Dead Space (2008)

Before you buy: This port takes a LOT of tweaking to get right, especially if you have newer hardware—most of the fixes can be found in the community guides. After capping my frames at 30 and editing the game files to double the sensitivity I was able to get this playable. THE GAME WILL NOT PLAY PROPERLY AT HIGH FRAME RATES, DOORS WILL NOT OPEN AND PHYSICS BREAK. If you're not willing to do these things I think the remake is a mostly faithful recreation of this, go ahead and buy that. :)

Despite the setup this game has aged extremely well, it's hands down the creepiest game I've ever played, the overall horror elements put it up there with some modern psychological horror titles despite largely being action horror. The sound design is amazing and really nails the "you are not alone/you are being watched" feeling at all times, and the enemies are peak body horror, truly gruesome designs on some of the necromorphs.

With it being a 17 year old port, the bugs are to be expected but they're mostly not game breaking so long as you save frequently. Some of the bugs I ran into are as follows:

- A few random crashes, particularly when loading big sections or when tabbing in and out
- Getting locked in the store when upgrading armor, forcing you to restart the game (fortunately most shops are near a save)
- The save screen seeming to have no buttons to save (they are there, just invisible, try to remember where they were)
- Getting locked into aiming (usually happened if I held aim too long and used stasis/kinesis, this one can be game breaking sometimes but it's rare, only happened twice and near saves)
- The hunter in the Lethal Devotion chapter not appearing in the room he's supposed to, fortunately there's an auto save right before so you can just reload
- The corruption (organic matter) throughout the ship skyrocketing your sensitivity when walking on it (this only happens if you use the mouse fix file to my knowledge, and you can mitigate this by aiming while walking across it)

All in all despite the bugs I absolutely loved this game, I really prefer Isaac as a silent protagonist (in contrast to the remake) and I think the graphics hold up well enough to justify buying this over the remake if you're willing to go through the extra effort to get it running properly.

I'll probably edit this review after I fully play through the remake, but as of right now I think this is a must have for horror game enjoyers.

Well, for sure this game was really good on 2008, when it was first released. Now I see it quite slow, with really limited movement options and quite repetitive.
I was just playing to arrive to the end of the game and just to know the plot but, finally I decided to not continue playing and read the synopsis in Wikipedia.

Delist EA. Forcing third-party accounts and banning for inactivity with no appeal is predatory.

As a kid, I watched my dad play many great titles, but this game stuck out as "Resident Evil-- in space!" The movement, the gunplay, the atmosphere-- it was all very "Alien/Aliens" to me-- but with that headsup display being your health, and ammo? I thought- "That is like Resident Evil 4," which my dad only got a few years ago at the time!

This game, to me, has maintained it's top status. If you need a good horror title to play, speedrun, challenge run, or just have a jumpscare to start your day- the original Dead Space is always one of my nostalgic picks, alongside the sequels- alternative picks being F.E.A.R.-- Resident Evil and a few other great survival action horror titles.

This game and it's series has absolutely been the best thing from my childhood especially since viceral games always but easter eggs in the game like most famously PENG. I would highly reccomend this game and series to people who are looking for a good scare, the whole game is basically full is it

A classic! I never played this so when the remake came out, I opted to play this version first and I must say that it has INCREDIBLE sound production. It always keeps you on your toes and sets an eerie and unsettling environment, especially when you hear distant noises but aren't sure if it's part of the soundtrack or a monster coming for you.

Loved every minute of it! Played on the OLED and was playing everything on max settings and getting 6+ hrs of battery life. A must own for any deck owner. I will admit it was somewhat of a hassle to get running but once you do, you're in for one helluva ride. 10/10 game.

terrifying for a 2008 game, 10/10 would and will shit my pants again

One of the few action horror franchises I love. I have played this game many times, and out of respect for the franchise, I finally decided to buy and support it. After buying and playing, I realized how old the game is. It holds my interest in most regards but really fumbles in others.

For example, the PC port hasn't aged well. It's not very complicated to run, but it is a hassle; it's very hard to recommend it to new players.

I wish I could give it a fine rating, not positive or negative, as I still enjoy the game but wish EA would have done more to update it for new hardware and some mechanics, whether gameplay or visuals show their age.

At this point, you're only playing this if you have a nostalgia reason for the game because if not, I would recommend the remake at this point.

