Info about Dead Space™ 3:

Official game description:
Journey across space to the icy planet of Tau Volantis with Isaac Clarke and Sgt. John Carver to discover and destroy the source of the Necromorph outbreak. Comb the harsh environment for raw materials and scavenge parts to create the ultimate customized weapons and survival tools — you’ll need them if Isaac and Carver hope to make it off the planet alive. And Necromorphs are just one of many enemies they’ll face this time around. Overcome avalanches, treacherous ice climbs, violent wilderness, and an army of deadlier, more evolved enemies on your mission to save mankind from the impending apocalypse.  
**Key features**  
*   **Team up and take down the terror together** — Play the full campaign in online co-op or single-player. Easily drop in and drop out of play.  
*   **Experience a hostile, new environment** — Head planet-side to discover underworld cities and accept side missions. Explore the frozen terrain, and search abandoned encampments.  
*   **Embark on a thrilling expedition to save mankind** — Uncover the past, discover the source of the Necromorph terror, and fight to fend off the extinction of the human race.  
*   **Scavenge for parts and build your weapon of choice** — Craft unique weapons by gathering components. Combine, reconfigure, and upgrade your favorites.

Release date: 18 Jun, 2020

Categories: Cooperative Multiplayer, Single-player Story, Third-Person Shooter, Looter Shooter, Action Horror, Exploration, Survival, Asymmetrical Multiplayer


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Enjoyable Co-op & Core Gameplay (weight 0.49): Players overwhelmingly praise the game's fun and satisfying core gameplay, especially its gunplay and combat mechanics. The cooperative mode is highlighted as a primary source of enjoyment, significantly enhancing the experience and replayability when playing with friends.
- Deep Weapon Crafting System (weight 0.38): The innovative weapon crafting and customization system is a major highlight, allowing players immense freedom to create unique, powerful, and often 'overpowered' weapon combinations. This system encourages experimentation and adds significant depth to combat and character progression.
- Underrated & Aged Well (weight 0.33): Many reviewers feel the game is severely underrated and received undue criticism upon release, often believing it to be a good game in its own right. They note that the graphics, gameplay, and overall experience have aged remarkably well, making it enjoyable even years later.
- Balanced Action-Horror Atmosphere (weight 0.2): The game successfully blends action with horror, maintaining tense situations, jump scares, and an eerie atmosphere despite its increased focus on gunplay. The exquisite sound design and detailed environments significantly contribute to its immersive and frightening ambiance.
- Strong Visuals & Graphics (weight 0.2): The game's graphics and visual production quality are consistently praised for being impressive, beautiful, and having aged exceptionally well for its release era. Detailed environments, excellent cinematics, and effective art direction contribute to a visually stunning experience.
- Engaging Story & Expanded Lore (weight 0.19): Reviewers appreciate the captivating and well-told story, which provides an epic conclusion to the series and deepens the overall lore, particularly regarding Necromorphs and Unitology. The 'Awakened' DLC is often cited as essential for a complete and enhanced narrative experience.
- Distinctive Carver Character Arc (weight 0.06): John Carver is highlighted as a well-developed and interesting secondary protagonist whose exclusive missions and unique hallucinations in co-op add significant dramatic weight and plot depth. His interactions with Isaac provide good character chemistry.

Common complaints:
- Lost Franchise Identity & Horror (weight 0.98): Players widely criticize the game for abandoning the survival horror roots and atmospheric tension of its predecessors, instead becoming a generic action shooter. This drastic shift from the core Dead Space experience, coupled with a perceived downgrade in overall quality, led many to view it as the weakest entry and a detriment to the franchise's legacy.
- Weak Story & Annoying Characters (weight 0.96): The game's narrative is broadly criticized as cliché, predictable, and poorly written, with particular disdain for the forced 'love triangle' subplot involving Isaac and Ellie. Characters like Isaac and Ellie are seen as regressing or acting out of character, while Carver lacks personality when not playing co-op, leading to an unengaging and often frustrating story experience.
- Flawed Co-op & Solo Experience (weight 0.81): The co-op mode is criticized for detracting from the horror atmosphere, feeling forced, and often being buggy or non-functional. Solo players suffer from content locked behind co-op, unbalanced difficulty clearly designed for two players, and a lack of character development for Carver, making the single-player experience feel incomplete and frustrating.
- Overly Complex Weapon Crafting (weight 0.73): The new weapon crafting system is widely unpopular, deemed overly complicated, unintuitive, and often leading to repetitive grinding for resources. Critics argue it undermines resource scarcity, removes the unique feel of specific weapons, and can easily create overpowered builds that trivialize difficulty.
- Critical Technical & Save Bugs (weight 0.73): Numerous players reported severe technical problems, including frequent crashes, inability to launch the game, and persistent online connectivity issues, especially for co-op. The save system is particularly broken, often leading to lost progress, corrupted files, and forcing players to repeat long sections, severely impacting playability.
- Repetitive & Unbalanced Combat (weight 0.71): Combat is frequently described as repetitive, tedious, and excessive, with constant waves of enemies. The inclusion of human enemies feels out of place and poorly implemented, while necromorphs are seen as less frightening, becoming bullet sponges or appearing in overwhelming numbers not balanced for solo play.
- Paid DLC Locks True Ending (weight 0.19): A major point of contention is the base game's inconclusive ending, with the 'true' or canonical conclusion locked behind a separately purchased, short, and often criticized DLC. This practice is seen as cynical and frustrating, leaving players feeling unsatisfied with the core game's narrative resolution.

