Dead Space: Extraction

Dead Space: Extraction
Developer(s)	Visceral Games Eurocom
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Composer(s)	Jason Graves
Series	Dead Space
Platform(s)	Wii, PlayStation 3
Release date(s)	Wii AUS September 24, 2009 EU September 25, 2009 NA September 29, 2009 JP October 1, 2009 PlayStation 3 NA January 25, 2011
Genre(s)	Survival horror, rail shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, 2 player cooperative multiplayer
Rating(s)	BBFC: 18 ESRB: M OFLC: MA15+ PEGI: 18+
Media/distribution	Wii Optical Disc, download, Blu-ray Disc

Dead Space: Extraction is a 2009 video game. It is a prequel to the 2008 video game Dead Space. Originally released for the Wii, it is included with the PlayStation 3 limited edition version of Dead Space 2, and is available for downloadable purchase on PlayStation Network. Dead Space: Extraction takes place before the events of Dead Space and during the same time as the film Dead Space: Downfall.^[1]

It revolves around a group of space colonists from the Aegis VII colony fighting against the infection of Necromorphs created when the Red Marker is removed. Necromorphs are the re-animated, mutated corpses of dead humans and serve as the major antagonists of the game.^[2] It was developed by Visceral Games and published by EA Games.^[3] The game was released in September 2009 in North America, with the PAL region release following in October. Although initially a Wii exclusive, it was announced during E3 2010 that a port of the game would be included in the PlayStation 3 version of Dead Space 2, using the PlayStation Move controller.^[4]

Gameplay

Extraction is a first-person rail shooter introducing new enemies, characters, weapons and environments to the Dead Space series. Players also have some degree of control over the camera. The game uses the pointer function of the Wii Remote for aiming at enemies and can also be controlled through the Wii Zapper. Twisting the Wii Remote or Wii Zapper activates a weapon's secondary firing mode, and swinging the Nunchuck (or shaking the zapper) can perform a melee attack or shake off enemies that have grabbed onto the player. Players can use a kinesis option at any time to make objects float, draw closer, or throw them at enemies. Kinesis can also be used to grab flying projectiles and fire them back.

Plot

The story begins with a small crew of miners, among them a man named Sam Caldwell, who are helping to extract the Red Marker from Aegis VII. The crew begins to suffer hallucinations, including Sam, who begins killing his crewmates in what may or may not be self-defense. Before he can escape, a P-Sec squad arrives and kills him.

Some time later, Detective Nathan McNeill, who is working on the case file of the rampage, meets an old friend, Gabriel Weller, now serving on the Ishimura. Upon arrival, the two discover that this outbreak has spread to the entire colony and they are attacked by Necromorphs. They also discover Lexine Murdoch, Sam's girlfriend (as seen in a short prologue), and agree to take her to safety. The group races to find a shuttle and eventually find one in the Megavents, thanks to a man named Warren Eckhardt, an executive from the mining company. The four of them fly to the Ishimura for help but are warned to return to the surface. The group refuses which results in the Ishimura shooting them down with its cannons, causing the shuttle to crash into the Ishimura and forcing the group to spacewalk to a nearby airlock.

After entering the Ishimura, the group discovers the ship itself is infested with Necromorphs. As they attempt to move to the bridge, which they believe will be safer, they encounter Nicole Brennan in the medical bay who elects to stay behind in case anyone else arrives. The rest of the group continues on but they fall into the sewage system, where Lexine is attacked by Swarmers and pulled into a water tank; the group assumes she has died. Dr. Karen Howell discovers Lexine, who has somehow survived, and the two find McNeill, Eckhardt, and Weller. McNeill, Weller, and Lexine continue on while Howell attempts to shut down the sewerage system, guarded by Eckhardt. While Howell berates Eckhardt for replacing staff with fanatical Unitologists, she is attacked by a Necromorph tentacle. Eckhardt flees and locks the door behind him. When he finds the others, Eckhardt lies, saying Howell locked the door in order to sacrifice her life for the group.

In order to search for a shuttle to get off the Ishimura, McNeill and Lexine split up from Weller and Eckhardt to search multiple shuttle bays. Weller and Eckhardt find a shuttle but Weller catches Eckhardt finishing a recording of a message to a member of the Church of Unitology. Weller watches the message; Eckhardt says that he was sent to find a person who was immune to the effects of the Marker, and who could protect others from its effects as well, and he believes that Lexine is that person. He also explains that he arranged Howell's death because she was beginning to suspect his intentions. When Weller is done watching the message, Eckhardt shoots Weller and tells him of his plans, only to be killed by a Necromorph himself. McNeill and Lexine find Weller and escape on the shuttle right after McNeill shuts down the power to the cannons on the Ishimura that were preventing them from leaving, although he had to cut off his arm in the process. As they escape, they hear a transmission from the USG Kellion. Lexine tries to warn them away but they do not receive the message.