One of the best survival horror games/franchises ever made. Still holds up in 2025. Downloaded again to dip my toes in and haven't stopped playing. It's that good. The lore, the gameplay, the user interface all contribute to this atmospheric masterpiece. If you are a fan of the survival horror genre, this game is one you don't want to miss. If grotesque imagery and graphic body horror and violence are overly disturbing to you, stay as far from this game as possible.

A true classic in video game horror media. Personally I would recommend you play the remake instead of the original because the gameplay here hasn't quite aged well, but it's still a fantastic game that holds up well enough for a person like me who played it for the first time just a few years back.

Has as much restraint and subtlety as a freight train, but it's still a classic action-horror game with fantastic art direction and world-building.

Playing this as a 8-9yr old I remember my friend let me borrow it in 3rd grade I think, he let me borrow fall out 3 too for xbox 360. Yeah...I don't remember much but playing the game Dead Space for 30 mins because the atmosphere was so terrifying then years later I play it and fell in love. The remake I've been playing lately and it brought me back with graphics but as an adult its not as scary but more on edge of your seat feeling.

looooooook if you don't buy one of the most iconic first games of a iconic horror series you lame also i love watchin new people to the series either getting scared or surprised it brings me lots of joy

Dead Space is a masterclass in survival horror, offering an intense and atmospheric journey through a terrifyingly detailed spaceship. Its gripping narrative, strategic gameplay, and chilling sound design create a truly unforgettable experience. A must-play for fans of the horror genre!

naprade spoko giera ja jestem na 10 chapterze i do tej pory morzna naprawde sie przestraszyć przy jumpscerach 100000/10

This is an absolute classic by now that - in my humble opinion - even stands above its Resident Evil 4 inspiration.
I wish they stuck to the mystery of the story instead of introducing the Brethren Moon concept. There are a lot of unanswered questions still lingering in the first game, a lot of hints towards a different direction for the story.

In other words: Dead Space (2008) is a bit of a self-contained universe/franchise. Dead Space 2 already feels different, Dead Space 3 is almost unrecognizable in terms of being a Dead Space game.

Hence why I'm so fascinated with this one. The entire vibe, the story, the images.
The developers went out of their way to make it creepy and gory.

The sound design is so good, you can stop moving at any place in the game, record the ambience for 60 minutes and have a completely varied soundscape with eerie atmosphere (and lots of whispers and secrets).

There's a lot to uncover regarding the horror and necromorphs. It starts with the main menu that apparently shows some "real time" mutation of flesh and bodies (in reality, they recorded the decomposition of a goat/animal body and sped it up, haha).

Cutting of limbs reveals necromorph tentacles and bile you do not even see in the remake. It's just so full of details.

This game is a piece of art and something got lost with its sequels.

10/10

Amazing survival horror game, deadass didn't realize about the mouse issue until i finished the game (just install the fan made patch and problem solved)

This was my very first experience with the Dead Space series, legitimately the only other knowledge I have with the series is Isaac having a skin in Fortnite, so I went into this game not expecting anything at all. So unfortunately I don't know if the series gets better later on but I'm afraid this game didn't scratch the same horror game itch that other games of it's genre have like Silent Hill or Resident Evil, which is disappointing because I thought I'd fall so much more in love with the fact this is space horror, but it feels like all it really did that interested me was the fact you must remove the limbs rather than simply aim for the head, which did genuinely make the game harder and much more of a fun challenge but beyond that it just felt like your average survival horror

Vranic man at it again. This time Vranic man visits Krnjaca, better known as "Dead Space" of the univers, after he receives a distress call from his wife. In his search for her on ship Ishimura, he is faced with friendliest and kindes residents that Krnjaca can offfer.
Unfathomable horrors 9/10

Don't get me wrong, this game is great. It's also genre defining and a technical marvel.
all of that being said... don't buy this, go get the 2023 remake, I played through almost the entire game. I say almost because I managed to softlock the game twice while PLAYING NORMALLY! the way I play I overwrite all of my saves to make sure my mistakes have consequences. so every time the game breaks I have to RESTART. just... go get the new one, or make sure you make new saves instead of overwriting them (also the zero g sections are hella buggy} you've been warned

Just love the gameplay mechanics and the horror element is very masterfully used. Instead of relying on the good ol' jumpscares, it has a nice touch of building up the tension when a necro is near-by. And the feeling of destroying the same necros with our arsenal is altogether very satisfying. The camera and controls are a bit sluggish I do admit. But that does not account to the overall experience.

