Dead Space 2 — deadspace

"The infection continues to spread throughout space and our hero Isaac Clarke is the only person able to contain it..."

—Visceral Games

Dead Space 2 is a third-person survival horror video game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. It is the sequel to Dead Space, and was released on January 25, 2011 in the United States, on January 27, 2011 in Europe, and on January 28, 2011 in the United Kingdom.^[3]

Plot

Setting

Dead Space 2 takes place three years after the events of Dead Space, in 2511.^[4]

Following his nightmarish encounter on the USG Ishimura, former engineer Isaac Clarke arrives on the Sprawl, a civilian space station built on the remains of Saturn's moon, Titan, which was broken into pieces in a planet-cracking operation. Here a new Necromorph outbreak begins. Isaac witnesses the panic that overtakes the station from the start.^[5]

Main Characters

Isaac Clarke - The protagonist of the story, survivor of the Ishimura incident and erstwhile captive of EarthGov.
Ellie Langford - A CEC pilot who helps Isaac throughout the game.
Nicole Brennan - Isaac's dead girlfriend, appearing as a hallucination to him at multiple points in the story.
Hans Tiedemann - Leader of the Earthgov forces on Titan Station, he is the main human antagonist.
Nolan Stross - Another one of the patients held captive by Earthgov, who teams up with Isaac and Ellie to destroy the marker.
Daina Le Guin - A mysterious woman who assists Isaac early in the game and claims to have the means to cure his lethal dementia.

Plot Summary

The game begins in a hospital on the Sprawl, a densely populated metropolis built on a shard of the moon Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Isaac Clarke has no memory of the last three years, having just been released by Franco, the protagonist of Dead Space: Ignition. However, before he can remove the straitjacket, Franco is killed and transformed into a Necromorph, leaving Isaac to escape on his own. He is later contacted by a woman named Daina Le Guin, who guides him to her location. He is also contacted by another patient, Nolan Stross, claiming he and Isaac can destroy the Marker. Ignoring Stross, Isaac fights his way across the city, making his way to Daina. Upon his arrival, two guards seize Isaac as Daina reveals that she is a Unitologist sent to “recover” Isaac, claiming that he is responsible for building the Marker that is causing the current infestation and that they need him to build more. As they are about to leave, a Gunship guns down Daina and her associates, allowing Isaac to escape.

Stross contacts Isaac again and he reluctantly decides to trust Stross, as his only mission now is to destroy the Marker. He tells Isaac that the Marker is located in the Government Sector under lockdown. As Isaac makes his way there, he comes across another survivor, Ellie Langford, a CEC officer who eventually joins their mission, deciding that she needs their help to survive. As they progress through the Sprawl, the station's administrator, Hans Tiedemann, throws several obstacles in their way to stop them from getting to the Marker. Later, Stross' dementia worsens leading to him attacking Ellie. She survives and later Isaac is forced to kill Stross in self-defense. As Isaac fights his way to the Marker, his visions of Nicole become more vivid as she tries to deter him from his task. Eventually he comes to accept that he cannot run away anymore and that his destiny is to sacrifice his life to stop the Marker, causing the Nicole visions to become friendly and peaceful.

Upon reaching the Government Sector, Isaac sends Ellie away alone on a gunship which she is expecting him to get on with her. Narrowly avoiding Tiedemann's men, he releases the doors holding back the Necromorphs trying to get to the Marker, who overwhelm them. Isaac eventually comes upon the Marker, which is surrounded by Necromorphs. As Isaac looks on, the Marker begins "Convergence", an event foretold by the Unitologists. With the vision of Nicole guiding him, he comes upon a machine that unlocks the blocked Marker-infected parts of his mind, which Nicole claims will help him. He then fights his way to the Marker, where he encounters Tiedemann, whom Isaac is forced to kill. Isaac then approaches the Marker when the Nicole vision suddenly pulls Isaac into his own mind. There, Isaac encounters the parts affected by the Marker and the Nicole vision, who then reveals that the only way to be "reborn" is to absorb the body and mind of the one who created it. After a lengthy battle, Isaac is able to destroy the Nicole vision and rid all traces of the Marker's influence from his mind, destroying the Marker in the process.

