Dead Space 2

HIGHLY RECOMMENED DOWNLOADING MARKERPATCH - Fixes PC port FPS issues, mouse fix for raw input, removes horrendous DLC packs added into your inventory with no choice making you overpowered right at the beginning, fixes the physics bugs that can occur, allows 4gb of ram to be utilised instead of the standard 2gb, adds more graphics options for pc like persisting bodies and improving the visuals, essential patch.
The best action horror game to ever be conceived, and one of the best games ever made. Dead Space 2 takes everything from the original and improves on it in every aspect, although the horror might not be as oppressive, it more than makes up for it in the fast paced horror action pacing of the campaign, every chapter has you playing in new locations transitioning seamlessly with in engine cutscenes and set pieces.
Controlling Isaac in this game is sublime, in the original he feels more like controlling a slumbering body of armour, in this game he is agile as hell in comparison. The gameplay in this one cant be understated how smooth and incredible it feels to play, you're very capable when taking on the necromorphs, the telekinesis ability is so much fun manipulating enemies body parts/attacks to use against them, the combat is the best of its genre, for me this is the RE4 of the dead space games and possibly eclipses its inspiration.
Story is entertaining with its seamless in-game cutscenes, Isaac now talks and he is awesome character and has some awesome moments with the supporting cast, the story runs at a break-neck pace with constant action and some small horror sections with downtime that ease off the brakes, these sections complement the game well when it feels too much then its back to the alien murder.
I cant say enough good things about this game, visceral hit the gold mine with this sequel and no game in the franchise could match its level, either way if Dead Space 3 ended up being more horror focused, it couldn't top this game, its all killer no filler, well maybe a personal gripe with the final boss right at the end on zealot feels very rng based not the most fair considering the rest of the game you can handle situations without taking damage if you knew what you were doing but then again even the original had crap bosses but besides that this game is perfection.

Please do yourself a favor and apply MarkerPatch, disable the DLC freebies in the .ini, apply the fixes, and you're in for an extremely fun experience that still holds up today.
I've always regarded the first as a master class in action horror, but after having played this? I get it now.
If you're coming to this from the remake, you'll have no issue getting into the action without having to learn a majority of combat flow - it's like you never left home.

One of, if not the greatest sequels to a franchise. Please Electronic Arts, give us a remaster or a remake, I will die a happy soul if you would do that, not just for me but the community as a whole.

Replayed one of the best games ever made, Refuses to elaborate, Leaves

10/10 Play it

tl;dr
incredible, worthy successor that looks and plays fantastically, but takes a noticeable step into the wrong direction
Overview
Dead Space 2 continues Isaac Clarke’s story after the events aboard the Ishimura. Set primarily on the Sprawl, a large space station orbiting Titan, the game expands the scope of the series with new locations, enemy types, and mechanics while retaining the core dismemberment-based combat system.
The Good Stuff
The overall presentation is continuously baffling - in a good way. The game rarely slows down and constantly throws new scenarios, set pieces, and enemy combinations at you. The grotesque and vile design of the Necromorphs is taken even further, and the game fully embraces how unhinged its universe has become. Casually dismembering hostile alien infants to further weaponize their decapitated heads or just violently stomp their leftover bodies to get some booty may indeed be the most unhinged thing I have ever done in a videogame. The horror aesthetics remain simply superb.
Performance-wise, Dead Space 2 runs amazingly smooth. Animations are fluid, controls are responsive, and the game feels extremely polished from a technical standpoint. Also, it looks astoundingly good. Even today, the visual fidelity, lighting, and animation quality are impressive. The environments are far more diverse than in the first game and the use of vibrant colours is especially striking and helps keep the experience visually fresh throughout.
The Sorta-Kinda-Grinds-My-Gears-Stuff
Unlike its predecessor, Dead Space 2 doesn’t even try to be a horror game. It is, first and foremost, a fast-paced action third-person shooter. You are constantly swarmed by enemies, often to an extent where some sections feel closer to Killing Floor than survival horror. This isn’t necessarily bad, combat is fun, responsive, and satisfying. But it represents a clear move in the wrong direction for the franchise. Tension is replaced by momentum, fear by spectacle. The game is mostly predictable, doubling down hard on the established formula without having the guts to meaningfully subvert or reinvent it. Some of the newly introduced mini-games feel unnecessary and occasionally disrupt the pacing rather than enhance it. They rarely add meaningful depth and often feel like mechanical filler.
The Atrociously-Bad Stuff

Nothing outright terrible, but the loss of genuine horror identity is the biggest casualty here.
Conclusion
Dead Space 2 is an incredible sequel and a technical showcase that still holds up remarkably well. It expands the universe, sharpens the combat, and delivers an intense, visually stunning experience. However, in doing so, it sacrifices much of what made the original truly unsettling. As an action-heavy evolution, it succeeds brilliantly - but as a horror game, it feels like a deliberate step away from its roots. Still, an essential entry in the series, just not the definitive one.

Absolute cinema. Mastapiece. This is the only game in the trilogy that will launch for me, aside from the remake. Fuck you, EA

Dead Space 2 will always be my favourite game of all time. I play it every year out of tradition and I will never complain about anything other than wanting more of it. Everything is perfectly streamlined, the engagements are perfectly crafted, the dread persists even when you remember the spawn points like I have. The weapon selection is large enough that you can continually spice up playthroughs without issue.
But my favourite thing about Dead Space 2 is the difficulty is perfect, Every Dead space before and after were too easy, Remakes encounters were too limp and weapons are too overtuned, 3s homogenised weapon system led to all guns shooting the same but with gimmicks like flames, acid, stasis tacked on. It didn't help that the feedback from shooting was way worth and the enemy encounters were far less impressive. Dead Space 2 is my Favourite game and I don't see it losing that title anytime soon.