The Elitist's Favorite Video Game Moments: Dead Space 2

I don't think I have done a Dead Space2 moment yet! This surprises even myself, seeing as how I loved almost every moment of the game. Well, what are we waiting for lets gooooooo!!!!

Serious time. I love serious time Especially in video games. Especially when that serious moment is presented with real emotion. When a character you have grown to really know and care for, displays emotions, it evokes a certain amount of empathy from you. It's easy to feel what this character feels when you have spent 10 hours of your life following his every move, experiencing everything he has experienced and (this one is important) allowing yourself to become immersed in this fictitious world. Once you have achieved the mindset a truly good game should automatically evoke from you, emotional sequences during game play take on such a greater meaning.

*Dead Space Spoiler*
Remember if you will many moons ago, I wrote a moment referring to when Isaac Clarke first learns (and begins accepting) that Nicole is dead. Despite Isaac not having a face or voice, the game still managed to pull emotion and connection from me. This moment is similar, but now, Isaac is so much more human. He has so much more to which the player can relate. Visceral already has made good work of drawing you into a character that is faceless and voiceless, imagine the work they do with one that has both.


The results are nothing short from stunning. During your time with Isaac you experience many of his inner demons with him. You get to feel what is eating him inside, and how he is choosing to (or choosing not to) deal with his regret.

*Dead Space 2 spoiler*

Isaac meets a girl on the sprawl, Ellie. While she is at first very resistant to Isaac's help, she soon realizes that he knows how to deal with the Necromorphs and that he is the only one who can help them survive. She begins to help him in their attempts to escape. Ellie is easily my favorite character in this game. She is a pilot, very militant, a real tough girl. The necromorphs bring a fear she isn't used to experiencing, and she begins to use Isaac's ability to face the necromorph onslaught without flinching as a way to keep her from losing hope. Essentially, she notices that he is a freakin' badass.
The pair eventually find a gunship that has not been damaged, this is finally their way to escape. Ellie gets on the ship and begins to prep for launch, waiting for Isaac to arrive. When he finally does, he doesn't get in the ship as Ellie (or as I) expect. He instead, knowing he is the only one who can stop the Sprawl's Marker, initiates the launch for Ellies ship. He sends Ellie away, saving her, because he knew he could. He wasn't able to save Nicole, he says, but Ellie he can save. So he does, marooning himself on the necromorph invaded moon. He slumps back against the wall, looking defeated. He has seen so much, been through so much. He is a breaking man, a man with now only one goal, and nothing left to lose...



The conversation between the two as Isaac initiates the launch is so intense. Ellie has become reliant on Isaac's strength, and she doesn't want to see him die. They both know that this was the last chance they had to escape, and he stayed to finish his job. We have seen the relationship between them grow, and we have really come to know Isaac and Ellie a little more personally. This scene is the culmination of all the character building throughout the entire game. Every character developing moment was building up to this moment, intended to pull at your heart the way it does. I absolutely love it, it is so artfully and masterfully done. Bravo Visceral.