A look at: Dead Space 2's Visual Direction

Electronic Arts
Dead Space 2

Dead Space 2's visual style moves from the heavily industrial oriented original - to a more residential tone. The increase in graphical fidelity from the original helps to affirm this 'lived in' or 'living' environment. Despite being reduced to small action oriented 'corridors' the environments echo a larger, capitalistic and space venturing civilisation - through features of energetic, mascot based advertising and vast commercial sectors - contrasted by the abundance and density of housing and utilities.

Electronic Arts
Dead Space 2

The game's environmental design avoids an over-sterile - far future tone, instead creating environments, architectural and industrial design features that appear functional - whilst describing the outer 'space station' that contains them, as well as the technological superiority of the race that built them. The environments could be seen to draw from the likes of airports - echoing the efficiency, commercialisation and 'density' seen in modern airports. Likewise, hospitals appear directly within the game but could also be seen as a wider influence to the aesthetic - through the game's frequent use of polished surfaces, wide open space, and abundance of equipment. Such a reference might enforce the horror aspect of the game - playing on the anxiety commonly generated by hospital-esque environments.