Seeing the mysterious man (who was also the star of the tepid Dead Space: Ignition) turn into a necromorph without any cuts or tricks is stunning even today as camera angles or other gimmicks will usually obscure such a difficult process.

The transformation sequence cannot be understated, too. The fear of the unknown is strong as well as the fear of the known, which are shambling toward you with their sharp, extended limbs. Something is deeply, deeply wrong as Isaac didn’t go back to normal after his traumatizing stay on the Ishimura. It’s one hell of an opening that is still one of the best in the genre because of how it sets the tone for the rest of the title.

Still shackled, a traumatized and confused Isaac headbutts the newly formed monster and runs for his life. A mysterious man (modeled after the game’s producer, Rich Briggs) begins to free him before getting turned into a necromorph in real-time mere inches from Isaac’s face.

Isaac, the previous game’s protagonist, is in a straightjacket for some unknown reason. Dead Space 2 opens with an unforgettable bang.