If Resident Evil 4 was the defining S.H game of the last generation, then Dead Space serves that purpose for this one (and yes, I am taking the much-hyped R.E 5 into account.) I approached this game with low expectations, in the beginning. Primarily, because it belonged to the EA stable, and after the over-commercialisation of their recent output, I didn't hold much hope for Dead Space to offer somethign new. But, something has happened of late in the EA camp that I had begun to think was an impossibility, given the slew of pop-culture friendly Madden and Need For Speed titles; they are beginning to think outside of the box of their own making. Mirror's Edge hinted at this, and Dead Space exemplifies it. This isn't just the best of EA's output, or the best S.H game of this generation, but one of the best games this side of the millennium. Relentlessly adult from the outset, already bucking modern EA sensibilities, and opening with a sequence of unanticipated intensity that immediately rouses your perceptions out of any jaded lethargy, Dead Space starts as it means to go on. Honourably borrowing, as opposed to plagiarising, Resident Evil 4's patented 'over-the-shoulder' gameplay system, whilst also making very logical additional features (walking and shooting, to name one of the most obvious), it works much better here, because of the greater intimacy of the environments and sadistically conceived aliens/demons (depends on your perspective on the game's remarkable narrative). The game makes no bones about the extremely mature content, and neither the story nor the gameplay patronise what it clearly assumes to be a primarily adult audience. Forget uber-violence and gore just for the sake of it, and instead think about subversion of human form (Hellraiser would serve as an example of this) and the human condition itself, for Jacob's Ladder and Event Horizon are blatant inspirations to this game. At anything other than the lowest difficulty, Dead Space assaults both your thumbs, and your senses, as any good S.H should, recalling just what made Resident Evil and another Jacob's Ladder inspired game, Silent Hill, so damnably involving. Enemies come at you from all sides here, very often without clear warning, leaving it to you and your instincts to survive. And that's entirely what the game is about; Survival. Pay attention, maintain focus, adapt to your enemy and you'll get through. Slip, though, and you're in for some of the nastiest death animations you'll see this gen. The game allows generous armament and a substantial sense of empowerment, but it's what you do with it those that determines supremacy, or a very, very painful game-over. EA understood that Resident Evil 4's engine as a template was the best-suited to this new endeavour, but also foresaw that that engine as it was could not hold up to accelerated action and intensity (a problem evident in the aforementioned R.E 5, unfortunately). Dead Space is never cheap, or unforgiving, but it is very unkind to the unprepared, as evidenced in certain QTE sequences that I won't spoil for you here, but those who have played it will know precisely what I'm talking about. And so, the story. Like the gameplay, it evolves steadily, and probes dark places indeed, holding back only that which is left to your perception, taking certain old contrivances and making them fresh with a greater degree of mental involvement. There's a twist to it that you may, or may not, see coming, but the impact is felt nontheless. Put simply, a sequel to this is high on my wishlist. So, if S.H is your bag, or you're looking for an introduction to the genre, getting the game shouldn't be the question; only how long before you pluck up the courage to do so...