Dead Space 2 Cheats & Secrets

Originally released on January 25, 2011, Dead Space 2 is the second game in its franchise and the follow-up to 2008’s Dead Space. The success of the original Dead Space would prompt Electronic Arts to greenlight a sequel from developer Visceral Games, who had previously developed the original game as EA Redwood Shores. That success would also result in Visceral Games having significant autonomy in Dead Space 2‘s development and direction, resulting in it being a major step up from its predecessor by nearly every metric.

Both critical and commercial response to Dead Space 2 would prove to be overwhelming, with the title selling more than 2 million units in just its first week of release. Both critics and players alike praised the title for improving on the original’s already excellent art direction and sound design, leading to Dead Space 2 and its predecessor regularly being cited as two of the best (and most frightening) survival horror games of all time.

Dead Space 2 Premise

Following the conclusion of the first Dead Space, in which engineer Isaac Clarke destroyed the Marker and thwarted the Necromorph invasion on the Aegis VII mining colony, the incident was largely covered up by The Church of Unitology and EarthGov. Isaac himself, along with the decommissioned Ishimura freighter, remain stationed at the EarthGov Sprawl station as part of an effort to conceal the horrific truth regarding the Markers and the Unitologist’s twisted plan for salvation. When further research into the Markers results in the creation of a copy of the Marker from Aegis VII, a Necromorph outbreak begins to tear The Sprawl apart, giving Isaac the chance to escape so long as he can make it out alive.

In terms of its gameplay, Dead Space 2 is very similar to the first game in the series, which itself borrows heavily from Capcom’s Resident Evil 4. Players control Isaac Clarke from a third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective and use firearms to take out enemies. Unlike the Resident Evil games, which prioritize headshots on enemies for maximum damage, Dead Space requires players to sever the limbs of the series’ signature foes — the Necromorphs. Like in the first Dead Space, Isaac will need to discover a way to navigate the space station he is stranded on, take out threats both large and small, and scavenge for ammo and supplies, the latter of which can be used to improve Isaac’s defense and damage output thanks to some light RPG-style progression.

Dead Space 2 Main Characters

The story of Dead Space 2 picks up just 3 years after the events of the first game in the series, with protagonist Isaac Clarke detained on the EarthGov space station The Sprawl. Data from the Ishimura and the incident that transpired on Aegis VII has led to new Marker experiments taking place on the station, which inevitably gives way to a horrific Necromorph outbreak. Isaac is barely able to escape with his life before being thrust into another life-or-death situation for survival against the Church of Unitology and their twisted religion centering around the Markers and the Necromorphs. Main characters in Dead Space 2 include:

• Isaac Clarke: The protagonist of the Dead Space series, Isaac Clarke is an engineer who unwittingly became wrapped up in the schemes of the Church of Unitology and the sinister secret behind their Marker artifacts. Despite being a capable combatant, he is continually haunted by the specter of his deceased wife.
• Ellie Langford: Ellie is a CEC pilot who also finds herself stranded on the Sprawl. She and Isaac work together to escape.
• Hans Tiedeman: Tiedeman is the administrator of The Sprawl space station and a Unitologist. He, like other higher-ups in the Church of Unitology, wants to study the Marker as a means to advance humankind through forced evolution.

Games in the Dead Space Series

Visceral Games (formerly EA Redwood Shores) and Electronic Arts’ Dead Space would prove to be a much-needed shot in the arm for the survival horror genre. At a time when other prominent survival horror franchises were becoming more action-oriented and losing many of the elements that made them “horror” games, 2008’s Dead Space came along and made survival horror games truly frightening again by embracing elements of timeless sci-fi horror films like John Carpenter’s The Thing, Ridley Scott’s Alien, and Paul W.S. Andersen’s Event Horizon. Following the original game’s success, the series would branch out into two sequels, several spin-offs, and a critically acclaimed remake. Games in the Dead Space series include:

• Dead Space (PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, 2008)
• Dead Space: Extraction (PlayStation 3, Wii, 2009)
• Dead Space: Ignition (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, 2010)
• Dead Space 2 (PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, 2011)
• Dead Space: Sabotage (Mobile, 2011)
• Dead Space 3 (PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, 2013)
• Dead Space (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, 2023)

Dead Space 2 Cheats & Secrets

While there are no official cheats for Dead Space 2, there are several unlockables to earn through gameplay as well as secrets to uncover. Additionally, PC players have the option to use third-party cheat engines and cheat trainer files.

