Visceral Games and EA have created a franchise which can put you on the edge of a seat with its horror action gameplay. After receiving appreciation from varied corners for its performance on home gaming consoles, the title made its way onto the Apple iPad. While we’ve already been through the Sprawl on the PS3, the necromorphs infestation recently invaded onto our iPad. So, we’ve put Dead Space HD for iPad under our review scanner to figure out how Isaac Clarke traverses through an in-game environment across the 10-inch touchscreen display.
The first chapter in the Dead Space saga was indeed gruesome while the second installment ushered in with spine-chilling action and the rush to keep Isaac sane through the Sprawl. However, that’s the tale which everyone tells about the title’s PC and console versions. While we embarked into the deadly space infected by necromorphs on the Apple iPad, the graphics of this title informed us that we were in for a similar treat. What kicks off as a routine mission turns into a nightmare as terrifying creatures appear out of nowhere and you are left scrambling for life. Although the game is not as dark as Dead Space 2, it is capable of leaving you with little breathing space and even lesser time to grab yourself through the incessant attacks of impregnated necromorphs.
As the visuals surface on this 10-incher, an engrossing narrative filled with gore and violence pervades along. This supplemented by the audio offers an engaging experience but you’ll need a pair of at least decent quality headphones to ensure a seamless acoustic performance. As we further unraveled the intricacies and delights of playing this title, the intense gameplay and gripping plot unfurled the way into a lurid space that easily meets the needs of hardcore gamers on this screen size. Although you are armed with advanced weaponry and armor like the Plasma Cutter, Plasma Saw and Core Extractor, getting through the entire game isn’t as easy as it may appear.
Even if multi-touch screens have successfully captured several people’s imaginations, it doesn’t really help in the case of video games. The popular perception of tap and swipe controls being simple and easy is proved to be otherwise in the Dead Space universe. It took us more than some time to get accustomed to these controls. And before we did, the character faced death several times over. Killing a necromorph with a Plasma Cutter or switching to another weapon could get extremely difficult, especially while trying to make your way through crunched situations. We elicited help from the embedded tutorials but it is not necessarily the best method to fight for survival. The in-game environment, color combinations, refined graphics and neatly sketched characters along with the acoustics help the title to spread its terror blanket.
Dead Space HD for iPad delivers superior gameplay while its graphics and sound make the title addictive as well. The game doesn’t disappoint a bit even when you struggle managing the controls. Available for 9.99 USD (approx. Rs. 446), the title is a well-crafted experience and the one which can leave you scared. To be precise, it delivers just what you look forward to from a thriller like this.