Upon exiting his mind, Isaac slumps to the ground, ready to accept his fate as the violent destruction of the Marker leads to the collapse of the station. Suddenly, Isaac receives a call from Ellie, who crashes the gunship through the ceiling. As Titan Station collapses, Isaac makes his way onto the gunship and they escape.

After the credits, an audio transmission is heard between two people, an unknown subordinate and his ranking superior (known only as "the Overseer" from one of the text logs that can be collected during the course of the game). The subordinate relays that Titan Station (known as 'Marker Site 12') and the Marker has been destroyed. The Overseer replies that the other sites will then have to “pick up the pieces”.

Enemies

Throughout Dead Space 2, Isaac encounters several variants of the Necromorph infestation.

Standard Form

Slasher : The most common form of Necromorph, it attacks using two large blades sprouted from the victim's hands and stabs you. It has an enhanced form which is encountered later in the game.
Puker : A common form of Necromorph which attacks by projecting corrosive bile. It uses its disfigured claws to slash at its victims when approached. Enhanced Pukers are encountered later in the game. It is first introduced in Dead Space 2.
Tripod : A large three-legged Necromorph that strikes or impales with its long bladed tongue. A unique female variant is encountered in the Church of Unitology. It is first introduced in Dead Space 2, though is relatively uncommon in the game.
Infector : A bat-like Necromorph which infects corpses with its proboscis and turning them into new Necromorphs. The Infector can create enhanced forms of the Slashers and Leapers.
Leaper : A Necromorph which attacks with its large tail, a fusion of the victim's legs and intestines. It also has an enhanced form encountered later in the game.
Spitter : A Necromorph which is almost identical in appearance and attack to the female Slasher. It can also spit out acidic projectiles. The Spitter is first introduced in Dead Space 2.
Exploder : A small, thin Necromorph with an appendage containing a highly explosive organic compound. It has a suicidal attack.
The Pack : Childlike Necromorphs with long talons on each hand. Usually encountered in large groups. The Pack is first introduced in Dead Space 2.
Stalker : A Necromorph that attacks its prey by means of flanking and group tactics. They approach slowly and quietly in order not to be discovered, and then charge at their prey. Enhanced variants are encountered later in the game. Stalkers are first introduced in Dead Space 2.
Lurker : Reanimated infants that are often found in Zero Gravity. They attack with three barbed tentacles that fire quills. It also has an enhanced form encountered later in the game.
Swarmer : Tiny Necromorphs, which appear to be reanimated flesh, that can jump a short distance at victims and rip away at their flesh.
Pregnant : A large hulking Necromorph with two large scythe-like blades. If weakened it can claw itself open to release a cluster of Swarmers.
Cyst : Small immobile Necromorphs that grow in the Corruption. They attack by launching explosive organic pods. Cysts make their first appearance in Dead Space 2.
Crawler : Reanimated babies with explosive sacs in their stomachs. Like Exploders, Crawlers attacks are suicidal. They first appear in Dead Space 2.
Brute : A very large and powerful Necromorph that can charge with great bursts of speed, using its weight and strength to crush its victims. An enhanced form is encountered later in the game.
Guardian : A rare stationary Necromorph plastered to a wall with six deadly tentacles. It can fire out Pods as a form of self- defense and hindrance.
Pods : Small embryo-like Necromorphs that sprout tentacles and fire projectiles. They are 'born' from Guardians.
Nest : A large, rare Necromorph which takes the form of a female corpse fused to a tentacle with three bulbous yellow sacs, and fires small homing projectiles. It only occupies Zero Gravity environments and will encase itself in a membrane when approached. It is first introduced in Dead Space 2.
Divider : A tall and thin Necromorph with the ability to divide itself into multiple segments which can leap at victims. The Divider itself is very rare, although Divider components are encountered on several occasions.
Twitcher (Dead Space 2: Severed only) : A Necromorph similar to the Slasher, which uses its incredible speed to rapidly approach and slash foes with sharp talons on each arm. Twitchers in Dead Space 2: Severed differ in appearance to the Twitchers in Dead Space.

