'Dead Space 3'

EA Games

Microsoft Xbox 360 (PS3, PC)

$59.99

ESRB rating: Mature

Review rating: 4.0 stars

The "Aliens" movie taught viewers that "in space, no one can hear you scream," but my neighbors will swear under oath that this isn't true on Earth. Ever since I started playing "Dead Space 3," they've heard me hollering obscenities as if I can't control my own vocal chords! Even though this sequel is more action-oriented than the first two, there are still plenty of unexpected "gotcha" moments.

It's not surprising that the hero from the first two games, Isaac Clark, is once again called upon to stop a deadly necromorph outbreak. This time a lunatic religious organization releases them upon the masses, so Isaac has to battle humans as well as mutants. Eventually he travels to an ice planet in search of his girlfriend and just happens to save the universe.

This is definitely a bigger and badder game than the previous iterations. Isaac has extended romps through zero-G environments, flies a spaceship through a dangerous planetary atmosphere, controls giant turrets, rappels down mountains and blasts holes through countless mutants. He really is a jack-of-all-trades, but some game play elements are much more enjoyable than others.

For example, the weapon crafting is extremely in-depth, and the visuals and lighting effects are outstanding. In addition, using crafted weapons and telekinesis to remove the limbs of necromorphs is a bloody good time! On the other hand, fighting against humans can be rather boring, and it seems like Isaac moves much slower than they do.

Playing through the campaign alone is enjoyable, but partnering with a friend in co-op mode is where the real fun lies. It's a blast to coordinate with someone else and invent strategies like using one player to lure enemies while another literally cuts their legs out from under them. I also really enjoy the ability to create a weapon blueprint and share it with my co-op partner.

Fans of the first two games will surely enjoy "Dead Space 3."

SEGA

Sony PlayStation 3 (PC, Xbox 360)

$59.99

ESRB rating: Mature

Review rating: 1.5 stars

Fans of the "Alien" franchise have anxiously awaited the release of "Aliens: Colonial Marines" for years. It was canceled once and delayed several times, but now the futuristic action game is available on several platforms. Sadly, the final product is so poorly made that my biggest question is, "what the hell happened?"

Instead of creating an all-new storyline with new environments, the developers chose to weave a tale where players are sent to investigate the planet LV-426 several weeks after the end of the movie, "Aliens." Memorable moments from the movie are touched upon in small doses such as a voice recording of scruffy Newt, but anyone who hasn't seen the movie will surely be confused.

But that's just the beginning, as the game play itself is both outdated and frustratingly easy. It seems like the aliens are all loners because they rarely team up against players. Instead they simply run straight at your gun, waiting to be blasted into oblivion. Enemy soldiers also enter the fray, but they're gunned down just as easily. The only difference is that players have to use the cover system to avoid gunfire.

Having an obscenely overpowered shotgun doesn't help matters. Instead of being only a close-range weapon, this one-shot one-kill weapon can eliminate enemies across the room. Even worse is the overabundant amount of ammunition, and playing the campaign in co-op mode is so mind-numbing that it will put players to sleep.

Four modes are available in online multiplayer, but the aliens are so underpowered that players who choose them will likely feel cheated. Only the Escape mode is moderately enjoyable, and that's because it casts players as marines and forces them to blast countless aliens on their way to extraction zones.

Sadly, "Aliens: Colonial Marines" is such a disappointment that it should have stayed canceled.