Dead Space Ignition

There are right and wrong ways of offering downloadable goodies in preparation for an upcoming release and Ignition is the wrong way. The short side story doesn't bring anything of interest to the table. This should have just been a free motion comic series in the same way the first game had; we shouldn't be charged to play three types of mini-games over a dozen times.

Essentially, you're paying five bucks for some story and unlockable content when you purchase Ignition. Whether that's a good deal to you or not is your decision, but for the majority of our readership demographic, it's probably worth it, hence the Buy It recommendation despite the low score.

Even for hardcore Dead Space fans (which we are), skipping Ignition will mean missing nothing of import to the Dead Space canon.

Overall, as I have mentioned, Dead Space Ignition is just a very poor attempt to generate hype for Dead Space 2. The art is bad, the mini games are not fun, and the experience is short unless you go back for more endings.

Dead Space Ignition is a cool idea -- a prologue that bears fruit in the real game -- but it's just so poorly executed.

Dead Space Ignition is not worth the purchase unless you want to get the unlockable content for Dead Space 2, but if you want the unlocks then you may as well just pre-order Dead Space 2 and get Ignition for free. Play the game long enough to secure your unlockables and then go play something else.

This small collection of minigames offers little for even the most fervent Dead Space fan.

The story and comic feels light-hearted where it should be dark and disturbing, and the games lack longevity. [Issue#67, p.105]

Dead Space Ignition is ugly to see and boring to play.

As a free extra to the main game it would've been acceptable. As it is, an expensive entreè to what's to come, Dead Space Ignition feels like an unpolished add on. If you can't live without the unlockable extra weapon to be used in Dead Space 2, you might consider buying it. Otherwise, patiently wait for the big deal in January and save the money.

Filling the narrative gap between the two main chapters sounds original, but the game completely fails. Ignition is a faux pas in Dead Space universe, with annoying gameplay and horrible graphics: an experience you can easily and definitely avoid.

Dead Space Ignition is a great idea, an optional introduction to a top tier game available as downloadable content. Imagine the opportunities this kind of product could have offered. Instead this game is equal parts frustrating and boring.

As a pre-order freebie, Ignition isn't bad, but it isn't worth paying for or playing through otherwise. [Jan 2011, p.69]

When your game makes you want to skip the egregiously tedious gameplay so you can see what happens in the utterly forgettable story, you know you're doing something wrong.

For those fans expecting a gameplay experience up to par with the franchise, let your hopes drain now.

When both the story and the gameplay are as weak as this then you're better leaving this on the virtual shelf and picking up Dead Space Extraction instead.

If you're a huge Dead Space fan, you may want to put two hours aside to play through this game to get the Hacker Suit. If your interest lies solely with how Ignition serves as a prelude to Dead Space 2, you're missing nothing interesting. I doubt the "that's what she said" joke or Franco Delille's story will be referenced extensively when Isaac returns.

A bridge between the two Dead Space games that is completely broken with its terrible graphics and A.I.

Adding insult to injury is the success Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, a $5, fully produced prequel to Dead Rising 2. The bar was raised, and Ignition has no business occupying the same space.

The idea of an interactive comic as narrative expansion is a sound one, but Ignition entirely fails to do the concept justice.

A dull story. [Jan 2011, p.89]

It is nothing more than a few simple hacking tool mini games set in the Dead Space universe, plain and simple.

Weak enough to make even uber-fans blanch. [Jan 2011, p.113]

A partner title without a fraction of the main series' spark. [Issue#66, p.103]