Dead Space Trophy / Achievement Guide

Dead Space was released on October 14, 2008. Receiving critical claim from all large gaming journalism sites, Dead Space claimed its rightful spot on the years most terrifying third person survival horror title. In my personal opinion beating out Silent Hill: Homecoming and Resident Evil 5 released the same year( both of which are a favorite series of mine). Even with great reviews and awards, unfortunately Dead Spaces sales were sub par, although not detrimental, it didn’t receive its glory it should have. To celebrate its first year birthday I have decided to write my very first Trophy Guide on this terrifying game. Now more than likely if your here, your already own the game and are looking to truly say that you have mastered the art of Necromorph killing. Although it may be possible that you do not own Dead Space and have stumbled upon my trophy guide. If that be the case do yourself a favor and go out and pick up a copy (just dropped to 19.99) to enjoy a true masterpiece in survival horror. With a fathomable story, characters, eerie and surreal environment, and music to melt the skin from your ears, you will have trouble turning down the lights and trying to make it though the nightmare that Issac ( the main character) and his crew mates have got themselves into. Oh and along the way Ill be here to help you get the most out the experience as well as guide you to the most effective path to showing off that Platinum Trophy or 100% achievement score to others. So lets begin, turn up the surround sound, or TV volume and be prepared for a wild ride. I will formulate the guide as a general comment and information on each specific trophy, followed by a summary of the three total play throughs that are required to obtain the impossible. Feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns involving the game and or guide. Guide created using the PS3 version of Dead Space and a lot of screaming (on my part).

Platinum – Concodrance Officer:

This is the bad boy your looking to get right? well lets get you there. Collect all other trophies and this is yours for the taking.

Bronze – Lab Rat:

Complete Chapter 2 on any difficulty setting (ah hehe, choose a difficulty, get it? ok, bad joke).

Bronze – All Systems Go:

Complete Chapter 3 on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – Cannon Fodder:

Complete Chapter 4 on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – True Believer:

Complete Chapter 5 on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – Greenhouse Effect:

Complete Chapter 6 on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – S.O.S:

Complete Chapter 7 on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – Strange Transmissions:

Complete Chapter 8 on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – Wreckage:

Complete Chapter 9 on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – Keeper of the Faith:

Complete Chapter 10 on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – Betrayed:

Complete Chapter 11 on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – Exodus:

Complete Chapter 12 on any difficulty setting.

Gold – Epic Tier 3 Engineer:

Complete the game on the hardest difficulty setting.

Well, first off don’t the same mistake I did, there is a difficulty setting beyond hard. There exists the impossible setting, but is only obtainable after you finish the game on any other difficulty. As I will detail at the end of this guide the way you approach these play through’s are important to make it as easy on you as possible. This will most likely be the very last trophy you obtain so refer to the play through sections of this guide for more information on how to acquire this trophy/achievement.

Silver – Survivor:

Complete the game on any difficulty setting.

Bronze – Brute Force: (POSSIBLE SPOILER : This trophy is hidden, although I don’t think it gives much away)

Kill a Brute, this is something you will acquire though the course of the game, you can not miss it.

Bronze – Exterminator: (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

Kill the Leviathan, again something that has to be unlocked through the course of the game.

Bronze – Get off my Ship!: (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

Kill the Slug Boss, same as before.

Bronze – Mindless Prey: (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

Kill the Hive Mind. Same as before.

Bronze – Pack Rat:

Store 25 items in safe.

So this trophy is fairly simple, when you come across a store in the game it gives you access to a personal safe in which to hold addition ammunition, guns, etc. You can put all of your equipment in the safe, unlock the trophy and return it to yourself.

Bronze – Story Teller:

Collect 75 logs.

Scattered throughout the game are personal logs from the crew. You pick these logs up just like items and are very visible, although some may require you to access and area requiring a power node and the such. Here you can find the various videos required to make sure you have every single log, although I was able to collect all of them myself without the use of a guide. (credit goes to all the makers of the videos and not myself)

Silver – Legend Teller:

Collect all 150 logs.

Use the videos linked above for help with collected all logs within the game.

Silver – Full Arsenal:

Own every weapon in the game.

For this trophy you will need to have found the schematics for each weapon and purchased them at the store. This is often obtained on your first playthrough.

Bronze – Z-Baller:

Complete level 6 in Zero-G Basketball.

During chapter 10 you will come across a room that features a form of basketball but in zero-g, hence Zero-G Basketball. Now you must enter this room in order to collect an item that allows you to move on the in story so there is no way you can miss it. Instructions are on the locker on how to play or you have the convenience of this here to help you visualize it instead. It may take a few tries to master but overall not a difficult trophy to unlock.