Gameplay feedback:
- Genre Shift to Action Shooter (weight 0.23): The game marks a significant departure from its survival horror roots, embracing a more action-focused shooter experience. This is evident in increased enemy numbers, the introduction of human foes, and new player mechanics like a cover system and dodging. Critics noted a reduced emphasis on horror and tension compared to previous titles.
- Co-op Mode is Core Experience (weight 0.16): A major new feature is the 2-player online co-op mode, designed to be integral to the campaign. It introduces a new character, John Carver, with his own story and asymmetrical experiences like unique hallucinations, and unlocks co-op-exclusive missions and dialogue. While solo play is possible, it can lead to missing content and a less intended experience.
- Deep Weapon Crafting System (weight 0.15): The game introduces a comprehensive weapon crafting system, replacing traditional stores and fixed upgrades. Players can combine diverse components, modules, and circuits at workbenches to create highly customized firearms, offering flexibility in weapon performance and resource management. This system also allows for easy disassembly and crafting of other items like ammo and medkits.
- Core Combat Mechanics and Varied Enemies (weight 0.07): The game retains the series' iconic strategic dismemberment combat against Necromorphs, which appear in varied types (some faster, some returning with tweaks, some new) and often in overwhelming numbers. Players also utilize Isaac's new action-oriented abilities like dodging, stomping, and a cover system.
- Continuing Isaac's Story and Varied Foes (weight 0.07): The narrative follows Isaac Clarke to the icy planet Tau Volantis, accompanied by new characters like John Carver, to uncover the mysteries of the Markers. Players confront an array of enemies, including returning and new Necromorph types, as well as human cultists, requiring strategic dismemberment.
- Resource-Based Progression & Upgrades (weight 0.05): The game's economy shifts from credits to a material collection system, where players scavenge multiple resource types from enemies, looting, or scavenger bots. These resources are crucial for crafting weapons, medkits, ammo, and for upgrading suits, stasis, and kinesis abilities.
- Expansive Icy Planet Setting (weight 0.04): The game's primary setting is the frozen planet Tau Volantis, offering a mix of open snowy expanses, industrial ruins, and underground alien cities. This environment introduces new exploration elements like vertical traversal and environmental hazards such as blizzards and extreme cold.
- Optional Side Missions & New Game+ (weight 0.03): The game offers a variety of optional side quests that provide additional lore and valuable rewards. For replayability, a New Game+ mode is also available, along with a separate DLC campaign adding more content.
- Quality of Life and Navigation Features (weight 0.03): The game incorporates an auto-save checkpoint system for progress management and limits players to carrying two modular weapons at a time. However, some feedback notes the absence of a map or mini-map, which could impact navigation.
- Co-op Connectivity Challenges (weight 0.03): Players reported significant technical hurdles for co-op, including difficulties joining games, needing specific public match settings, and non-native Steam integration. An EA account and potentially the first DLC are often required, complicating the process.

Performance notes:
- Widespread Performance & Stability Issues (weight 0.08): Many players experience severe performance problems including extremely low and unstable frame rates, stuttering, freezing, and game crashes on various PC configurations. Issues extend to game launch failures and crashes caused by specific hardware like controllers or resolutions, alongside inefficient resource utilization (low VRAM/GPU usage).
- Game Progress Saving Bugs (weight 0.07): Players frequently encounter critical bugs related to saving progress, leading to lost inventory and requiring replaying significant portions of the game, sometimes entire chapters. Despite the 'Game Saved' icon appearing, progress is not always preserved, particularly noted in specific chapter ranges, making the saving system unreliable.
- Co-op Connectivity and ID Bugs (weight 0.05): Online co-op play is plagued by issues including frequent connection failures, disconnections, and specific crashes. A notable bug causes the game to crash when attempting co-op if the joining player's EA ID is too long, requiring specific workarounds like using short IDs or quickly initiating sessions.
- Outdated Graphics and Visuals (weight 0.04): Many players perceive the game's graphics as technically outdated and not a significant improvement over its predecessor. While some find them acceptable, the overall sentiment points to a visual presentation that doesn't meet modern expectations or even the standard of its time, impacting immersion.

