Dead Space 2 demo showdown

By Richard Leadbetter Published 22 December, 2010

PS3 vs. Xbox 360.

The Dead Space 2 demo dropped on the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live yesterday, giving us our first chance to get hands-on with playable code that we would hope is representative of the final game set for release on 28th January. First impressions? It's a bit good, isn't it?

What we're seeing is a game that improves significantly upon its predecessor, smoother to play and tightened up where it needed to be. Graphically, Dead Space 2 is a real treat. Just like its predecessor it is still running at native 720p with no anti-aliasing (on either PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360), but owing to the mostly muted lighting scheme, it is not too much of an issue. Just like the previous game, v-sync is engaged to ensure visual consistency: there's not a single torn frame in either version.

texture-360
texture-ps3

These two versions are very, very close indeed. Here we take a close-up look at some textures. Both games appear identical. Seriously impressive stuff.

We've played the demo code through several times now, taken video, extracted stills and pored over them and we're yet to find anything that really shows any kind of noticeable difference between the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the demo. To illustrate the situation, we've put together a Dead Space 2 comparison gallery for you to take a look at. Any differences in texture filtering you might see appear to be just down to the different algorithms used by the ATI and NVIDIA GPUs. There's some variation according to the angle of the texture, but in motion both versions look the same.

Performance-wise, don't expect to see much in variation from the standard 30 frames per second. Dead Space 2 appears to be a remarkably smooth, consistent experience from start to finish, and the overall experience of playing the game is effectively identical between both systems. This eight-minute video attempts to sync up all the gameplay highlights of the sampler code running on both console platforms.

Edited highlights of the Dead Space 2 demo, complete with 360 and PS3 performance analysis.

So, effectively a locked 30 frames per second. We see a rare frame or two dropped during the course of gameplay on the 360, which was so rare, and so unexpected across the run of play that we actually had to check the captures frame by frame to verify the result. Meanwhile, PS3 breezes through all the gameplay, only dropping frames in a noticeable manner during one of the engine-driven cut-scenes.

dof-360
dof-ps3
blur-360
blur-ps3

Depth of field/focus effects and motion blur also appear to be the same between the two demos. Taken as a whole, there's nothing to differentiate these games visually.

What we like about this demo is the range of gameplay served up - we have tight, confined corridors, large open spaces, massive bosses, the occasional swarm of enemies, some beautifully detailed cut-scenes jam-packed with effects. It's a range of situations that tests many different aspects of the engine and it's fair to say that both versions of the Dead Space 2 demo acquit themselves very, very well indeed.

Of course, final judgement will be reserved for the full game (the original Dead Space had some areas which dropped frames consistently and noticeably on PS3), but as a sampler of things to come, this demo suggests that we only have great things to look forward to.

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • telboy007 #1 1 year ago

    You could see from the eurogamer expo that they've taken the PS3 version a lot more seriously, may even be the lead platform - not sure.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #2 1 year ago

    If the PS3 as lead platform yields such results then I'm all for it. Judging by the screens and video here the game looks quite good on both platforms and even though I don't have a PS3 I'm glad that the PS3 version will probably look and play exactly the same. It has taken developers far too long to reach this point.

  • karooo #3 1 year ago

    Excellent work Richard, now show us Mass Effect 2 :p

  • nixc9 #4 1 year ago

    Which version will have a hardware-locked save file? Cause I'll be getting the other one


    PS I know this is just a demo..

  • menage #5 1 year ago

    Well, that basically secures my PS3 version then, with extraction and the free mp it boils down to a nicer package.

  • IonOnion #6 1 year ago

    Is Dead Space Extraction HD still exlcusive to Ps3?
    If it is, then its an easy choice for me.

  • NeoKenzi #7 1 year ago

    Well done EA for getting this game to run beautifully on both consoles... I'm a happy chappy!

  • IronGiant #8 1 year ago

    Looks like the PS3 version has the steadier framerate which makes a nice change, having extraction too is icing on an already tasty cake! :)

  • martin1841 #9 1 year ago

    two worlds 2 comparison pls :p

  • Dismiss #10 1 year ago

    Well, Extraction is a nice bonus and sound quality is rather important for this kind of game, so looks like I'll be getting this for PS3.

  • darc #11 1 year ago

    Nice. Are there plans for 3D support on either platform?

  • Dizzy #12 1 year ago

    Is it the same engine as before or have they improved stuff?

