STACK #221 March 2023

GAMING REVIEWS

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DEAD SPACE

SURVIVAL HORROR MULTIPLAYER

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Originally released in 2008, Dead Space was a cult hit, spawning two direct sequels and even an animated prequel movie. Now it’s been remade from the ground up for modern audiences. With new graphics, cutscenes, and even a change to some mission objectives, the Dead Space of 2023 keeps the core story and

key events intact and memorable, while enhancing things here and there to great effect. You play as Isaac Clarke, a ship’s system engineer who's called out with a small crew to repair the mining ship USG Ishimura , which has gone quiet since sending out a distress signal. However, your repair ship crashes in the docking bay, and there's no sign of life onboard, well, until shortly after and you're introduced to the iconic and horrifying Necromorphs… Everything that you need to traverse the Ishimura is on Isaac’s suit. With this simple yet effective setup, everything is displayed in-game rather than via a traditional HUD,

MOSTLY ARMLESS? Dead Space is a horror shooter, where instead of aiming for the head like you usually do with zombies, you need to aim for the limbs, and these change depending upon the variant of Necromorph that you’re facing.

adding to the cinematic experience. While navigating the ship, you'll find yourself constantly on edge, in similar fashion to Alien: Isolation , where any random noise will have you turning around to quickly investigate. A key feature that has changed is Clarke himself. In the original title he never spoke, and you only ever saw his face at the end of the game. This time around, Isaac removes his helmet and talks, but only in relevant moments or cutscenes. The original Dead Space still looks great to this day, but this remake serves to show just how far games have come in 15 years. The lighting, smoke effects, and sound design are all fantastic, and whether you're new to Dead Space or you're a Necromorph slaying veteran, there's no reason why you shouldn't experience/re-experience Dead Space in 2023. It remains a genuine cult classic. AD

FIRE EMBLEM ENGAGE

TACTICAL RPG MULTIPLAYER

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While the last major series outing, Fire Emblem: Three Houses , experimented with the format, Fire Emblem Engage recalls the more traditional turn based strategy roots of the RPG series. We step into the boots of the Divine Dragon Alear – in feminine or masculine form – and wake up after a satisfying 1,000-year kip,

only to find that the nasty old Fell Dragon has returned to the land of Elyos. The seal of 12

EMBLEMATIC HISTORY

Traditional turn-based play is the way, with numerous variables to consider ranging from which weapon trumps which, to which fighters can boast supremacy over which others in the given situation. This is where the strategy really kicks in, as not every fight will require brute force or, by the same token, a softly, softly approach. Where the “Engage” bit comes in is via the player’s Emblem Ring, which when worn summons the power of the soul of a hero from days gone, boosting your chances in battle. It’s a neat touch, and a great way to reminisce about earlier tales in the series. Oozing with fan service, yet accessible for those only just discovering the joys of the series, Fire Emblem Engage combines stunning animation with a fun take on a classic tale, and increasingly challenging strategy that’s sure to keep players itching for one more battle. AF

Emblem rings just wasn’t enough to restrain the fire-breather, and they’ve now been spread far and wide. You must explore the world and recover these magical rings – each of which contains a great warrior whose powers join with yours - taking on numerous foes while you do so and, ultimately, bringing peace to Elyos. Yes, it’s an old school save-the-day narrative, but it’s the way that it’s enhanced with masterful anime-styled interludes that really helps make Fire Emblem Engage a truly captivating tale.

Since its first outing back in 1990, there have been 16 mainline Fire Emblem games – three of which were remakes – as well as four spin-off titles, which included crossovers with both the Shin Megami Tensei and the Dynasty Warriors series.

48 MARCH 2023

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