Recommendations:
- Genre Shift to Action Shooter (weight 0.42): Many long-time fans express disappointment that the game deviates significantly from the survival horror roots of its predecessors, becoming a more action-focused third-person shooter. While some new players or those seeking action enjoy this change, others feel it sacrifices the tension and atmosphere that defined the Dead Space series.
- Optimal Co-op Experience on Sale (weight 0.37): Players widely recommend purchasing the game only when heavily discounted, often suggesting a price point around $4-5. The strongest recommendation is to play the game with a friend in co-op mode, as it significantly enhances enjoyment and mitigates its shortcomings, making solo play generally unrecommended.
- Essential for Story Completion (weight 0.22): For players invested in the Dead Space narrative, the game serves primarily as a means to conclude Isaac Clarke's story, though many feel it was an unnecessary continuation after Dead Space 2. The 'Awakened' DLC is considered crucial for experiencing the full, canonical ending of the game and the trilogy.
- Predecessors Offer Superior Horror (weight 0.18): A strong sentiment among reviewers is that Dead Space 1 (and its remake) and Dead Space 2 offer a far superior and more authentic survival horror experience. Many recommend playing or replaying these earlier titles instead of, or before, venturing into Dead Space 3, especially if seeking classic Dead Space tension.
- Use Community Localization Patches (weight 0.01): For non-English speaking players, several community-made localization patches are recommended to enhance the experience. Specific patches like Tribo Gamer for PT-BR or 3DM XuanYuan for Chinese are mentioned as working effectively.