The pacing and quality of story and gameplay in this game is top S class teir. short but damn good

Bardzo udana gra jak i udany horror.
Jest wystarczająco długa, aby zaciekawić, ale nie znudzić. Dźwięk w grze jest super.
Dead Space nawet w 2025 jest dobrą grą. Na wyższych poziomach trudności jest wymagająca. Trzeba odpowiednio zarządzać surowcami, rozwijać sprzęt/postać w sensowny sposób i nie strzelać po wrogach bezmyślnie. Czasami trzeba wroga wyczekać, żeby pokazał nam kończyny, które odstrzelimy to zadajemy dużo większe obrażenia. Polecam grę nie tylko fanom horrorów.
8/10

Great! I wish it didn't lean so much into the action but a great game!

Watch Event Horizon first and you will THOROUGHLY understand this game.

What a nice Horror Experience throughout the whole game so it made us whole with the game itself

I've accomplished this game by medium difficulty, so I really like this one, it's a classic stylish piece of gold from 2008 year it may seem to be old but no it isn't. Isaac Clarke such a strong-willed man that had gone through so many obstacles on his way to just reach a shuttle and escape this goddamn planet. It's also funny how much vents here was in the locations, because at the start of the game they tried to scare you by jumping from them so frequently but not at the end and it were
still horrifying me. Horror here also so intense or it's just me who is not that experienced like others in terms of Horror
Genre.

Also, want to disagree with people who are keep talking about this like a shooter, mostly because here so many action scenes with explosions or whatever. I think here enough missions where you need to repair some crucial issue to escape, so by the end of it's adventure you came to shuttle like you were at work 11 hours straight and it's true. Pay big respect to those who created The Marker idea, it's a big homage to Stanley Kubrick himself, director of the "Space Odyssey", and I want to explore this even more in the seuqel. Don't understand people arguing about V-SYNC (60 fps), for me cracked physics were not that funny and hilarious so I'm okay with that. Still, can understand if it bothers someone.

XBOX 360 ERA RULES, such a masterpieces were made during this period (for me Ninja Gaiden 2, Batman:Arkham, Fallouts and etc.)

In conclusion, really recommend you to play this game even if you are afraid of horrors just like me

The chalang of the next step , what is around the next coner, the graphis are fonumnal the stroe line tracks well.

I love it. The spooky atmosphere and anxiety driven aspects are worth it!

Not as scary as Doom 3, and the monsters get repetitive, but still great fun.
I loved the interactive HUD elements and menu.
I could've also used more, and harder, puzzles.

The fact that this game came out in 2008 and in 2025 is still amazing on all aspects means a lot on how they used to make games!
Obviously this is a must game even for today standards for any true fan of survival horror games and was peak in DS series imo.

Pros
====
- Epic Story!
- Actual survival/horror that makes you feel helpless at times.
- Shoot creepy monsters.
- Physics gameplay which is well done!
- Zero Gravity mode, again a unique and well designed system!
- Zero bugs (apart from some fps related but that is for today's standards)
- Gore at it's best. Mutilation system is peak!
- Lot's of weapons and items. Plus upgrading!
- Enemy variety that forces you to adapt to situation.
- Level design, lighting and sound all perfect!
- Immersive UI (by having no UI!). What they achieved is simply amazing imo, you get to have your ammo, health all with having an immersive sort of UI which you hardly see in today's games. And in a survival horror it plays a big role!

absolutely amazing game the original is well worth playing even if you have played the remaster and the graphics hold up amazingly

Recently 100%'d this game (on Xbox for achievements). Still one of the greatest games ever made, especially from the 360 era. Incredible atmosphere, setting, and use of scares. Action is great and so is the gameplay. The graphics are starting to show their age atp, but still look fantastic (especially for its time). If you don't own this already then buy it (and play it). Have yet to try the remake but this game will always be a classic and one of my favorites. If EA ever decides to add achievements to their old games like Ubisoft, I will gladly 100% it on PC again lol

9/10

i need a lobotomy and play it again without prior knowledge, just to experience this level of peak again

Just a fantastic game. It goes on sale enough that I would recommend waiting for then but it is well worth the buy.

As good as I remember, I prefer this one over the remake, unironically.

One of the best survival horror games I've ever played. Truly fantastic. A mixture of Bioshock and Resident Evil 4 with Bioshock being my favourite game and Resident Evil 4 being fantastic. Dead Space is a true classic with a fantastic atmosphere and amazing gameplay. A must play

If you are a horror survivor fan, you cannot miss this, this is truly a must buy for any horror survivor fan, it has its clunky control problems but the atomosphere, the fear you experience is soo wonderfull, the abosulte feeling of terror.

