E3: Dead Space: Extraction Hands On

A 'prequel' (shudder) to 2008's survival horror Dead Space, Extraction puts you in the shoes of a space colonist sent to investigate a disturbance in the Aegis VII mining colony. Unlike the beefy original, however, it's an FPS, it's on the Wii, and it's strictly on the rails.

It's refreshing to play a Wii game that's been built from the ground up, and Extraction really utilizes the nunchuck and the Wiimote to its absolute advantage. It feels very much like a light gun game without the light gun, coupled with powers that have returned from the original, such as the stasis power that slows down time for a short period, enabling you to shoot off enemy limbs with more precision. You can also pull objects towards you via telekinesis with the A button, flinging them at enemies with devastating force - if you can time it right, that is.

I played through the demo level at E3, which puts you at the beginning of the game. What struck me was how CREEPY the game still is, regardless of your lack of freedom with movement. You begin Extraction in your ship, shooting off enemy fire in a cockpit, akin to that pesky asteroid level in the original - although much easier and less time-consuming. You're not alone this time either, you've got a team alongside you shouting instructions left and right. The game is very cinematic, and certainly looks better than most Wii games - there's shade, tone and depth!

Once inside the base, I got a feel for the controls. The motion-sensing feels good, particularly because the best way to destroy your enemies in the Dead Space universe is by lopping their limbs off, and - disturbingly - the Wiimote brings a real level of immersion to decapitation. It's incredibly satisfying. Your statis power provides an even deeper level of satisfaction: aim a statis blast at your enemy and really take your sweet time with your Wiimote to achieve total precision. There were a couple of novelties here too - shake the Wiimote frantically to charge up a glow-stick to light your way, however it takes a while to recharge. I spent a good ten seconds shaking that Wiimote like a mad woman to escape the terrifying pitch black. Once you're in that blackness, you're too scared to remember you're on-rail.

Regardless, the on-rails stuff is actually very well implemented. The camera isn't intrusive, and I always felt I knew exactly where I was and what was going on around me. You're even given a sort of freedom, at one point I was actually given a choice at once point to outline the path I wanted, which I could choose with a click of the A button. Being on-rail obviously gives the developers a chance to orchestrate enemy placement and your own particular viewpoint, as if you're playing through a horror movie. You feel helpless and exhilerated at once.

Wii owners should certanly keep an eye out for Dead Space: Extraction, because nothing seems to have been lost in translation.

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