It feels like it was only a few weeks ago when I blogged about Vader’s first birthday. And now he is already two years old and a fully grown dog. But fortunately he is still as playful as a puppy.
Here is the traditional photo in the corner of our kitchen to commemorate his second birthday:
Silke and I have already been to the southern part of Cornwall last year. Because we liked the beautiful landscape we decided to go back and visit the northern part as well. Silke booked us a nice holiday home on a former Dairy Farm near Widemouth Bay for the beginning of November. As it was only about 1.5 miles inland you could actually hear the surf from the garden.
The weather was really good for this late in the year. It mostly rained during the night and the sun was shining during the day. Silke and I seized the opportunity and went on extensive walks with our dog Vader. This was an excellent way to enjoy the stunning scenery. As I probably couldn’t find adequate words to describe it I’ll simply let the pictures do the talking.
A good horror movie requires craftsmanship: you need just the right amount of suspense, scare, suggestion, open terror, action and of course good visual effects. If anything is missing or the balance isn’t right you get something which is cheesy, gory, laughable or all of the above. The same rules apply to horror computer games. There are a lot of them, but only a few are masterpieces.
Dead Space is such a masterpiece: a third person shooter set on a gigantic starship drifting through space. Your character Isaac Clarke has to fight his way through a nightmarish maze of dark corridors and find a way off the doomed ship. Most of the crew members have been killed and turned into horrible monsters called Necromorphs. Their relentless attacks turn Isaac’s odyssey into a merciless struggle for survival.
The game rivals a good horror movie: gloomy atmosphere, scarce lighting, creepy sounds and things moving in the shadows. The references to Aliens and Starship Troopers are unmistakable. You know that there is a monster lurking around the next corner because you can hear it. But when the monster finally attacks from just the direction you didn’t expect the game still makes you jump.
If you like a game with an interesting plot, tough fights and a good scare you should definitely try Dead Space. I loved and hated it, both at the same time.
