This time, the monsters are tougher, smarter and more diverse. Isaac is placed on the moon Titan at an installation called The Sprawl, which houses a terrifying secret.  The story picks up three years after the conclusion of "Dead Space." If you didn't play the first version, Visceral Games provides a movie that recounts the original adventure for proper background.  Isaac has been rescued and taken to a military medical facility, where he undergoes experiments as others try to find out the secret of the Marker, the alien artifact responsible for the necromorph virus.  As he breaks free, with some help, the adventure into mayhem and psychological terror begins.  The necromorphs are strikingly realistic and grotesque. They can only be killed when their limbs are cut away from their bodies. They also pop out from every direction of every nook and cranny.  There are new necromorphs that will swarm Isaac, trying to outthink and outflank him, and some that will attempt to overpower him.  The detail with which the creatures were designed is realistic enough that you can still see portions of them that used to be human and figure out in your mind what their twisted parts and limbs have become.  The tension sticks with players throughout and forces them to think about strategy, weapon strength and tactics.  Steve Papoutsis, executive producer of the "Dead Space" franchise, said designers wanted to ratchet up the thrills but also wanted to pace the story so players didn't get fatigued from being on the edge all the time.  "(The pacing in 'Dead Space 2') is much more of a roller coaster," he said. "People thought the first game was great in its relentless tension throughout, but we did hear from some people that it was overwhelming at times.  "So we decided we wanted you to go from the white-knuckle terror moments to these 'Oh, my god. I can't believe I'm making this Halo-type jump moments.' "  Isaac faces internal struggles and external battles as different factions seek control of the Marker.
I'm nervous. As I peer into a slightly darkened room with its hidden corners and unknown sounds, I'm sure big baddies are lurking.But I smile a bit because that means more decapitations and limb