Not for fps or speed freaks, that's for sure.
Having said that, Dead Space is the game to beat. But like all games, they have their own race to run. Dead Space is quintessentially THE survival horror of the late. The second installment is a progression in difficulty, scope and pacing. All of the elements present in Dead Space I is all here. Except that the overall scope of the environment has progressively enhanced from cramp and looming spaces of Dead Space I to the "metropol-oid" atmosphere of the sequel. That my friends is the black mark of the Dead Space 2. People often relegate horror to isolation, which is understandable as to give you hair-raising circumstances to total disbelief--"No one can get through all this nightmare without curling up in a fetal position and die" sort of thing. Expect none of that in Dead Space 2, though the vastness of it seemed "suggested". Sure, you'd find surreal views through windows of a doomed metropolis but that's it. You'd find people--civilians and government workers getting killed, suggesting you're definitely not alone in space anymore. As the Dead Space 1 tag used to go: "In space, no one can hear you scream." In the Dead Space 2: "In space, everyone screams." And that's literally true, almost everyone you meet is either dying in pain or screaming in agony as a necromorph is about to slaughter them mercilessly.
The mechanics have changed as well. The "whoa" factor in Dead Space 1 was the gigantic tentacle that snaps at your feet dragging you to a big black hole in the wall. Blink and you die--but not before you scramble for the mouse and frantically aim a stubborn laser sight home. Dead Space 2, however, stretches it a bit by giving you a prologue, mid-event and a climax segment sort of thing. So expect a longer pseudo-interactive sequences that literally puts you in the shoes and hangs you upside down to shoot (this is a bit of spoiler, but I'd relive these snippets anytime, it's that good).
To add to the "everyone hears you scream" mantra, Isaac talks too--go figure. All of a sudden he's a blabber mouth and a dirty one at that--well not really. But expect some realistic not overly done, spittle fight. You'd swear too if you'd get seemingly hacked several times and have to run around as if nothing's wrong, only to be dissected right in the middle while you watch your lower half slowly float in a slow motion as the screen fades out and tell you the games over.
I'd give the game a 10 except, it's not really as textured as Dead Space 1. Some particle effects are missing or perhaps under produced. Maybe the developers had to sacrifice certain things in lieu. Oh hey how about they sacrifice the particle effects to give you one SUPER CHARGED GAME--duh! Everyone knows you can't have it all.
Recommendation:
If you rent it--buy a copy soon.
If you bought it, brag about it and say hey I've got a complete set.