Alien Isolation: A Review of the Game and its DLCs
Alien: Isolation - A Survival Horror Game That Will Make You Scream
If you are a fan of horror games, you probably have heard of Alien: Isolation, a survival horror game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega in 2014. Based on the Alien film series, the game is set 15 years after the events of the original 1979 film, and follows engineer Amanda Ripley, daughter of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, as she investigates the disappearance of her mother aboard the space station Sevastopol. Once inside, Amanda discovers that the station has fallen into disarray due to an Alien creature on the loose and must find a way to escape.
In this article, we will review Alien: Isolation and explain why it is one of the best horror games ever made. We will cover its main features, such as the Alien, the Sevastopol, and the story, and give you some tips on how to play it. We will also rate it based on its graphics, sound, gameplay, and replay value. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of what Alien: Isolation is all about and whether you should play it or not.
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Introduction
What is Alien: Isolation?
Alien: Isolation is a single-player action-adventure game with an emphasis on stealth and survival horror. The player controls Amanda Ripley from a first-person perspective, and must explore a space station and complete objectives while avoiding, outsmarting, and defeating enemies. The game emphasizes stealth and survival horror gameplay, requiring the player to avoid, outsmart, and fight enemies with tools such as a motion tracker and flamethrower .
Alien: Isolation was designed to resemble the original Alien film rather than its more action-oriented 1986 sequel Aliens, and features a similar lo-fi, 1970s vision of what the future could look like. It runs on an engine built to accommodate the Alien's behaviour and technical aspects such as atmospheric and lighting effects. Creative Assembly intended to make Alien: Isolation a third-person game, but used first-person to create a more intense experience. Several downloadable content packs were released, some of which relive scenes from the original film.
Why is it so scary?
Alien: Isolation is widely regarded as one of the scariest games ever made, and for good reasons. The game creates a constant sense of dread and tension by putting the player in a hostile and unpredictable environment where death can come at any moment. The game also uses various techniques to immerse the player in its world, such as realistic sound design, minimal user interface, limited resources, and permadeath mode.
The main source of fear in Alien: Isolation, however, is the Alien itself. The Alien is not a scripted or predictable enemy that follows a fixed pattern or routine. Instead, it is a truly dynamic and reactive creature that uses its senses to hunt down and respond to the player's every move. The Alien can hear, see, smell, and track the player, and can use vents, doors, and other means to navigate the station. The Alien can also adapt to the player's strategies and tactics, making it harder to evade or confront. The Alien is not the only threat in the game, as the player also has to deal with hostile humans and androids, but it is by far the most terrifying and formidable one.
How to play it?
To play Alien: Isolation, you need a compatible device and a copy of the game. The game is available for Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Linux, and macOS platforms. You can buy the game online or from a physical store, or download it from a digital distribution service such as Steam or GOG.com. The game also supports virtual reality devices such as Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, which can enhance the immersion and horror of the game.
Once you have installed the game, you can launch it and start a new game or load a previous one. You can choose from four difficulty levels: Novice, Easy, Medium, and Hard. You can also enable or disable certain options such as subtitles, hints, head tracking, and noise detection. You can also access the game's menu to adjust the settings, view the map, check the inventory, craft items, and save or load the game.
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The game's controls vary depending on the device you are using, but generally involve moving with a joystick or keyboard, looking around with a mouse or another joystick, interacting with objects with a button or key, and using items with another button or key. You can also crouch, sprint, lean, peek, and hide with different buttons or keys. You can access a radial menu to select different items or tools such as weapons, flares, medkits, or noisemakers. You can also use a motion tracker to locate enemies and objectives.
Main features of Alien: Isolation
The Alien - A dynamic and unpredictable enemy
How the Alien behaves and hunts
The Alien is the main antagonist of Alien: Isolation, and one of the most advanced and realistic enemies ever created in a video game. The Alien is not controlled by a predefined script or artificial intelligence (AI), but by an emergent system that simulates its senses, emotions, and instincts. The Alien has a complex sensory system that allows it to perceive sound, light, movement, smell, and even the player's fear. The Alien can also communicate with other Aliens and react to their signals. The Alien has a range of emotions that affect its behaviour, such as curiosity, anger, fear, and frustration. The Alien also has a set of instincts that drive its actions, such as hunting, hiding, fleeing, or attacking. The Alien's behaviour is influenced by various factors, such as the environment, the player's actions, and the game's difficulty level.
The Alien's main goal is to hunt down and kill the player, but it can also pursue other prey or objectives. The Alien can use different strategies and tactics to achieve its goal, such as stalking, ambushing, chasing, or retreating. The Alien can also use different methods of attack, such as biting, clawing, tailing, or spitting acid. The Alien can also use different modes of locomotion, such as walking, crawling, climbing, or jumping. The Alien can also use different routes and paths to navigate the station, such as vents, shafts, corridors, or rooms.
How to avoid, distract, or fight the Alien
The Alien is a formidable foe that can kill the player in one hit and cannot be killed by conventional weapons. Therefore, the best way to survive is to avoid the Alien as much as possible. The player can use various techniques and tools to avoid the Alien, such as hiding in lockers, cabinets, or under tables; using stealth and crouching to reduce noise and visibility; using the motion tracker to locate the Alien and plan ahead; using flares or noisemakers to distract the Alien or lure it away; using smoke bombs or flashbangs to blind or stun the Alien; or using fire or electricity to scare or repel the Alien.