Advanced Form

The Tormentor : A very large Necromorph composed of multiple corpses, and is capable of smashing victims with its large arms and grappling victims with its smaller ones. It also possesses a large mouth capable of shearing victims in half. The Tormentor is encountered at the end of Chapter 5.
The Ubermorph : A highly evolved Necromorph with a Slasher-like build but has a physically alien appearance. It slashes and impales victims with its blades. Like The Hunter in Dead Space, it can regenerate lost limbs, and is often supported by other Necromorph variants. It stalks Isaac throughout Chapter 14 and Chapter 15.

Chapters

Gameplay

Single Player

The gameplay in Dead Space 2 is far more varied than in Dead Space. Players are now required to hack to access certain areas, which is managed via a minigame. Kinesis is now faster and now allows for impalement using pointed objects such as a Slasher's blades, a mop, and poles. Players can now navigate zero-gravity environments in 360-degree motion, via a system of thrusters attached to Isaac's RIG. Like the first game, the primary enemies are the 'Necromorphs'; heavily mutated human corpses. The game is completely linear, with no tram stops or loading screens throughout the story. Also unlike the first game, chapters are not named in-game.

Multiplayer

Main article: Dead Space 2 Multiplayer

Dead Space 2 is the first game of the series to offer objective based competitive multiplayer. Taking on the roles of either a team of up to four Sprawl Security Officers or a pack of up to four Necromorph players, the Security Officer players must complete objectives, such as arming a powerful bomb, while the Necromorph players must attempt to stop them from completing their objectives.

Downloadable Content

Main article: Downloadable Content for Dead Space 2

Dead Space 2: Severed

Main article: Dead Space 2: Severed

"Isaac isn't the only one fighting through the Sprawl"

—Gabe Weller^[6]

Dead Space 2: Severed is a downloadable content that expands the single-player campaign of Dead Space 2.^[7] It contains two stand-alone chapters starring Gabe Weller and Lexine Murdoch from Dead Space: Extraction and runs in parallel to Isaac's story in Dead Space 2.^[7] The player takes control of Gabe, currently stationed on the Sprawl as a security guard. Dead Space 2: Severed was released on March 1, 2011 on Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network for 560 Microsoft points or $6.99.

Add-on Content

Main article: Outbreak Map Pack

The Supernova, Hazard, and the Martial Law Packs are all collections of customized skin for tools and suit and available for purchase for 400 Microsoft points or $4.99 at PlayStation Store. The Outbreak Map Pack was released on May 31 on Xbox Live and June 3 on PSN.^[8]

On the 24 of February 2011, an official patch was released for PC, Giving players access to the Supernova, Hazard and Martial Law Packs for free, as well as key-binding and numerous bug fixes.^[9]

Merchandise and Promotions

Dead Space 2 Collector's Edition — *Dead Space 2* Collector's Edition

Dead Space 2 is released in two versions; the Standard Edition and the Collector's Edition.^[10] The Standard Edition comes with the game disc and manual. The Collector's Edition comes with those included in the Standard Edition and the following:

Isaac Clarke's collectible replica Plasma Cutter, modeled from the new design as seen in-game and features trigger activated LED lights. Those who pre-order the European version also get the Plasma Cutter.
Dead Space 2 Original Soundtrack, featuring an hour of music compiled from the score of Dead Space 2. It also includes a scoring of Dead Space 2 featurette.
A rare lithograph depicting Necromorph transformation concept art by Visceral Games artist Brett C. Marting.
The Zealot Suit and Zealot Force Gun in-game items, with each offer unique advantages to the player when used in Dead Space 2.
A PlayStation Move compatible version of Dead Space: Extraction exclusive to PlayStation 3.