Other player notes:
- Divisive Series Entry & Legacy (weight 0.25): Dead Space 3 is widely considered the 'black sheep' of the franchise, often blamed for its commercial underperformance which led to the shelving of the IP and the closure of Visceral Games. While many fans feel it deviated too much from its horror roots compared to the acclaimed Dead Space 1 and 2, a significant number of players still find it enjoyable or even 'overhated,' appreciating it as a standalone sci-fi shooter. Its impact on the franchise's future is a recurring point of lament and discussion, with hopes for sequels or remakes often expressed.
- Persistent Technical & Port Issues (weight 0.06): Players report numerous technical problems, including small subtitles at 4K, lack of Chinese language support, and a non-functional 'Resource Packs' feature on the Steam version. The game's reliance on the EA App/Origin client leads to launch failures and DLC search issues, often requiring specific uninstall/reinstall workarounds. These issues highlight a lack of polish for the PC port and hinder the player experience.
- Unresolved Story & DLC Cliffhanger (weight 0.05): The 'Awakened' DLC concluded with a significant cliffhanger, leaving many players frustrated due to the subsequent cancellation of Dead Space 4, which would have resolved Isaac's journey. This open ending is a major point of contention and sadness for fans. Isaac's character development from engineer to world-saver, and the late introduction of Carver, also sparked discussion among players.
- Forced Co-op & Action Shift (weight 0.05): The game's development was heavily influenced by publisher demands, leading to a shift towards action-horror and the rushed integration of a co-op mode. Many players felt this compromised the series' survival horror identity, with some preferring the game as a single-player experience despite the co-op feature. The desire for co-op was often unmet due to friends not owning the game or personal preference for solo play.
- Moderate Game Length (weight 0.01): The game's main story typically takes around 13-20 hours to complete, with additional time for solo side missions and co-op content. Some players completed the game on extreme difficulty on their first playthrough, suggesting a decent but not excessively long experience.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.23): Players felt let down by the game's significant genre shift from survival horror to action, resulting in a loss of atmospheric tension, claustrophobia, and scares. Many were displeased with the perceived poor story quality, uninspired plot developments, and characters, viewing them as a departure from the series' core identity. Additionally, issues with the crafting system, monetization practices (microtransactions, DLC-locked endings), and overall quality compared to its predecessors contributed to the sentiment of disappointment.
- Frustration (weight 0.2): Frustration stemmed from numerous technical issues, including game-breaking bugs, corrupted save systems leading to lost progress, and sluggish performance. Players also struggled with broken or non-functional co-op modes, which were often required for story completion or achievements. Complicated crafting mechanics, repetitive gameplay, artificial difficulty, and the mandatory EA app installation further contributed to player exasperation.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.19): Players found satisfaction in the enjoyable co-op experience, which often redeemed the game despite its flaws and reputation. The innovative weapon crafting and customization system was a significant source of enjoyment, offering diverse gameplay. Many appreciated the overall fun factor, good visuals, and sound design, viewing the game as an entertaining action-shooter and a worthwhile entry in the series.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Enjoyment was primarily driven by the cooperative gameplay experience, which made the action-oriented shift more palatable and fun. Players highlighted the creative weapon crafting system, finding satisfaction in building and customizing guns. The engaging story, dynamic combat, and overall polished experience also contributed to a positive sentiment for many, especially when viewed as a standalone action title.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Excitement was generated by the thrilling and intense combat, particularly when experienced in co-op mode, and the overall action-packed adventure. Players were enthusiastic about the new mechanics, especially weapon crafting, and the expanded scale of the game's setting. The captivating story and challenging gameplay also contributed to a high level of engagement and anticipation for future franchise developments.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Anger was directed at critical game-breaking bugs, corrupted saves, and technical issues that rendered the game unplayable or caused significant loss of progress. Players expressed fury over perceived poor developer decisions, including the game's departure from the series' horror roots, bad writing, and monetization practices. Specific character actions and frustrating, unfair combat encounters also fueled this emotion.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Joy was primarily associated with playing the game in co-op with friends, which transformed the experience into a fun and lively adventure. Players found happiness in the overall gameplay, including weapon modification and engaging twists, contributing to a positive and memorable experience. The successful completion of the game or the entire trilogy also brought a sense of accomplishment and delight.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciated the game's good visuals, sound design, and the expanded scale of its environments. The innovative crafting system and the inclusion of co-op were also recognized as positive aspects, offering a unique experience. Many acknowledged the game's merits as a competent third-person shooter and its historical significance within the franchise, often feeling it was unfairly criticized.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom was largely caused by repetitive gameplay, including monotonous combat encounters and recycled environments, especially in later chapters or during solo play. The shift away from horror also led to a lack of atmosphere and tension, making the experience dull and unengaging for many. Some found the story tedious and the overall game experience uninteresting, forcing them to push through to finish.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance stemmed from repetitive and easy puzzles, along with the game's excessive length and lack of originality. Players were irritated by EA's business practices, such as requiring extra software, locking content behind DLC for 100% completion, and perceived monetization. Minor bugs, awkward camera angles, and unskippable cutscenes further contributed to player exasperation.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia was evoked by recalling earlier games in the Dead Space series, often leading to comparisons in atmosphere and plot. Many players revisited the game years later, reliving childhood memories of playing the series. The game served as a reminder of past experiences with the franchise, influencing their current perception and appreciation.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.01): Players experienced mixed feelings due to the game's significant genre shift from horror to action, which presented both drawbacks and some acceptable aspects. While recognizing the game's flaws and its perceived inferiority compared to predecessors, some still found parts of the experience enjoyable, such as the co-op mode or weapon crafting. This created an internal conflict between what the game was and what they expected it to be.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement arose from humorous bugs and glitches within the game, particularly during co-op play, leading to comical situations. Players also found humor in specific narrative elements, such as the 'cuckold' love triangle plot, and used sarcastic tones to critique the story. The chaotic and absurd interactions with friends in co-op, like stomping corpses, also provided entertainment.
- Acceptance (weight 0.01): Acceptance came from acknowledging the game's shortcomings, such as the genre shift to action and reduced horror elements, while still finding it generally decent or enjoyable as a standalone title. Players recognized the differences from its predecessors but chose to appreciate the game for what it was, despite not meeting previous expectations. This mindset allowed them to recommend it for enjoyment despite its flaws.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players expressed a deep love for the game, often considering it a favorite in the series despite acknowledging its flaws. This affection stemmed from the game's setting, story, combat, and the freedom offered by its gameplay mechanics and crafting system. Many cherished the overall experience, especially when shared with friends, highlighting its action focus and unique appeal.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope was expressed for future installments or remakes of the Dead Space series, particularly a 'Dead Space 4,' to continue the franchise's lore and address past issues. Players desired the return of Isaac Clarke's journey and wished for the series to find a path forward. This emotion was fueled by their investment in the universe and characters, despite the perceived conclusion of the trilogy.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness emerged from the perceived ending of one of their favorite franchises with Dead Space 3, leading to a sense of loss and closure. Players felt emotional about the game's story elements and the unfortunate necessity of using workarounds like Hamachi for co-op play. The inability to play a desired game or the discontinuation of similar games in the genre also contributed to this feeling.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players expressed confusion regarding the negative reception of the game, struggling to understand why it was poorly received by critics and fans. Many were bewildered by specific design choices, such as the addition of co-op to a horror series and inconsistencies in the story. Questions about game balance and unexplained enemy origins also contributed to this disorientation.
- Surprise (weight 0): Surprise was felt by players who found the game to be better than their low expectations, exceeding initial impressions despite its reputation. Others were surprised by how poorly certain aspects of the game were executed or 'bungled.' The game's ending, unexpected twists, and its enduring impact despite initial negative reception also contributed to this emotion.
- Criticism (weight 0): Criticism was directed at the game's overall quality and direction, with players faulting specific design and technical choices. Many argued that the game failed to meet the expectations for the franchise's identity, especially concerning the story. Content gating, microtransactions, and perceived negative influences on development also drew strong critiques.}