Bronze – Merchant:

Collect 8 Schematics.

Throughout the game you will acquire new weapons these come in a form of an item picked up as a schematic, once at the store it is uploaded and avaliable for purchase. Just collect 8, and this trophy is yours.

Bronze – Armstrong:

Shoot 50 objects using Kinesis.

Through the course of the game you will acquire new upgrades for your suit, one of these is the Kinesis module. Allowing you to pick up otherwise heavy objects and throw them. Pick up and shoot the object/objects 50 times. There is no limit on the Kinesis module, therefore you can pickup the same object 50 times and get it in a single sitting, otherwise it will most likely be unlock just from the various tasks you need to complete throughout the game.

Bronze – Playing Catch: (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

Catch a Brute or Leviathan pod with Kinesis.

Here you want to time your Kinesis module when a Brute or Leviathan boss tosses a pod, which looks like an irregular ball of pimples. This is easiest to do on the first major boss fight, the Leviathan, catch his pods and throw them back into his mouth. Does a good deal of damage and can help you get armstrong, and conserve ammo for harder play throughs.

Bronze -  Kickin it: (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

Escape from a Lurker’s grab attack 10 times.

The Lurkers are the Necromorphs that are similar to a baby, if you want to call them that. They have tenicles that portrude from their back’s and fire projectiles. If you position yourself close enough to them they leap onto you head and use their tenicles to stab at you, by repeatingly taping the (x) button, you will trigger an animation in which Issac will pull the little guy off and kick him to oblivion, pretty cool acutally. Allow this to happen 10 times and your good to go.

Bronze – Marksman:

Dismember 20 limbs.

In Dead Space the real goal of damage dealing, ESPECIALLY on harder difficultys is to aim specifically for the limbs. Doing so will net you extra damage and therefore save you some cash and ammunition. Shoot 20 limbs and you are on your way to mastering Necromorph killing.

Bronze – Surgeon:

Dismember 500 limbs.

Did’nt believe huh? Well get to work Doctor, your needed on the medical deck.

Silver – Butcher:

Dismember 1000 limbs.

Wow, someones on a rampage…..

Bronze – Freeze:

Use Stasis on 50 enemies. STOP! VERY IMPORTANT! Click here to view video on this trophy.

Stasis is the first Module you will obtain, and probably the most important. This module has limited use and needs to be refilled although it can often save you from death or wasting a ton of ammunition. Be sure to try and use this module often as you will need to use it effectively for later playthroughs.

Bronze – Crackshot:

Achieve a perfect score in the shooting gallery.

This trophy is during chapter 9 in which you must board another ship. On this ship is a shooting range and to obtain this, you must hit every target, but be careful not to hit the blue targets as they will decrease your score.

Bronze – Don’t get cocky kid: (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

Survive the ADS Canon with over 50% Shield strength remaining.

This one is actually quite challenging. First off you want to save at the save station to the left when you enter the room with the ADS in it. This will allow you to reload in a worst case senario. So you must keep the ships shield’s at 50% and wait the automatic traking to engage. Passing this part will most likely take a few tries to even complete. So practice take down almost all the asteriods, while making the ones toward the middle to be a priority and the smaller ones on the outside are not as important. If you complete it on accident with less than 50% simple quit, reload and try again.

Bronze – Air Alert:

Zero-G Jump over 100 times.

You will more than likely obtain this through the course of the game. If you don’t want to risk it then simply head to a zero-g zone and jump around until it unlocks.

Gold – One Gun:

Beat the game using only the plasma cutter.

Ahh she’s a BIG ONE! (ace ventura). This is really easy to do based on the fact that the plasma cutter is probably the most effective weapon in the game. Refer to the play through guide at the end to find out the best way to obtain this.

Bronze – Brawler:

Kill at least 30 enemies with a melee attack.

Not too hard as long as you remember that you need to try and get it. Melee in Dead Space is effective but often end with you getting hit in some way shape or form. For this reason you will probably find it more effective to just blast the guy/girl to high hell. Just remember you need to get it and hit a necromorph here and there and it will pop.

Gold – Maxed Out:

Upgrade all weapons and equipment.

Ok, so its gold right? No biggie…NOT. This is one of the harder trophies to get. You must not only upgrade all weapons, suit, and modules but you must also keep the weapons in the safe or on you. So no, you cannot sell them after upgrading. This will end up required a MINIMUM of two playthrough to get. On a positive note, you don’t need to upgrade every level suit, only one is required. Refer to the end of this guide to understand how to get this in a somewhat timely fashion.

