By Bryan Creevy –Entertainment Editor

“Dead Space 3,” released barely a month ago, furthered the epic’s story and raised all the tensions to new levels. Gamers were left in suspense with a short audio clip that played at the end of the credits, but the suspense is over now that the DLC “Dead Space 3 Awakened” has been released.

The extra serves as a sort of epilogue to the third installment as it occurs very soon after the ending of the campaign.

Isaac and Carver wake up in a crack in the earth with no idea how they survived the final battle of the main campaign. Regardless of their confusion whether they are dead or alive, they push up and out of the crevice and notice the remains of the Brethren Moon which they destroyed. Relieved that the moon was indeed destroyed and the Necromorphs are no more, the two heroes go off in search of a ship which they could use to escape the desolated ice planet. However, both of them soon realize that the Necromorph plague had not ended when they see their late ally Robert Norton as a reanimated corpse.  They also realize that they both are still suffering from their Marker related dementia.

The new antagonist of the series is now the Cult leader of “The Circle,” a group of Unitologists that worship the Necromorphs to such an extreme that they cut off their imperfections such as their arms. Then, they surgically add on the sharp claws of the Necromorphs to their body. This type of enemy isn’t as common as the typical Necromorph, but they will still appear periodically and are a major pain to kill since they attack in groups. There movement is noticeably different since they are still live human beings, but they attack you in the same way that Slasher Necromorphs do.

Unlike the previous antagonists, “The Cult Leader” comes into the havoc and tries to kill you himself. He is a part of your dementia and often brings you into your own mind, sort of like the final battle against Nicole in “Dead Space 2.” When you shoot at him while he follows you with his bowie knife type weapon, the bullets simply phase right through him or he vanishes and reappears closer to you.

A lot of tension grows between Isaac and Carver too. While Carver believes that Isaac and he should head back to Earth to warn them about something, Isaac believes that if they go back to Earth, the threat will follow them there.

There are also new parts labeled “MK-II” parts to customize your weapon with. There isn’t anything too noticeably different about this pieces, but an achievement or trophy comes out of building a weapon with the MK-II Tip, so they’re worth the effort.

Although the DLC is only two chapters long, just like the DLC “Dead Space 2 Severed,” it truly adds to the entire “Dead Space 3” experience. Without this DLC, the actual campaign would seem incomplete.

“Awakened” is a worthy addition to “Dead Space 3.” It brings more of those dark corridor scares than the actual game had, and it further increases the suspense and tension. The ending is to die for for any hardcore fan of the game. This epilogue will leave any fan of the series begging for EA to keep the series going just to see what awaits our two heroes in the next installment, “Dead Space 4.”

(Photo courtesy vg247.com)