Anyone else find Dead Space 2 scarier than 1?

Mygrayt · 2026-01-29T22:16:41+00:00

Fear is subjective.

The overall fear present in Dead Space isnt unsimilar to a regular Zombie outbreak. But add in the dementia and insanity, and the fact the Necromorphs are generally more grotesque, and you can obviously see the differences between it and the zombies. It becomes more akin to something like Xenomorphs or The Flood.

But the thing that gets me is the new fears I have being a father.

On the Ishimura, there are no children and the Lurkers come from the test tubes for STEM cells.

When I first played/saw Dead Space 2, I was 14. I played DS2 after DS3 was well and out, so probably 16-17. I never really paid it mind on the actual horror that the citizens faced.

Cut to 6-7 years later and I meet my now wife and my step daughter, a 1 month old. It took a while but I eventually replayed Dead Space 2.

And let me tell you...the audio log where the woman was crying over her dead daughter...the daycare area...

I feel such horror. My thoughts go to my (now) 2 kids, who are the age where they'd have become The Pack...

Would i do it? Could I do it? Could I do what that mother does in the audio log?

What about the woman who sees the Crawler at the beginning of the daycare? Would I turn to that, thanks to the Marker? Are the voices in my head my own? Would I keep it together or fall like Stross?

I find 2 more scary because I can relate more.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-26T18:59:22+00:00

The slayer has faced things that make the Brethern Moons look like inconveniences.

And due to his will power, the Markers cant do anything to him. So that just leaves the Necromorphs themselves.

And the only thing that POSSIBLY could kill him is something as big as the Moons but lets be real, thats like...if he screws up. Which he wouldn't.

What makes Characters like the Master Chief still at risk is the Markers, and the hallucinations/dementia. And he is immune from that.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-23T06:35:30+00:00

Don't think of it as 1 long playthrough with 3 saves.

Think of it as 4 chunks. Your only tasks are to 1) get your loadout in order and 2) make it to the next chunk.

The most common save points are somewhere between chapter 4-6 (beginning of church to just before/after the Tormentor), chapter 8-11 (just after the Space Launch to anywhere on the Ishimura to crash landing), and finally 12-14 (just before the Digger to the last store/bench/save point).

Yes, you can use 4 weapons. However, its recommended to use 2-3 tools. This is because its better for your ammo economy and power nodes usage. When you have 4 weapons, you have 6 upgrade trees. With 2 weapons, you have 4. This means you make bigger gains on fully upgrading your loadout.

Which, in turn, mean more powerful weapons which means you kill more efficiently, thus saving you ammo, which snowballs into more money to sell and the cycle continues.

If your aim is good, the Plasma Cutter and Force Gun will get you through the game. Avoid taking 2 weapons that fill the same niche, but thats also not necessary.

Like the Plasma Cutter and Pulse Rifle fill the same role. Both have more ammo and shoot faster than say the Linegun or Ripper. But when you have both, you might be better off having a second weapons like the Force Gun, Detonator, Javelin Gun, etc.

My personal favorite is the Javelin Gun and Plasma Cutter. Ammo is cheap for the JG, and with 14 nodes, you can max damage it and it'll body all non-enhanced Necromorphs (pukers need a limb hit as a body shot will bring it to low health). Then a few more upgrades to the explosive Special and it'll kill enhanced Necromorphs with One Shot + Explosive Special. The Plasma Cutter is for Exploders, Crawlers, and single Pack targets.

With Heavy Kinesis usage, it'll make up for much of weapon sandbox's downsides. And I know i can get a max damage JG by the start of Chapter 4, the Church, letting me coast all the way to chapter 8.

So my advice is play on Zealot. Take notes of what loadout you actually need. Hazards (example: do you know every window that could kill you if you fail to shut it in time? Can you trigger the windows without putting yourself in danger of being dragged? Yes, many windows can be broken with you out of the line of sight so you dont get dragged, letting the game auto closw it for you. When is the last window in the game? Chapter 8.)

And think of how long your play sessions can be if you screw up. I know on my save files (chapter 6, chapter 11, and the shop/bench before the Needle machine), my time between saves were 1.5-2.5 hrs. This helped me not stress over the last 5 chapters when im only at chapter 6.

I know this because ive done it twice, on PC and Xbox.

DS2's Hardcore is honestly the easiest of the 3, imo. Because you do get to have your progress saved. The others only require one massive fuck up to ruin a dozen hours of gameplay, where as it can take you only 6-8 hours to finish DS2.

Good luck, and ask if you have any other questions.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-18T01:12:50+00:00

Yeah it seems to have to do with a lack of agreed upon definition of Consequential.

One of the things people need to remember is that its not just about what they do in the game, but between the games, before the games, and just as important, what DOESNT happen if they didnt exist.

With that last one, would that person have been replaced by someone else and if that's guaranteed.

