shot but it would never happen.
Youles
Yeah, co-op in split-screen seems to be dying off
Origami Killer
Quite quickly too, very sad. Some games are begging for it.
LTG Davey
*sigh* Dead Space 1 is probably one of the best survival horror games of all time (certainly this generation) and, once again, EA have taken something that’s a little different (i.e. “good”) and made it as generic as possible. Mass Effect, Dragon Age and now Dead Space – that’s strike three EA.
Forrest_01
I am of the opinion that co-op only exists in this game as a way for EA to execute ‘project $10’ on a singleplayer game.
Youles
Perhaps mate, but they’ve taken competitive multiplayer out ;)
Forrest_01
Which is of course a plus, but i can’t help but feel that co-op is going to be needlessly tacked on (just as the mutiplayer was in 2) just for the sake of it.
Personally, i much preferred the isolation of the first one (without trying to sound like a broken record). You on your own against a necromorph horde. One of the reasons people were turned off of Resi 5 was the fact that it lost its way & just became a 3rd person shooter with co-op elements & sadly, it may be that this is the case with this too.
I’ll reserve complete judgement until its out of course (being the level headed unbiased felliow that i am!), but i do have my concerns it is literally only there to make more money for EA.
Youles
Yeah I guess time will tell.
You are right to be cautious of EA!
Thanks for reserving judgement, you know how upset I get, being a Dead Space fanboy and all ;)
Forrest_01
Additionally, why have they stolen some enemies from the first Uncharted game?
Origami Killer
Those Spanish and Nazi Zombies never rest!
Motalla
Dear EA,
Could you be so kind make this game less scary. These screenshots made me do poo-poo in my trousers.
psychobudgie
I must be numb to it now. Those screenshots are about as scary as my wife’s homemade soup.
p9ul
Depends how good a cook your wife is – my wife’s homemade soup scares the shit out of me…
Forrest_01
Are you sure that it isn’t just having a laxative effect? :)
jbni
The necromorph in the second screenshot is doing the Thriller dance.
“He he, shamon! OW!”
fs
The hate for EA is acceptable – but only if people also don’t buy the games they make. No point criticising something if your going to help fund it.
sg
so would you boycott the games they develop, publish or both?
the last games i bought was kingdoms of amalur and alice madness both published by ea. D=