I'm with ed. Dead Space could have been the perfect survival horror series, based solely on the first game. The combat is quality, fits the feel, is intuitive, is satisfying (stomping already dead aliens is boss), and still leaves the player on the edge of their seat, twitching at every new sound, turning around to look behind every few steps, blowing out the grates so nothing can sneak up, etc.

While part 2 wasn't (to me) a bucket of trout like it was to ed, it didn't live up to my expectations, and what I've played of 3 shows me that the developers have lost it. Some things can be changed. Some things should be. And some things should be left well enough alone.

The point, though, what I've learned from Dead Space, at the very least, is it is possible to have mechanically sound combat in a game and still have thrills and legitimate horror/terror.