In an epilogue, Lexine is attacked from behind by a Necromorph. The scene gives the impression that McNeill (who had been seeing things and hearing voices, just as all infected do) has transformed into the Necromorph and is attacking Lexine. One can see that the ship she is being attacked on is the shuttlecraft the three protagonists had boarded. At the last moment, she grabs a pistol and aims it at the Necromorph. The scene ends with the muzzle of the gun flashing.

Development

Extraction was developed by Visceral Games (formerly EA Redwood Shores) with assistance from Eurocom. It had been in development for at least a year before it was formally announced on February 18, 2009.^[2]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	83.81%
Metacritic	82/100
Review scores
Publication	Score
1UP.com	B+[5]
Edge	8 out of 10
Eurogamer	8 out of 10
G4	4 out of 5
GameSpot	8.0 out of 10
GameSpy	[6]
GameTrailers	7.9 out of 10
IGN	8.5 out of 10
Nintendo Power	8.0 out of 10
Official Nintendo Magazine	84%

Dead Space: Extraction has received favorable reviews, with an average rating of 82/100 on review aggregator Metacritic.^[7] Official Nintendo Magazine awarded the game 84 percent and called it "A first rate introduction to one of the finest survival horror franchises of recent years."^[8] The website EuroGamer awarded the game 8 out of 10,^[9] while ComputerandVideoGames.com awarded it 7.0/10. IGN gave the game a score of 8.5/10 along with an Editor's Choice award.^[10] The Guilty Geek said it "isn't just another typical rail-shooter" and that it "is a real game that stays true to the franchise."^[11] Giant Bomb was less enthusiastic, awarding the game a score of three out of five stars, criticizing the game's abrupt ending and short play time, although recommended Dead Space fans to check it out.^[12] Despite receiving favorable reviews, the title sold only 9,200 units in its first five days at retail in the U.S.^[13]

In their Best and Worst of 2009 awards, GameSpot awarded Extraction Best Game no one Played and Best Wii Game. IGN awarded it Best Shooter on the Wii.

PlayStation 3 version

The game was released for the PlayStation 3 both as a standalone purchase on the PlayStation Network and with the limited edition of Dead Space 2. The port of Extraction is compatible with the DualShock 3 and Sixaxis controllers, as well as PlayStation Move. Graphical enhancements have been added to increase the polygon count and make models smoother for the move to HD. For the most part, the port is identical to its Wii counterpart, except that it does not contain the bonus materials included in the original release.

References

1. ^ "The Dead Space: Extraction Horror Trailer". DreadCentral. http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/33717/the-dead-space-extraction-horror-trailer. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "First Dead Space Extraction Details, Trailer". IGN. http://wii.ign.com/articles/954/954895p1.html. Retrieved 2009-02-18. 
3. ^ "EA announces Dead Space for Wii, hints at MotionPlus support". Joystiq.com. http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/ea-announces-dead-space-for-wii/. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 
4. ^ "Dead Space 2 comes with Move-based Extraction on PS3". Joystiq. 2010-June-15. http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/dead-space-2-comes-with-move-based-extraction-on-ps3/. Retrieved 2010-June-15. 
5. ^ Justin Haywald (September 9, 2009). "Dead Space Extraction (Wii)". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3176210&p=44&sec=REVIEWS. 
6. ^ Anthony Gallegos (September 25, 2009). "The Consensus: Dead Space Extraction Review". GameSpy. http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/dead-space/1028656p1.html. 
7. ^ Metacritic. "Dead Space: Extraction on Metacritic". http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/deadspaceextraction. Retrieved 2009-10-06. 
8. ^ Dutton, Fred (September 24, 2009). "Dead Space: Extraction Review". Official Nintendo Magazine. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=11751. Retrieved September 24, 2009. 
9. ^ Reed, Kristan (September 24, 2009). "Dead Space: Extraction Review". EuroGamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/dead-space-extraction-review. Retrieved September 24, 2009. 
10. ^ Bozon, Mark (September 24, 2009). "Dead Space Extraction Review". IGN. http://wii.ign.com/articles/102/1028144p1.html. Retrieved September 24, 2009. 
11. ^ Barranco, Anthony (October 1, 2009). "Dead Space Extraction Review". The Guilty Geek. http://www.theguiltygeek.com/?article=1616&PHPSESSID=1e7505eb5073015f779843481304d9db. Retrieved October 2, 2009. 
12. ^ Giant Bomb. "Dead Space: Extraction Review on GiantBomb". http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/wii/deadspaceextraction. Retrieved 2009-10-06. 
13. ^ Remo, Chris (October 21, 2009). "Dead Space: Extraction Sees Slow Early Start". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/25749/Dead_Space_Extraction_Sees_Slow_Early_Start.php. Retrieved 2009-12-02. 

External links

• Official website