4. Sound Design
One of the strongest aspects of the Dead Space franchise, and one which I knew wouldn't be "casualised" for the third game is the superb sound design. Again, longtime series composer Jason Graves, who is joined by James Hannigan, delivers a moody score that helps to amp up the familiar atmosphere even when the game itself is actively fighting against it. During the eerie moments and the bombastic, action-packed ones, the score is perfectly-pitched, while stunning sound effects, from the terrifying screeches of the Necromorphs, to the satisfying sounds of your weapons and the unsettling background noises, do a palpable job of keeping the player on edge through several combat-free portions even if the combat itself is largely free of suspense (but I'll get to that later).