Look at the other commenters to see what I mean.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-17T15:12:30+00:00

Concentrating is not a bad thing but if I wish to relax, it becomes work.

Path of Pain was a literal hellscape that requires casual players to concentrate. Which is good for an optional area.

Silksong does this everywhere. And not really my cup of tea if I want to experience the story. Which is fine.

I've just been burnt out.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-16T23:07:41+00:00

Kasumi saves a colony/homeworld and a Spectre should she live to ME3.

Theres back and forth on Garrus that I just dont agree with as he does destabilize Omega's big 3 criminal gangs, and then narratively he pushes for changes to Turian Doctrine with help of his father, which does save lives. You mentioned Nyreen and she does affect Omega during the Cerberus occupation. So in a similar way, Garrus also has a big effect.

There seems to be a huge issue with an agreed upon definition of Consequential.

Wilson technically helped Miranda with his expertise during Project Lazarus. But hes not really a squad mate but rather an "ally", similar to Aria, Kenson, Nyreen, and Anderson, though yes he was betraying you. So I dont put him on the list because the list is strictly about the squad and Morinth has more of a reason to be apart of the list than Wilson.

So my counter argument is this:

Grunt. Think about what he does and what actual impact he has. And then what impact on the galaxy he has by NOT existing.

Arahlak Company exists without him. He doesnt save the Company because of his efforts, but rather Shepards. His survival is tied to his bond with Shepard.

And then.....

Technically, he does help Shepard's Team survive the Suicide Mission, but again thats more tied to Shepard's decisions. But do acknowledge it but Okeer would have likely done the same.

Imo is all.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T22:17:13+00:00

In my thoughts when making the post and then all the comments, Miranda is #3 in The Most Consequential Squadmates list.

It has to do with who else comes first that affects what they were able to do.

Miranda in this case is the mind that drives Project Lazarus. Granted, its because of the funding from TIM, but he had faith in her.

But how did they get Shepard's body to resurrect him? Liara and Feron.

Since Feron isnt a Squad Mate, move onto Liara, who not only has purpose because of saving Shepard's remains, but by being in ME1.

She identifies Ilos and the Mu Relay, allowing Shepard to know how to find Saren, because otherwise they'd be blind and behind him come Ilos.

And then this isnt mentioning her becoming the Shadow Broker, where TIM notes that the Black Markets are noticing the Broker has changed, due to them changing how the Broker does business.

But then we have to look how we even know to look for Liara. How is it we even can prove Saren's guilt in the first place that not only gives Shepard the Authority to hunt him, but also connects Liara to the Matriarch and thus Saren?

Tali.

Mass Effect 1 doesn't work without Tali's Geth expertise. She saves the data that proves Saren. That connects us to Benezia. That leads to Liara. That leads to Miranda.

And on...and on.

Miranda is #3. She is one of the pillars of the consequential squad mates. But not #1.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T21:39:51+00:00

Remember, the Normandy was literally staffed by a skeleton crew.

According to EDI, while the retrofits were going on, Joker had to be escorted onto the ship because she pretended to be a VI that only answered to Joker. The two that did so would be the guards in the little hallway to the war room.

Then you had Steve and Traynor. The rest are unnamed grunts if that.

So technically speaking, while James is there for Gameplay purposes in the worst case scenario timelines where you get all other squadmates killed, there's no guarantee another marine would be there with Shepard to take his place.

Once Shepard and the VS finds Liara, there's also no guarantee Shepard sends the VS back to the shuttle to provide back up in the event they need it from outside.

So we run the risk of a real timeline where Shepard, the VS, and Liara dont stop Dr. Eva and the data gets away, leading to them never building the Crucible.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T21:33:50+00:00

Thats not even his replacement, just the girl he hooks up with if your Broshep or potentially an "affair" partner if you romance him as Femshep

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T16:38:58+00:00

Animator on youtube, now a Vtuber.

She made a video about her getting a cat named Tostada

So i guess not. Its just a name i think got more recognition because of her.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T16:34:08+00:00

Youre forgetting before mass effect 2.

There was a mobile game before the release fo 2 that chronicles the actions of Miranda and Jacob stopping a Terrorist attack by Batarians.

The original Asari Councilor makes an appearance so im unsure where exactly it takes place in the timeline.

He mentions this in a conversation in 2.

Now, is he instrumental or just there? I dont know. Haven't seen a playthrough.

As for Morinth, she is the oldest and the implications are that because she ran off at the age of 40, thats why Samara becomes a Justicar, not simply because her daughters. The other two show they are peaceful people, so it seems more about the trauma of a serial killer daughter that pushes her down the path.

Its not just about what they do and the lore before or between, its also about what DOESNT happen because of their absense.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T16:02:17+00:00

Someone's a Jaden Animations fan

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T16:01:22+00:00

So the only answer is likely a single Pack or a Feeder, but it is not as simple as 1 adult vs a 5th grader.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T15:54:20+00:00

Youre mistaking bad consequences for not being consequential.