  • Douche #13 1 year ago

    Looks nice. Will wait for the review though - the original got pretty repetitive towards the end. Became a bit of a slog.

  • spiritsnake #14 1 year ago

    PS3 it is, coz of extraction and free online play. Awesome stuff coming in the first 3 months of next year to ps3.

  • VandelayIndustries #15 1 year ago

    Good on Visceral! Dante's Inferno was like for like too I hope they continue this trend. Extraction HD swung this for me back at E3 so this is good news :D Also nice that it will likely include the better audio codecs.

    Edited by VandelayIndustries at 22/12/10 @ 18:02

  • FuzzyDuck #16 1 year ago

    Ap3xx - don't click the link if you're not interested.

    I'll plump for the PS3 version every time because that's what i own, but i still read these articles out of nerdy interest.

    DF did save me a good 50 quid when i read about the disaster that was Bayonetta, so kudos.

    Frig, DS2 looks amazing, loved the first.

  • penhalion #17 1 year ago

    It's good to see that the two consoles are now on par with one another as far as development goes.

    I loved deadspace 1 and will certainly be getting two. I'm also so glad that they didn't do the nonsense thing that capcom is now financially suffering for ( and righty so) of changing the lead character every bloody itteration of a game. If we have time invested in a hero (be it Isacc, Master Chief, Chris Redfield etc. etc.) those are the characters we expect to see in the next chapter. Not some new unknown person who we wouldn't have a single emotion invested in and could care less about.

    Capcom especially take note. Yes I'm pointing at you Emo Dante!

  • coomber #18 1 year ago

    Looks like the sequel to my 2008 GOTY is going to be 2011's GOTY :-)

  • TRUTH #19 1 year ago

    Enslaved, Castlevania and Dead Space 2 were leading on PS3 first, but, the 360 always had that slight advantage at the end...Unlike the other way round.

  • HisDudness #20 1 year ago

    The sound design was particularly amazing in the first game. Really looking forward to hearing what they do in this one!

  • tobsen #21 1 year ago

    I hope you guys will be able to give this one a proper review and score for a change, otherwise I will drop by with my plasma cutter.

  • IneptPercy #22 1 year ago

    No PC love, that is the one for me.

    I would guess the PS3 has been the lead console, its does seem its easier to do PS3 to 360 than 360 to PS3.

  • CloisterBlack #23 1 year ago

    Here's hoping that Dan Whitehead won't do the review for the second one as well.
    SERIOUSLY, 7 on DS 1?...

  • technicianTed #24 1 year ago

    Looks like i can finally get a cross platform game on ps3 over my favoured console(the 360)for once.
    Both games look identicle with both versions dropping to 28fps briefly during the video(the 360 early on and the ps3 around the middle part). The ps3 struggles more with the closing video section at the end though, no biggie.

    The fact it has the wii version thrown in has made the choice for me.

  • Badassbab #25 1 year ago

    PS3 as lead is seriously the way to go. It benefits us all since all the hard work of making a multiplat engine look beautiful on PS3 is done and porting to 360 is a breeze. 360 benefits as the graphics tend to look better on the 360 then if the 360 was lead platform. If you know what I mean.

  • riseer #26 1 year ago

    Day 1 here i loved the first one this one looks to push beyond.I love it when devs use the ps3 you get a great game out of it.I would even say that it runs a tad better then the 360 version.

  • riseer #27 1 year ago

    Ted i seen the 360 lose frame throughout the whole demo so it's a two lane road.

  • sfp_noodle #28 1 year ago

    EA are the only den this gen to have truly mastered cross platform development. For the past couple of years, pretty much all EA games have been exactly the same on both platforms with the decision coming down purely to controller preference and MP. With this, the added Dead Space Extraction makes the PS3 version the one to get. Two games for the price of one. Only a fool would pass up that option when presented with the choice of owning both consoles.

  • GamesConnoisseur #29 1 year ago

    Hooray for the virtual tie break with Dead Space 2, and not as much angsts as per ME2 advantages or disadvantages on the either consoles. Such outcomes matters as it would prevent such distractions of which is better, as more likely generate greater proportions of discussions on the actual game itself, the shared qualities, plots points and musings on the secrets and such.

    I enjoyed the demo, but was hoping for more noticeable refinements, to such degree as improvements in ME2 over ME1 or Uncharted as an example.

    Still no bad thing to reimmerse ourselves back into the world of scarily well realised Dead Space.

  • carlosdfn #30 1 year ago

    They're identical, good job.

