Dead Space: Extraction is a science fiction rail shooter video game. Taking the role of multiple characters across the campaign, the player navigates through the Aegis VII colony and the mining ship Ishimura from a first-person cinematic perspective.[1][2] The original Wii version controls using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, incorporating both motion controls and an option to use the Wii Zapper.[3] In the PlayStation 3 (PS3) port, the controls are altered to support both the DualShock controller and PlayStation Move.[4] In contrast to the diegetic UI design of the original game, players can press a controller button to display weapon slots, current ammunition and health in the screen corners.[5][6]
The campaign is split into ten chapters, with progress dictated by the narrative, though in some sections the player is allowed to freely direct the camera or choose routes through environments.[2][7] The narrative is told in real-time, using a combination of in-engine cutscenes, and video and audio logs picked up within the environment.[8] Gameplay is similar to a light gun shooter; enemies approach the player and are shot using the equipped weapon. The main enemies of the game, Necromorphs, can only be killed by severing their limbs.[2][1] Up to ten weapons can be found, with two different firing modes per gun. The default Rivet Gun, which has unlimited ammunition, is always set to one of the weapon slots. The others are filled with weapons picked up during progress through a level.[2] Two abilities used by the player are Stasis, which slows object motion for a short time, and Kinesis, which allows the player character to pick up and throw or move objects.[7][9]