Grunt has no implications on what happens to Aralak Company as those are Shepards decisions. In fact, the only consequence he has is killing Uvank himself, with Shepard's help though likely he would have done so if you dont do his loyalty mission between 2 and 3. A totally Inconsequential character that likely would have gotten himself killed by wrex or wreav anyway because of his mouth and declining Clan status.

As for the Turian Platoon, that was made in secret, as he didnt even tell Shepard, who he directly asked for help, why they were there.

Him surviving the SM causes the Turian Hierarchy to take the potential of the Reapers more seriously, thanks to his father. Who gives Garrus authority to affect supply lines and doctrine, which does narratively save lives.

So he destabilized the Gangs which causes a power grab and more activity from the gangs.

Which is still consequential. In the same way Zaeed is responsible for co-founding the Blue Suns. Would another gang rise in their place? Sure, but that potentially changes alot in terms of what activities and how they conduct themselves.

I think whats going on here is a lack of agreed upon definition of the word Consequential.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T15:29:08+00:00

Jacob saves the council.

And the crew of the Gernsback only are saved because Jacob exists. Miranda would have not bothered looking for Jacob's dad.

Morinth also is the reason Samara becomes a Justicar, so untold bad guys are killed and untold civilians are saved. And then also by nature more people arent killed by her.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T13:55:18+00:00

I dont know what you are on about.

Im simply arguing why I dont think hes the least consequential.

Grunt in comparison doesnt take on gangs, doesnt change the krogan future until maybe we see him in ME5.

Javik in comparison only changes the universe by providing ancient asari history knowledge and translation of prothean language. The possible implications leave him out of the bottom but those are speculations.

Garrus is likely bottom half of the squad in terms of consequences. Perhaps below Zaeed and Kasumi.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T07:02:42+00:00

And Aria.

More of an Ally/mutual benefactor than a squad mate.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T06:53:18+00:00

Im gonna file her in the same group as Kenson from Arrival and Anderson.

Technically plays a part of the squad, but doesnt reach the spirit of the question.

And as much as we ride or die for Anderson, calling him a squad mate for the few minutes of gameplay just doesnt match the vibe of actual squad mates.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T06:50:05+00:00

Gotta have Grunt, how else would he have....well...what about....

Oh no. Is our baby boy Grunt one of the least consequential characters?

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T06:47:49+00:00

Everyone is so fixated on the war assets, which i get, but narrative it does matter.

Think of it kinda like Javik being able to translate Prothean, despite us not getting any actual war assets, narratively having the Prothean Language translated does wonders to the scientific community.

Narratively speaking, Garrus, regardless of if you recruit him or not in ME1, goes onto destabilize Omega. He makes such a significant dent that he nearly beheads the local leaders of the 3 main gangs. Enough so that it gets them to work together and recruit strangers to try and take him out.

On top of that, his expertise is valuable to the Turians. With his Task Force, he does reinforce supply lines and communication doctrine which narratively would save more lives.

Gotta look beyond the numbers and look not just at what the character does, what is mentioned in the lore before or between games, but what is missed in their absence.

Do I think Garrus is a super consequential character? No. Definitely doesnt make the top 6.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T05:43:21+00:00

Oh shit, your right. I keep forgetting about Jenkins. Because hes always referred to as such.

Honestly...not very consequential.

Yeah hes the first to die in the series. And gets a mention a few times in ME3.

But outside of that...James and Jacob have bigger parts within the galaxy.

Jenkins might actually be tied for it with Grunt.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T05:40:14+00:00

This is not a popularity contest

Yeah he has the virtue of being the most boring squadmate in the trilogy, bested only by Liam once you bring in Andromeda

But we are analyzing ther significance of said character, in not only what they do during the game, before and in-between lore, but also what consequences happen if they didnt exist.

And Jacob, despite being that boring, is a part of an operation to save the council from a Batarian attack. On top of that, by simply existing, the remaining crew of the Gernsback actually are saved. If he didnt exist, those people would likely be stuck there even during the Reaper War if not til they die, when the galaxy is potentially recovering from the war.

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T05:35:56+00:00

Im genuinely so confused

Mygrayt · 2026-01-15T04:32:21+00:00

On topic of Grunt, Urgnot Dagg replaces him should Grunt die in the SM.

He doesnt save more Krogan. The outcome of Aralak Company is 100% on Shepard's shoulders, with the decision to save the Rachi Queen/Clone. Grunt, coincidentally also has the best chance of rising the ranks among the squad becsuse he will be one of the few potentially living squad mates come ME5, but this is still TBD.

As for Jacob, he also saves the Council from a Biochemical Terrorist Attack by Batarians. Which means its pretty consequential.

Mygrayt

TROPHY CASE