Dead Space 3 Unlockables

Game Completion Unlockables

Special Suits

Several bonus suits only become available in Dead Space 2‘s New Game+

Multiplayer Skins

Reach the following level in Dead Space 2 multiplayer to unlock the corresponding upgrade.

Multiplayer Upgrades

Reach the following level in Dead Space 2 multiplayer to unlock the corresponding upgrade.

Multiplayer Upgrades for Necromorphs

Reach the following level in Dead Space 2 multiplayer to unlock the corresponding upgrade.

Re-Spec Ability Unlock

Once you reach Chapter 7, you will have the option to re-spec your weapons, RIG, and stasis module. This allows you to take out all the Power Nodes in a piece of equipment and re-assign them elsewhere. Each time you re-spec an item, it will cost 5,000 Credits. Note that re-specing items do not help you earn the achievement for upgrading all your equipment, but it is helpful to re-assign power nodes from weapons you no longer use.

Additionally, you can use this ability to refill Isaac’s health at any workbench. If you re-spec the RIG, any changes to a health node will reset Isaac’s health to the new maximum. At 5,000 Credits, this makes a re-spec less expensive than purchasing a Large Health Pack.

Dead Space 3 Secrets

Schematic Locations

Search the following locations in each Chapter to find all of Dead Space 2‘s Schematics.

Chapter 2

Power Node: This Schematic is in the first Power Node-locked room you come across. You can open the locked door with a Power Node; there is one on the ground through the door to the left of the closet.

Hacker Suit: It is at the end of the tram walkway area, near the spot where you encounter the Fire Sack Necromorphs.

Stasis Pack: It is on the tracks where the flaming train passes you for the first time.

Chapter 3

Pulse Rifle: Once you exit the train, the Schematic is in a corner just behind where the train is hanging.

Javelin Spears: The Schematic is behind the big Marker statue towards the windows on the left.

Chapter 4

Security Suit: The Schematic is on the top shelf of the room just past the door that you have to use Stasis on to walk through.

Chapter 5

Ripper: In the multi-level room, ride the elevator down and then search the right side of the room to find the Schematic.

Medium Health Pack: After you turn off the gravity and go through the holes in the ceiling, you will find it floating in the middle of the room.

Line Gun Ammo: After crawling through the duct and falling, you will go through a storage room. You will find the Schematic behind some shelves on the right side.

Detonator: The Schematic is in a room at the top of the church near the save station.

Chapter 6

Seeker Rifle: On the path at the beginning of the Chapter, take the door to the right. You will be on a balcony, with the Schematic on the ground at the far right side.

Pulse Rounds: When you first meet Ellie, she will unlock the gate. Instead of going through the gate behind her, follow the path around to the right to find the Schematic in front of some debris.

Flame Thrower: After you exit the gym, follow the path and head into the classroom to find the “Kids Gone Crazy” Text Log. To the right, there is a smaller room attached with blood on the wall. The Schematic is on the ground.

Chapter 7

Ripper Blades: At the start of the Chapter when you enter zero gravity, the Schematic will be floating near the bottom of the room.

Force Gun: After you exit the elevator, turn left and you will come to a set of yellow lockers. The Schematic is in the second locker from the left.

Contact Beam: The Schematic is in the locked closet to the left of the save station. Use a Power Node to open the closet and grab the Schematic.

Chapter 8

Vintage Suit: The Schematic is behind the first locked door in this Chapter.

Detonator Mines: When you first talk to Ellie and Stross, go to the next room and take a left. The Schematic is beside a body.

Large Med Pack: The Schematic is in the room where you first meet Ellie. It is just past the table in the corner; you can move the table using Kinesis to grab it.

Chapter 9

Flame Fuel: Take a right from where the laser traps were. You will come across a few crates lying around. Use Kinesis to move the crates and find the Schematic, along with an Audio Log.

Seeker Shells: The Schematic is behind the Guardian mounted near the exit of the room where you fight Stalkers and Cysts.

Chapter 10

Force Energy: When you reach the zero gravity area, go to the lower level to find the Schematic on the ground.

