Dead Space Extraction takes us back to the same area as the first game with the USG Ishimura in orbit around Aegis VII, but in this prequel we start planetside and witness firsthand the excavations of the Marker and the madness that ensues. After a very twisted and bloody intro the game will have you playing as numerous staff on the planet as they attempt to save themselves from the threat of the Necromorphs and their fellow miners.

 

 

For a Wii title Dead Space Extraction looks and sounds amazing. Every detail is there from the larger console versions with very familiar scenes and baddies from the Xbox 360/PS3 versions, albeit not in HD. The Necromorphs are as gruesome as ever, skittering along the floor trying to kill you, the environments are dripping in blood and have some very effective lighting effects and co-stars that play alongside you look surprisingly good for a Wii title. The labored breathing of your character when things get hot and the continual radio chatter also keeps you well in suspense. Worth a mention is the quality of the acting, each character has a top quality voice actor attached, bulking up the realism of them on the screen in front of you. All of this together helps make a gripping story unfold before you and whilst this is essentially an on rails shooter and you are just taken along for the ride it sure is an action packed and an occasionally scary title.

 

As expected for a shooter the Wii Zapper is compatible, sadly though I can't really recommend it as the important and often used A button is unreachable. The classic Wii-Mote and Nunchuck layout is much more suitable, allowing you to reach the buttons with ease. There are plenty of Dead Space powers and weapons that return including the telekinesis that allows you to grab items like ammo, miner text logs and to interact with doors and terminals and also the stasis power that allows you to pause enemies so that you can shoot for limbs which come in very handy when the screen gets busy. All of the weapons make a return, each with an upgrade ability though it is a little simplistic, plus each one has a secondary fire, this time which is activated with just a twist of the Wii-Mote. Two other movement specific actions are the melee to help push away nasties and a glow stick to light up the darker corridors, each one is used by shaking the Nunchuck or Wii-Mote.

 

During the heated battled and gripping story there are a few minigames that whilst cut into the action add even more pressure. Using the rivet gun you are able to place and remove bolts depending on the circumstances. There is also a terminal hacking game where you join nodes by linking them by making lines with the Wii-Mote, easy as it sounds, try doing this as you see Necromorphs approach you, stressful stuff.

 

 

Away from the gripping story mode there is also a few bits of additional content; firstly you are able to play co-op in the main mode. Here you can both fight for your escape whilst working together to complete some of the puzzles like riveting bolts and holding items. There is also a series of challenge rooms, these are single levels based around areas that you have already played in, though the way you are taken around is different to the main story, making it feel like a fresh new level. The idea is to survive wave after wave of Necromorph attackers, shooting at them with limited ammo whilst using telekinesis to grab more weapons. Finally, as you play through the single player you can unlock a cool looking motion comic based on the Dead Space mythos.

 

Classically on rail shooters are very short and with very little in the way of extras, but at over 8 hours playtime, great production and a gripping storyline Extraction proves itself as the pinnacle of shooters and a must have purchase for the Wii.