As an added bonus, those who pre-ordered the game from certain retailers in North America, JB HI-FI in Australia and GAME in the UK will receive a code for a free download of Dead Space: Ignition and an in-game Rivet Gun, downloadable from the PlayStation Store or Xbox LIVE.^[10]

The Dead Space 2 promotion also extended to Battlefield Heroes; at the price of 1750 BattleFunds, the Dead Space Heroes packs provide players two Dead Space 2 - inspired outfits, the Titan Security suit for the Nationals and CEC Advanced Suit for the Royals. Both packs also include a jet pack.^[11] Similarly, players of Dragon Age II can access the exclusive armor of "Ser Isaac of Clarke" by using a one-time activation code supplied with Dead Space 2.^[12]

Trivia

Trailers

Dead Space 2 featured "Ring Around the Rosie" in one of their promotional trailers whereas the previous game, Dead Space, featured the lullaby "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".
The Dead Space 2 Dementia Trailer has Isaac participating in what seems to be a Rorschach test, which is being conducted by two unknown psychologists. Additionally the music played in the Dementia trailer is called "Fathom" by the band known as the Russian Circles. This test, however, never happens in the game.^[13]
In the "Emergency" trailer, when the train passes by, the text that appears onscreen translates into "The Cracks Are Showing." and when Isaac is resting, "The Sprawl."

Miscellaneous

Similar to Dead Space, Isaac's first encounter with the Necromorphs is conducted without weapons, forcing him to flee with the Necromorphs in close pursuit.
After beating the game on any difficulty, the background at the main menu will show a fully constructed Red Marker instead of the fragments you see before you beat the game. In the final moments of the game, you will see the fragments closing in on each other in place of where the Marker will be. The amount of fragments floating in the background steadily increases as you progress through the game.
Dead Space 2 is the first game in the Dead Space series to have an online multiplayer component.
Α PlayStation Network closed beta took place on October 2010. Access codes were sent to fans who sent their email addresses to members of the development team over Twitter or participated in Dead Space's code giveaway on Facebook .
The Zero Gravity feature has been tweaked, allowing the player to control the direction of their drifting through space and to fire their weapon at the same time by use of 'hover modules' that allow Isaac to fly in space.
Isaac speaks in Dead Space 2, unlike the first game, showing a wide range of emotion. He also uses more of his engineering skills in Dead Space 2, emphasizing his role as a technician rather than a soldier.
In the Dead Space 2 Dementia Trailer, you can hear Nicole's voice. Nicole appears in the game as hallucinations caused by his dementia.
Every clock in Dead Space 2 stops at 12:00. This is possibly a hint to the Sprawl being the Site 12 Marker.
On every door on the space station you can see the temperatures next to the door info. They all read the same thing, 73 degrees. It does not change at all, even if there is a breach into the room that leads into space.
The chapters of Dead Space 2 are not properly titled in-game; they are, however, in the game's official guide. Unlike those of the first Dead Space, the first letter of each chapter's title don't spell a message.
In every death scene ending in decapitation, if you look into Isaac's helmet, there is no head, just an interior identical to the outside design.
The downloadable Vintage Suit for the Avatar on Xbox 360 is called the 'Antique Suit'.
Including the Twitcher in the Severed DLC, all of the common forms of Necromorph from the original game return in Dead Space 2.
Barring the security team's death when Isaac caused the power outage in the Government Sector, all of the cast of characters that worked against him did not meet their deaths because of a Necromorph; Nolan Stross and Hans Tiedemann were killed by Isaac, Daina Le Guin was killed, if not by the EarthGov gunship, by the exposure to the vacuum of space, since she did not have a helmet or similar equipment, her helpers largely suffering from the same fate, and the EarthGov gunship's crew was surely killed when Isaac fired at an explosive canister jarred loose from the ship in hopes of destroying the Tormentor.
The order in which Isaac obtains the Kinesis and Stasis Modules is different in Dead Space and Dead Space 2. In Dead Space, Isaac gets the Stasis module first, and the Kinesis Module second. In Dead Space 2, because Isaac doesn't get a weapon first, he gets the Kinesis module to use objects as weapons using Kinesis, then the Stasis Module second.
Numerous unused models of NPCs can be found in the game files of the game. Such include a model of a Regenerator type Necromorph that even has finished concept art, a female variant of the Pack and unused and unfinished Slasher variants.

Easter Eggs

There is a collection of Marker Symbols spread in the main menu of Dead Space 2:

Main Menu

Top Left: "In the end, it all comes down to just one little thing..."

