10 "Zero Expectation" Video Games That Blew Everyone Away

By the time 2008 rolled around, the survival-horror market had become overstuffed with lacklustre outings. The Silent Hill franchise had entered its decline with the release of The Room and Homecoming, whilst the Alone In The Dark reboot failed to impress anyone.

Dead Space wasn't just the new kid on the block, it was entering a genre that was rapidly running out of steam. There was a lot working against Visceral's title, so it's understandable why expectations weren't especially high at the time.

It turned out that Isaac Clarke's ill-fated mission to the Ishimura was exactly what the genre needed.

The claustrophobic bowels of the mining ship combined with pitch-perfect sound design meant every second was terrifying. Moreover, by integrating HUD elements like Isaac's health bar and waypoints into the engineer's suit, cautiously exploring the Ishimura became a more immersive experience.

What made Dead Space especially noteworthy was the genius twist it put on the genre. instead of aiming for headshots, players were required to dismember enemies' frantically moving limbs instead, which made each encounter a nerve-shattering ordeal.

Even with a phenomenal remake breathing new life into this horror classic, the original still holds up remarkably well today.