Never got to try this back in the day. Booted her up and hit with a plethora of bugs from a bad port making progression impossible (invisible walls blocking progression were the run killer). Really sad but is what it is. Don't buy the original unless you wanna jump through hoops just to make her work.

Had to replay this cause I nearly forgot how amazing this game is, this is better than Resident Evil could ever be (and I love Resident Evil).

Reviewing the game without trying to show nostalgia bias; great, atmospheric, though quite repetitive. Ultimately would recommend. A great cultural staple of sci-fi horrors with some very innovative mechanics for its time, which actually haven't aged too badly in my opinion.

Space station haunted by Biological Razor Blades and an Orchestra with Schizophrenia & the solution to survival is the misuse of Sci-Fi Mining Equipment (OSHA would not be pleased)

PLEASE READ BEFORE BUYING!

This game is old, it came out nearly 20 years ago. Yes it has some problems, that's an unfortunate reality with most games this old and definitely older. But, there are really simple fixes, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to do!

Download this patch to fix the horrible mouse issues ---> https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/840-dead-space-mouse-fix/
Just follow the instructions, you can't really screw this up!

Then, the game glitches HARD when playing at high frame rates. Bodies will be flying, doors might not open, it's a mess. DO NOT TURN ON IN GAME V-SYNC!

Turning v-sync on through game will fix the weird physics issues, but it will also lock you at 30 fps. Instead, use your control panel to force v-sync on and lock it at 60 fps. Now the game works and you won't have a headache looking at it. You COULD try your luck with a higher frame rate, but don't try pushing it to 120 or higher. 60 is the safe spot.

And that's it! the game is now perfectly playable, and any issues you have with the game after this should be purely game play related! Because again, this game is nearly 20 years old. If you don't like a lot of the jank in controls with older games, what are you doing here? They released a remake of this game that's pretty good too, go buy that if you want a MODERN experience.

I just feel sorry for all the people leaving bad reviews of this game giving up before they even really start because I love old games, and the thing about old games is that there is almost always a way to fix them. Some old games just need a one download patch that everyone knows about, some you need to track down sources from a forum made years ago. But if you put in the time with these older games, you might be surprised by how well they hold up.

How good is the game? Don't ask me, now that you can actually play the damn thing, go play it and see for yourself!

Genuinely the only horror game that I played all throughout and enjoyed cuz of how well made it is.

Might be my favorite survival horror franchise ever. Dead Space is an incredible game and it's sequel Dead Space 2 seemingly improves on it in every way. They are classics in my opinion and absolutely worth your time.

i love this game but i am not able to play it, physics glitching, textures glitching, mouse is glitching

Iconic horror game, scary and unsuspecting at all times

S tier monster shooter, has minor technical issues but those are very easily remedied. The lack of achievements and DLC that was never released to PC is disappointing as it makes the game feel incomplete compared to the console version. Played easy my first run and impossible mode my second play through. I recommend playing hard-normal for your first game and doing new game+ on impossible mode as it will make your runs and encounters feel more rewarding.

Go to work, fix the ship, get traumatised by space zombies and develop schizophrenia. Not exactly what I had in mind when I said i wanted to be an engineer

A Fight For Survival In Space

A massive deep-space mining ship goes dark after unearthing a strange artifact on a distant planet. Engineer Isaac Clarke embarks on the repair mission, only to uncover a nightmarish bloodbath. The ship's crew was horribly slaughtered and infected by an alien scourge. Now Isaac is cut off, trapped, and engaged in a desperate fight for survival.

Follow My Review Group Here!