Bronze – Ragdoll Check:

Force an enemy into a Gravity Panel 5 times.

So throughout the game you will come across a few areas in which the gravity panels have been destroyed, causing anything to stand on them be smashed into a pancake on the ceiling. Naturally you could find amusement by pushing an enemy into one for a quick death. The best way to push them into the panel (they will walk around them)? With the force gun silly… Position yourself in front of a panel and try to force push the poor necromorph to his/her demise.

Bronze – Big Spender:

Spend 200,000 credits at the store.

This is cake, you will get this your first play through with purchasing health, weapons, etc. If you don’t get it, life is not over you will have another chance to grab it on later play throughs.

Bronze – Slugger: (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

Kill the Slug Boss with more than 50% Shield strength remaining.

Similar to the ADS system you must use these turrets to get the slug boss off the side of the ship. Wait why are there shields involved you may ask? Well, he throws parts of the ship at you. I know right… Anywho if you drop below 50% let him destroy the ship or reload.

Bronze – Full Contact:

Kill 30 enemies with the Contact Beam.

Bronze – A Cut Above:

Kill 30 enemies with the Ripper.

Bronze – Tool Time:

Kill 30 enemies with the Plasma Cutter.

Bronze – Pusher:

Kill 30 enemies with the Force Gun.

Bronze – Live With The Hot Ones:

Kill 30 enemies with the Flamethrower.

Bronze – Autofire:

Kill 30 enemies with the Pulse Rifle.

Bronze – Eviscerator:

Kill 30 enemies with the Line Gun.

Bronze – There’s Always Peng:

Find the Peng Treasure.

The Peng treasure is located on Chapter 11. It is between the repair ship you arrived on and the transport shuttle used to put The Marker on. You are unable to get it in the first chapter because you have yet obtained the Kinesis module. (side note: If anyone know what peng is or refers too please let me know, I know its a girl but is there something I am missing?)

Bronze – Dead on Arrival:

Complete chapter 1 on any difficulty setting.

(side note: What the hell is it doing down here?)

Playthroughs

So as stated above Dead Space will run your roughly 3 play throughs to obtain all trophies, including the platinum of course. I am going to write a description of what you want to focus on in each play through and general tips on how to make it through effectively. Of course this guide is based solely off my experience in the game and may differ slightly from yours, so lets begin shall we?

Downloadable content: Want to make life easier? Who doesn’t? Well I STRONGLY recommend to put down the cash and purchase the Tank pack from the Playstation Store or Xbox Live Market Place. The Tank pack includes the best level 5 suit in the game giving you an impressive 60% damage reduction, not to mention it looks badass. The pack will also include a few guns with the same skin with no added attributes.

This will almost be required for your final play through on Impossible Difficulty. In my experience I don’t know if it would have been possible to get all trophies without it. So do yourself a favor and pick the Tank pack for all 3 play throughs. At this Time, while on the subject of DLC, I also recommend that you also pick the Heavy Damage weapon pack as well. This will give a significant edge on impossible mode in doing a tad more damage saving you money which will be used to purchase nodes for the Maxed Out trophy.The Pack includes upgraded weapons: Plasma Cutter (One Gun Trophy), Line Gun, Contact Beam,Pulse Rifle.

Playthrough #1

Start the first playthrough on Normal difficulty and set out to enjoy the game’s story and incredible atmosphere. The main focus of this playthrough is going to be on all trophies except for One Gun, Maxed Out, and Epic Tier 3 Engineer. So work towards getting as many as you can without ruining the experience. Some things to keep in mind, melee when you can. Use a variety of all the weapons for their respected trophies and remember try not to be wasteful of credits because you will need to try and upgrade your weapons and equipment as much as possible in the first playthrough. Overall this playthrough can be played as if you weren’t a salivating trophy hungry monster on a rampage. Just keep in mind the objectives for the next playthrough. You may not know this yet so Ill explain the benefit of working towards those goals now. Once completed on normal your credits, armor, weapons and all upgrade will transfer to your second playthrough. The game is also generious enough to give the level 6 Military Suit (I never used, Tank has better damage resistance), 10 power nodes, and unlocks impossible difficulty. So have fun and refer to this guide for any other trophy you want to try for your first playthrough.