Chapter 11

Contact Energy: In the zero gravity station where you move the lasers to gain access to the shaft leading inside, you will spot the Schematic if you look outside from within the shaft.

Advanced Suit: Enter the locked room opposite the detonator mine trap. The Schematic is inside this room but requires a Power Node to enter.

Secret Necromorph Messages

By carefully looking at the following menus, players can spot hidden messages from the Necromorphs.

Main Menu

• Upper left: “In the end, it all comes down to just one little thing…“
• Bottom right: “Unity after death, unity forever“

Single Player Menu

• Upper left: “Your body now, our body later, one body forever“

Multiplayer Menu

• Upper middle: “It’s not over between us, you can’t run from me forever“
• Bottom middle: “Make us Whole“

Quick Match Menu

• Bottom right: “We must believe in it and bend ourselves to its will and then it will heal us“

Leaderboard Menu

• Right: “The answer is in chicxulub“

Extra Menu

• Left: “Welcome back Nicole Brennan“

Controller Map/Settings Menu

• Bottom right: “Let us fear nothing. Death is only a transition to the unity beyond“

Easy “Collect Peng” Achievement

In Chapter 7 (approximately halfway through the level), find the mainframe room where ANTI is located. One of the circuit rooms will have breakers that turn blue in addition to being green or red (it is the left breaker room, if ANTI’s hologram emitters are behind Isaac). Insert the four breakers in that circuit room so they are blue, and the access tunnel will now lead to a new room with the Peng treasure.

Easy “Elevator Action” Achievement

In Chapter 7, immediately after Isaac starts the elevator to go to the Solar Array area, several Tripods will appear. Use the Detonator to shoot them. Usually, hitting a Tripod with the Detonator anywhere on the body will knock it off. Use Stasis to help hold a Tripod in place when more than one of them appears at a time. Knock off all Tripods in this sequence to get the “Elevator Action” achievement. If you do not get the achievement the first time, reload, and try again.

Easy “Lightspeed De Milo” Achievement

Once you exit the elevator and enter the shopping center area after the train scene in Chapter 3, you will see a large statue rotating. Shoot the head off of it with any weapon to get the “Lightspeed De Milo” achievement.

Dead Space 2 Cheat Engine Cheats (PC Only)

PC players can use third-party cheat engines and cheat trainer files to mod their Dead Space 2 experience. One such cheat trainer file can be found here and contains the following cheat options:

Player Cheats

• Infinite Health
• Infinite Stasis
• Infinite Oxygen
• Infinite Hack Timer

Inventory Cheats

• Infinite Item Usage
• Add 5K Credits
• Add 10 Power Nodes

Enemy Cheats

• One-Hit Kills

Weapon Cheats

• Infinite Ammo
• Rapid Fire

Teleport Cheats

• Save Location
• Teleport
• Undo Teleport

Dead Space 2 Achievements/Trophies

Completing the following in-game tasks will unlock the corresponding achievement/trophy.

Severed DLC Achievements/Trophies

Dead Space 2 Cheat FAQs

What is the secret weapon in Dead Space 2?

The “secret” weapon in Dead Space 2 is the Hand Cannon, which players can unlock after beating the game on Hard Core difficulty. The Hand Cannon is the most powerful weapon in the game, but it also looks like a foam finger. Isaac also will shout “Bang Bang!” and “Pew Pew!” every time players fire the weapon.

What is alt-fire in Dead Space 2?

Alt-fire is the secondary fire mode available for all of Dead Space 2‘s weapons. In most cases, this alt-fire mode is one geared toward crowd control or more aggressive ammo usage to quickly deal with enemies.

Does Dead Space 2 have cheat codes?

While Dead Space 2 does not have traditional cheat codes like the first Dead Space does, it does have a plethora of secrets and bonuses for players to unlock. PC players have the option of using third-party cheat engines and cheat trainer files.

How long to beat Dead Space 2?

Similar to the first game in the series, Dead Space 2 will take most players 8-10 hours to complete on their first playthrough. Subsequent playthroughs can be completed much quicker thanks to New Game+ mode. To fully complete Dead Space 2 and unlock all achievements, players can expect to spend 18-20 hours.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Dead Space 2 key art.