[table]
[tr]
[th]About[/th]
[th]Description[/th]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]💾Graphics[/td]
[td]Dead Space is so impressive visually speaking, for a 2008 title. The atmosphere is haunting, and the amount of detail in each location is really good. There is a lot of environmental storytelling here. This ship feels haunted with how dark this atmosphere is. You can feel the dread, you can see the panic and destruction around you in every corner. The lighting is also pretty good. I also really like the UI system. The 3D design is so wicked. The overall UI design is so futuristic and pretty unique, especially the 3D map in real time. A great visual experience for its time. It’s scary, atmospheric, and makes you really feel like you are on that ship.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]🎮Gameplay[/td]
[td]The gameplay look is Survival Horror, so if that’s one of your favorite genres, then you will be at home! Ammo conservation, item management, and item storing is a big part of the experience. You can also find currency and sell items to make more money. The money is used to buy weapons, suits upgrades, ammo and health at the stores around the map. I feel like Dead Space has a ton of influence from Resident Evil 4, and that's a good thing. It still feels different, but the similarities are there. You can also upgrade your weapons in the game to make them stronger, have higher ammo capacity, and more! The levels are linier, but well designed. It’s claustrophobic and you do experience some cool Zero G moments in the game. It’s kinda clunky, but still cool to go through. The weapons in this game are really fun. You have weapons that cut through limbs, machine guns, force type weapons, and more! It’s a healthy amount of variety in my opinion. You also have some cool abilities, like slo-mo and a force ability you can use to push objects. It adds such a good layer to the combat and allows you to strategize your fights. The gameplay is just a blast. Melee combat sucks, but that’s about it in terms of negatives.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]📜Story[/td]
[td]The story is really good! I didn’t care much about the "finding your wife” side plot, as it felt kinda like an afterthought. I think the main reason is because the main protagonist is silent. It’s hard to get any emotion from him, if any at all, well not until the end. I know the remake has him voiced, which is good. I do wish he was voiced in this game since it would add a layer of storytelling and character to the protagonist. The main plot was great! It was intense, engaging, and scary. It gives you a sense of helplessness and I will tell you, it was super effective. It’s not a deep story, but overall a good one. The side characters are also good in this game.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]🕛Playtime[/td]
[td]The main story was around 12+ hours long. You do have a New Game+ as well. You also have some unlockables after beating the game which is nice to see.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]🎧Sound[/td]
[td]Incredible sound design! The ambiance is just terrifying. Hearing people screaming in the background, objects falling around you does make you a bit paranoid. Even the ship's mechanical sounds are creepy. The voice acting in this game is fantastic! Superb performance from everyone. It was believable and really well done. The monster also make some freaking unsettling noises which is cool![/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]❗Bugs❗[/td]
[td]This game has bugs, and some bad ones. For example, controller support is bad. You have so much deadzone on the sticks, that it feels incredibly clunky. The mouse also feels awkward and not smooth. Luckily, there is a fix for the mouse support! Go to Nexus Mods and type “Mouse and Controls Fix” There is a video I will also link that will guide you on how to install it, plus some other fixes, like the game breaking high refresh rate crashes. Link is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1SMSc3Xjmc. If you are having any crashes, it’s most likely your high refresh rate (hz). Now I was playing on 300hz and the game was locked at 150 fps, and at the turret fight, my game would always crash. How I fixed it, was simply playing on the 60 hz, beat the boss then saved the game. I then went back to 300 hz and had no crashes after that. It was only that one part of the game I had crashes, so do keep this in mind. That video link I posted should help with the hz issue, if not, then just do what I did.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]🔅Performance[/td]
[td]Besides the bugs this game has, the performance is incredible. On 1080p, I was able to get a locked 150 fps with zero slow downs or stutters. The game runs perfectly, even on modern hardware.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]✔️Pro’s[/td]
[td]

• Solid story
  
• New game+
  
• Deaths are brutal
  
• Great optimization
  
• Scary atmosphere
  
• Terrifying sound design
  
• Enemies look horrifying
  
• Cool UI inventory design
  
• Item/Resource management
  
• Item shop in different locations to buy weapons, ammo, etc
  

[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]❌Con’s[/td]
[td]

• Mouse controls are horrible (Mod fixes this issue)
  
• Controller support is not good (Too much deadzone)
  
• No mouse support to navigate through inventory/store
  
• High refresh rate issues (Fix is in video I linked in bugs section)
  

[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]🏆Rating[/td]
[td]8/10
This game is worth full price if you want to support the devs, if not, then you can get this game on sale pretty frequently.[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]🔗Conclusion[/td]
[td]Dead Space is a gem! I don’t know why it took so long for me to play this game since I’m a Survival Horror fan. It’s scary, intense, haunting, and a memorable experience. The original still holds up strong! This game is a must play for any horror fans or even Sci-Fi Fans! So happy I finally got to experience this game. You will not be disappointed.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/17470/Dead_Space_2008/

Links to help you in Dead Space (2008):

1. Cheater's Guide To : Dead Space & More
   
2. Dead Space Weapons Guide - Best to Worst Weapons
   

Specs for Review:

• GPU: RTX 3080 (Laptop GPU)
  
• CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H 4.6 GHz
  
[*]RAM: 32GB Ram