Playthrough #2

Well congratulations on completing the first playthrough, I hope you enjoyed the game as much as I did and have it in you to go for another two more times. Begin this next playthrough by simple loading your previous completed game and continue game. No difficulty setting change Ryan? Thats right you cannot change the difficulty setting if you use continue game to include your previous inventory and credits. Okay, so this time you must focus on all of two trophies (given that you have obtained all of but three in your first playthrough) If not you can work to get them again in this playthrough. The two trophies or achievements your trying for are One Gun and Maxed Out. So once you able to get the plasma Cutter and other guns, be sure that YOU CANNOT USE ANY OTHER GUN besides the Plasma Cutter. You may in fact equip them but DO NOT FIRE. If you want you can deposit all weapons in the store or carry nothing but plasma energy on you. The game is quite generous with plasma ammo but you will need to buy quite a bit at the store at various times, so have a bit of credits available incase you run out. A good tip to go by is to make sure you have a good stash of ammo before heading out from a store, if you were to run out of ammo you must melee (if you played the game you know how that goes) or run. So make sure your ready to go at all times. Worst case scenario you can always reload to a past save point in which to try again. Also try to conserve as much ammo as possible as you will need to spend a great deal of your funds on power nodes. Use only the Plasma Cutter and your golden. As far as the Maxed Out trophy goes, its relatively hard. You must upgrade all nodes in which add bonuses to the weapons capabilities. So no, you do not need to unlock all nodes for it to be fully upgraded. Refer to the picture below. You only need place a power node on the location reading DMG, CAP, REL, and CHR. Often times you will need to place a node adjacent to reach one with a stat increase. To obtain the Maxed Out trophy you must have all weapon completely upgraded, a SINGLE rig, Stasis and Kinesis Modules, basically all on the opening bench menu. An entire playthrough for two trophies….that is correct!

Playthrough #3

Woo man, so you finished the game and have ALL trophies/achievements except for ONE. Good Job! So now prepare for Impossible difficulty. Again if you haven’t already, please pick up the Tank pack and Heavy Damage weapon packs. You WILL need them. DON’T make the mistake I did….You do not just start a new game, you must load your cleared game same and choose NEW game, you will be prompted to chooseadifficulty.com, (I had to do it). Choose Impossible and get ready to “do what we do…..run, run your ass off.” The single most difficult part in this playthrough is to get through the first level. Your probably laughing at me, the first level is nothing you may say. Yeah it is but you start from nothing, having only a level one suit and the damage the necromorphs do can almost kill you in a single hit. Yeah. So run and get to the nearest store and pick up your Tank armor and improved weapons. With this equipment the game is MUCH easier, although not a walk in the park with grandma. So with that being said it is a rough road but you can enjoy it simply because you have already unlocked all trophies and need to get to the credits to obtain the last trophy. You will probably die the most in this session, it is the most difficult… but don’t let that discourage you (some of the death animations for different necromorphs are awesome to see, even though your dead). Just keep your self healed to almost full at ALL times, and be sure to stock up well on health and ammo.

Secrets (SPOILERS!!!!)

This is just a little section for fans of the game that include little tid bits and Easter eggs you may not know about.

Dead Space Chapter Names

New Arrivals
Intensive Care
Course Correction
Obliteration Imminent
Lethal Devotion
Environmental Hazard

Into the Void
Search and Rescue

Dead on Arrival
End of Days
Alternate Solutions
Dead Space

Notice anything? No, look again. Nothing okay Ill give it to you. Looking at the first letter in each chapter it spells “Nicole is Dead.” Pretty cool huh? I love that kind of stuff.

Unitology Script

As you have no doubt noticed all the blood scribbled Unitology script throughout the ship. Most of this text is actually decipherable. Its really incrediable the amount of the depth that the dev’s went through to add these features. During chatper 10 in a restroom if you can turn up the brightness and move the camera into the correct location you can see the inscription “‘Do you believe? deadspace.ea.com/ibelieve Your light shows the way. We have left you a gift.” If you can decipher the code, imputing it in the game gives you 5 power nodes. You can literally translate most of all the text you find in the game, for more information visit : GamesRadar.com for their complete post on it.

Dead Space : Downfall

Dead Space released with a accompanying animated movie and help dive into the back story, before the arrival of Issac and his crew. BEWARE DO NOT watch this film BEFORE you play the game, it will ruin all sense of unknowing. My suggestion is to experience the story with no prior knowledge of how things happened, then watch the film. It really draws the player in with a level of suprise as you slowly learn what happen to the fabled U.S.G Ishimura.

If you have any questions regarding the game, guide, or material used please feel free to contact me at ryang@chooseadifficulty.com