Should really make a new thread about this but as we are talking about Dead Space, mine doesn't work.
It starts in 800x600 so I change the res to the usual 1920x1080 and click apply. The screen goes black. The resolution has clearly changed as I can see the windows mouse and it is smaller. The res changes back after a few seconds as the mouse gets bigger but it is still black.
You could try and change the config file as well, make sure you can view hidden files as i have a feeling AppData or Local folders are hidden.
C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Electronic Arts\Dead Space\settings.txt
Audio.MusicVol = 1.00000000
Audio.Output = 0.00000000
Audio.SFXVol = 1.00000000
Audio.Subtitles = true
Audio.VoiceVol = 1.00000000
Control.InvertX = false
Control.InvertY = false
Control.MouseSensitivity = 0.50000000
Control.Shock = false
Game.Played = 0
Misc.LastSaveSlot = 0
QualityOptions.ActorMotionBlur = false
QualityOptions.Bloom = true
QualityOptions.Blur = true
QualityOptions.ConfigType = 1
QualityOptions.Decals = true
QualityOptions.DoF = true
QualityOptions.EdgeAA = true
QualityOptions.Flare = true
QualityOptions.Glow = true
QualityOptions.ManipColor = true
QualityOptions.ShaderQuality = 2
QualityOptions.Shadows = 2
Window.Fullscreen = true
Window.Gamma = 0.00000000
Window.Height = 1080
Window.Hz = 60
Window.Left = 0
Window.State = 0
Window.Top = 0
Window.VSync = false
Window.Width = 1920
Sometimes after saving these files it can help to make them read only so the game can not save back to the file changing your settings.