Bottom Right: "Unity after death, unity forever."

Singleplayer

Top Left: "Your body now, our body later, one body forever."

Bottom Left: "You can't stop what's coming."

Singleplayer->New Game

Bottom: "Convergence is at hand."

Singleplayer->Load Game

Bottom: "Ixtab the Rope Woman."

Multiplayer

Top: "It's not over between us, you can't run from me forever."

Bottom: "Make us whole."

Multiplayer->Quick Match

Bottom Right: "We must believe in it and bend ourselves to its will and then it will heal us."

Multiplayer->Leaderboard

Right: "The answer is in Chicxulub."

Extras

Left: "Welcome back Nicole Brennan."

Extras->Controller Map

Bottom Right: "Let us fear nothing. Death is only a transition to the unity beyond."

In the first chapter of the game, throughout the hospital, the Visceral Games logo can be seen on x-ray charts on the walls.
As you progress through the single player campaign, several "pieces" of a Red Marker floating throughout the Main Menu gather. Upon saving a "//Cleared Game//" file (beating the game's Campaign), a fully-formed Red Marker itself floats beside the Main Menu.
In Chapter 1, in the Observation Room, you can see faces of other Marker test subjects. These are actually the faces of the UI Development team.
In the first shop you encounter, there is a weight scale. If you step on it, it will show Isaac weighs 195 pounds before donning his suit; after this, the weight records at 255 pounds.
In Chapter 2, when the elevator stops, the door will open up and show an NPC getting killed. This is Dan Emmerson, winner of the "Get Dismembered in Dead Space 2" contest.
At the top of many doors are several descriptions of the room ahead, such as temperature or pressure. Additionally, there is sometimes a line of horizontal scrolling text. Below it are the letters "ERTS", which is the abbreviation for "Electronic Arts" on the NASDAQ stock exchange, the scrolling text being a kind of parody of the traditional horizontal scrolling of stock companies and their current prices. The numbers following "ERTS", 85.56, represent the highest and most optimistic projected future stock price for Electronic Arts back in January 2005, during a massive 3-month advance where EA stock soared more than 50%.
In Chapter 3, in the Mall area, one of the four face models that are in showcase at the hairdressing salon strongly resembles the face of the game's executive producer, Steve Papoutsis.
During the scene in the Transport Hub, when Ellie and Stross are above you on the balcony, there's a giant movie poster for "Kitty Kitty Bang Bang". The woman on that poster is Sonita Henry, the actress doing Ellie's voice and mo-cap.
Also at the Transport Hub, you can see an advertisement for Skate 3000, a reference to Skate 3. This was most likely included because Skate 3 included an Isaac Clarke model using the cheat "DEADSPACETOO".
Shortly before Foster commits suicide in Chapter 1, the ink dot from the dementia trailer can be seen on a counter.
In Chapter 6, just after the first Cyst area, you will go into a zero gravity area with a large fire that needs to be put out by removing the power cells of the oxygen system in the room. If you keep going straight when you first enter the door you will see a bulletin board to the left at the end of the hall, on it is a note that says "My family was killed by Necromorphs, need money to buy Plasma Cutter and beer."
Throughout the game you may come across posters for a movie called "The Clogger". This is an inside joke over at Viscreal. The story is the toilets at their offices had persistent problems. You can also find a Text log about it in Chapter 10.
In Chapter 5, if you let the Tormentor kill you while in space, you will see a homage to the original Dead Space's cover.
In Chapter 6, in the school, you can find little Advanced Suit stickers on the walls. This is the last suit you can find in your first playthrough.
In Chapter 6, in room 305 of the school, there is a drawing on the wall that looks very similar to Super Meat Boy.
In Chapter 7, when entering the rocket booster used for the halo jump, you will see "MC 90" tagged around it. This is the target score Visceral wanted to hit on Metacritic. The official score for Dead Space 2 is 90.
Throughout the game, you may come across helmets that are very similar to the ones used in Stanley Kubrick's film 2001 - A Space Odyssey.
Dead Space 2 is Backwards-Compatible on Xbox One along with its sequel and prequel.