Dead Space Extraction

Dead Space: Extraction is a science fiction rail shooter and is viewed from a first-person perspective. Taking the role of multiple characters across the campaign, the player navigates through the Aegis VII colony and the mining ship Ishimura from a first-person cinematic perspective. The original Wii version controls using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, incorporating both motion controls and an option to use the Wii Zapper. In the PlayStation 3 (PS3) port, the controls are altered to support both the DualShock controller and PlayStation Move. In contrast to the diegetic UI design of the original game, players can press a controller button to display weapon slots, current ammunition and health in the screen corners.

The campaign is split into ten chapters, with progress dictated by the narrative, though in some sections the player is allowed to freely direct the camera or choose routes through environments. The narrative is told in real-time, using a combination of in-engine cutscenes, and video and audio logs picked up within the environment. Gameplay is similar to a light gun shooter; enemies approach the player and are shot using the equipped weapon. The main enemies of the game, Necromorphs, can only be killed by severing their limbs.

Dead Space: Extraction takes place in the year 2508, centuries after humanity narrowly escaped extinction due to resource depletion by "cracking" planets to extract their resources in a three-year process. The events of Extraction play out prior to the events of Dead Space, and in parallel to the prequel comic and the tie-in movie Dead Space: Downfall. During the second year of an illegal mining operation on the planet Aegis VII funded by the Church of Unitology, the colonists discover a monolith-like artifact they identify as a Marker, an object sacred to the Unitologists' beliefs. In reality, the Marker is a copy of an alien object that triggers the destruction of both the colony and the associated mining ship USG Ishimura using reanimated mutated corpses referred to as "Necromorphs".

The game follows several characters as they escape the Aegis VII colony onto the Ishimura. They are colony detective Nathan McNeill; Ishimura soldier Gabe Weller, who is less affected by the Marker; Lexine Murdoch, a colony resident who can likewise resist the Marker's influence and softens its impact on those close to her; Warren Eckhardt, an executive from the Ishimura; and Ishimura doctor Karen Hollwell. The opening section follows Sam Caldwell, an Aegis VII miner. Nicole Brennan, a central character from Dead Space, appears as a supporting character.

Dead Space: Extraction was co-developed by EA Redwood Shores (later Visceral Games), creators of the survival horror video game Dead Space; and Eurocom, a European development studio. Producer Steve Papoutsis created the concept for Extraction, wanting to create an original title for the Wii and give players of the original game further story content. The Wii was chosen as the platform due to its innovative features, including motion controls. Its genre was chosen based on the design and limitations of the Wii hardware.

The Redwood Shores development team spent much of the production at Eurocom's studios in Derby, England. Eurocom were eager to create a high-quality title using the Dead Space licence. Production began in 2008 and took roughly fourteen months, the process being simplified by having a pre-established world design and assets.

The original Wii release earned a positive score of 82 out of 100 points from review aggregate website Metacritic based on 76 critic reviews. The plot met with general praise, but some noted some weak writing and pacing issues. A lack of horror elements compared to the original Dead Space was also noted. The gameplay was positively received for its design and controls, though its pacing and elements of its UI and camera work were criticised for hampering the experience.

Several reviewers also faulted its short length and lack of bonus modes. There was frequent praise for its graphics and environment design, both for pushing the platform's technical limits and accurately recreating the Dead Space universe. The music, sound design and voice acting also met with praise when mentioned.