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In space, no one can hear you shoot aliens
posted by JCDenton (FREEDOM, NH) Nov 3, 2009
Member since Mar 2006
16 out of 18 gamers (89%) found this review helpful
Dead Space Extraction may be a departure for the series, being an on-rail shooter and all. However, it's one of the most impressive on-rail shooters I've ever seen, providing the Wii with a great interpretation of the game.
Extraction is actually a prequel story, following a group of survivors from an alien attack as they travel to the USG Ishimura. Unfortunately, they find yet another infestation to survive, which eventually ends where the original Dead Space starts. Considering it's an on-rail shooter, the story is pretty heavy. The entire time you're in the game, the story is playing out in front of your eyes. Just watching as a seemingly calm colony succumb to the parasitic aliens and descend into chaos is an immersive experience.
The shooting action is deeper than most in this genre. You can grab and throw objects, collect upgrades, open lockers and choose paths throughout the game. The weapons in the game can be swapped out, leaving you with four at a time. Twisting the Wiimote to the side activates an alt-fire mode, which gives you plenty of options throughout the game.
While there are a couple bosses, the game often gives you standard enemies that need to be killed by shooting their limbs. You get a stasis device which can temporarily slow enemies in a pinch. This becomes very useful toward the end.
On Normal difficulty, it's not too hard to run through the game's eight hour length. You can unlock higher difficulties, bonus material and challenges as you go through the story. You can also play 2-player co-op, a mainstay in the world of on-rail.
Having no control over the camera or your movement has it's downsides. If you don't grab upgrades the first time you see them, you may not have a chance later, the camera can move just as you try lining up shots and it can be disorienting.
The light-gun game is a dying breed, perhaps for a reason. But Extraction does so much with the genre that it makes the case to keep it alive.
Extraction is actually a prequel story, following a group of survivors from an alien attack as they travel to the USG Ishimura. Unfortunately, they find yet another infestation to survive, which eventually ends where the original Dead Space starts. Considering it's an on-rail shooter, the story is pretty heavy. The entire time you're in the game, the story is playing out in front of your eyes. Just watching as a seemingly calm colony succumb to the parasitic aliens and descend into chaos is an immersive experience.
The shooting action is deeper than most in this genre. You can grab and throw objects, collect upgrades, open lockers and choose paths throughout the game. The weapons in the game can be swapped out, leaving you with four at a time. Twisting the Wiimote to the side activates an alt-fire mode, which gives you plenty of options throughout the game.
While there are a couple bosses, the game often gives you standard enemies that need to be killed by shooting their limbs. You get a stasis device which can temporarily slow enemies in a pinch. This becomes very useful toward the end.
On Normal difficulty, it's not too hard to run through the game's eight hour length. You can unlock higher difficulties, bonus material and challenges as you go through the story. You can also play 2-player co-op, a mainstay in the world of on-rail.
Having no control over the camera or your movement has it's downsides. If you don't grab upgrades the first time you see them, you may not have a chance later, the camera can move just as you try lining up shots and it can be disorienting.
The light-gun game is a dying breed, perhaps for a reason. But Extraction does so much with the genre that it makes the case to keep it alive.