  • Tallon4 #31 1 year ago

    They look the same to me and that's a good thing. Gonna buy it for the PS3 though. Free DS extration is a nice bonus.

    I tend to buy my FPS for my 360, but in this game...I somehowe like the R1, L1 button better then the360 bumpers.
    They will be frequently used in this game ( my experience with part 1 ) so that's quite important to me.

  • coldfoot #32 1 year ago

    I'm hoping that my ps move will stop gathering dust with this game...

  • Berge #33 1 year ago

    Extra Happy Christmas for me then, since I`ve put the Collectors Edition (PS3) on topp of my wishlist!

  • jackdoe #34 1 year ago

    The original had some discrepancy because the developers shifted focus to the PS3 midway through development. For the sequel, they obviously started with the PS3 which leads to all around parity. I'm going to get the PS3 version because it has extra content with the inclusion of Dead Space Extraction, which is an excellent game.

  • gjgjg #35 1 year ago

    Looks great, hats off.
    I have this warm happy feeling that there will be no fanbay spatting on this one :) ...but now I must finally use only my own judgement on which platform to buy it ...nooooo!

  • thedgam #36 1 year ago

    Just played it, looks incredible, still plays like a dream and even though its more action oriented this time around is still got me jumpy with most of the moments. Good signs for things to come!

  • TRUTH #37 1 year ago

    I thought it looked very good, but, not amazing - actually way ti similar to the 1st game, also felt way to similar to the 1st game...I know this is just a demo, but I feel it will be treading the same gameplay ground.

    Oh! why is it when large oversized monsters appear,they always growl loudly at you - which is so annoying and so over used, not scary too!

  • Zebula77 #38 1 year ago

    Had a lot of fun with this demo yesterday. Like the first one, sound effects editing is absolutely superb, even just using the TV audio. Graphics were atmospheric and great, tho maybe a tad too lights-flashing-on-and-off. Not a game for people with epileptic tendencies.

    It even made me jump once which is rare, and I was seriously creeped out by the army of baby-sounding monsters. That bit was excellent.

    Very excited about this game. Looks to be better than the original in every area.

  • systems #39 1 year ago

    If they both really are identical I'll get the PS3 one for the lossless audio.

  • womble #40 1 year ago

    @IronGiant "Looks like the PS3 version has the steadier framerate which makes a nice change"

    Please, do everyone a favor: read the actual showdown next time, instead of making crap up.

  • polaris70 #41 1 year ago

    Anyone new to Dead Space just remember Stasis is your friend, especially with swarms. Great demo.

  • tobsen #42 1 year ago

    Can someone tell me where to find the demo in the German PSN store? Or are German users shafted again because of some f***ed-up age rating bullshit?

  • martin1841 #43 1 year ago

    @womble
    Dont bother he forgot that 360 version drops to 28 for less than second and ps3 version drops to 20! in cutscenes! LAMAO :D

  • Retro_ #44 1 year ago

    I look forward to Richard chatting to the Devs. Please :)

  • mr2ange #45 1 year ago

    Ahhh played the demo last night, thank god! i've been waiting for this for so long! and they didnt do a resi 5 with it!!!
    Here's to kicking some necromorph butt come the end of jan!

  • Spydy #46 1 year ago

    Really, no AA? The first thing I thought when starting the demo was AA had definitely been implemented. Dead Space 1 on PS3 needed AA badly in places. Glad the devs have got around it with some excellent art direction.

    day one.

  • ATNR1 #47 1 year ago

    Glad to see that both versions looks good. So an easy decision for me. PS3 with better sound plus extraction. Only gripe I have is, why isn't there any Move support for this game? It seems like a perfect fit. Played Resident Evil 5 with the move, and it really adds to the fun and makes the game a lot easier to play. Sure the RE5 implementation wasn't perfect, but this game needs accurate shooting to remove limbs and heads. And that you certainly had in RE5. Accurate shooting that is.

  • Zerobob #48 1 year ago

    "It's good to see that the two consoles are now on par with one another as far as development goes. "

    Based on the comparison of a single demo?

    Maybe one or two developers are taking notice of the calls for platform parity between games, but the Xbox is still blatantly the easier console to develop for. Either that or the console architecture naturally allows games to run better. I mean, over 90% of games put through DF coming out in favour of the Xbox version for one reason or another.

    Still, it certainly looks like in this case the extra effort has been put into the PS3 version, yes.
    Edited by Zerobob at 04/01/11 @ 18:53