However, sometimes avoiding the Alien is not enough or not possible. In these cases, the player can try to fight back or escape. The player can use various weapons and tools to fight the Alien, such as a revolver, a shotgun, a bolt gun, a stun baton, or a flamethrower. However, these weapons are not very effective and can only slow down or injure the Alien temporarily. Moreover, using these weapons can attract more attention and danger from the Alien or other enemies. Therefore, the player should use these weapons sparingly and wisely. Alternatively, the player can try to escape from the Alien by running away or finding a safe place. However, escaping from the Alien is not easy either, as the Alien is faster and more agile than the player and can follow them through different paths and routes.
The Sevastopol - A detailed and immersive setting
How the Sevastopol looks and feels
The Sevastopol is the space station where Alien: Isolation takes place. It is a massive and complex structure that orbits around a gas giant planet called KG-348. The Sevastopol was built by a company called Seegson Corporation in 2127 as a trade hub and transit point for travelers and cargo. However, due to economic decline and corporate rivalry, the Sevastopol fell into decay and disrepair. By the time Amanda Ripley arrives, the Sevastopol is mostly abandoned and in chaos due to the Alien infestation and the breakdown of law and order.
The Sevastopol is a rich and immersive setting that captures the atmosphere and aesthetics of the original Alien film. The Sevastopol is divided into several areas, such as engineering, medical, communications, transit, and habitation. Each area has its own design, layout, function, and history. The Sevastopol is also filled with various objects, items, and details that add to its realism and authenticity. For example, the Sevastopol has retro-futuristic computers, monitors, terminals, and cameras that display low-resolution graphics and text; it has posters, graffiti, signs, and audio logs that tell stories and messages from its former inhabitants; it has vents, wires, pipes, and panels that create a sense of claustrophobia and vulnerability; and it has lights, shadows, smoke, and fog that create a sense of mood and tension.
How to explore and interact with the Sevastopol
The player can explore and interact with the Sevastopol in various ways. The player can use a map to navigate the station and locate objectives, enemies, items, and points of interest. The player can also use a flashlight or a flare to illuminate dark areas or attract attention. The player can also use a hacking device to access locked doors, terminals, or security systems. The player can also use a maintenance jack or an ion torch to open or cut through doors or panels. The player can also use a scanner to find hidden items or clues.
The player can also interact with various objects and items on the Sevastopol. The player can collect resources such as scrap metal, ethanol, blasting caps, or sensors to craft items such as medkits, bombs, or molotovs. The player can also find weapons such as revolvers, shotguns, or bolt guns to fight enemies. The player can also find blueprints to unlock new items or upgrades. The player can also find collectibles such as ID tags, Nostromo logs, or archive logs to learn more about the station's history and secrets.
The story - A gripping and emotional journey
How the story connects to the Alien film series
The story of Alien: Isolation is a direct sequel to the original Alien film and a prequel to Aliens. It follows Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley, the protagonist of the Alien film series. Amanda is an engineer who works for Weyland-Yutani, the same corporation that employed her mother. In 2137, 15 years after the events of Alien, Amanda is informed by a Weyland-Yutani representative named Samuels that the flight recorder of the Nostromo, the ship where her mother encountered the Alien, has been recovered and taken to the Sevastopol station. Amanda agrees to join Samuels and a Weyland-Yutani lawyer named Taylor on a mission to retrieve the flight recorder and find out what happened to her mother.
However, upon arriving at the Sevastopol, Amanda and her companions discover that the station is in chaos due to a rogue Alien that has killed most of the crew and passengers. Amanda becomes separated from Samuels and Taylor and must find a way to survive and escape the station. Along the way, Amanda encounters various characters, such as Axel, a friendly scavenger; Ricardo, a communications officer; Waits, a security chief; Marlow, a smuggler who brought the Alien to the station; and Working Joes, androids that have gone haywire. Amanda also learns more about the fate of her mother and the origin of the Alien.
How the story unfolds and affects the gameplay
The story of Alien: Isolation is told through various means, such as cutscenes, dialogue, audio logs, text messages, and environmental clues. The story is nonlinear and branching, meaning that it can change depending on the player's choices and actions. For example, the player can choose to help or ignore certain characters, which can affect their fate and relationship with Amanda. The player can also choose to explore or skip certain areas, which can affect their knowledge and experience of the station. The player can also choose to use different strategies or tactics, which can affect their encounters and outcomes with enemies.
The story of Alien: Isolation also affects the gameplay in various ways. For example, the story determines the objectives and missions that the player has to complete, such as finding a keycard, restoring power, or contacting someone. The story also determines the enemies and hazards that the player has to face, such as humans, androids, or Aliens. The story also determines the items and tools that the player can find or use, such as weapons, medkits, or hacking devices. The story also determines the events and twists that the player can witness or experience, such as betrayals, revelations, or surprises.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In conclusion, Alien: Isolation is a survival horror game that will make you scream. It is based on the Alien film series and follows Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley, as she investigates the disappearance of her mother aboard the Sevastopol station. The game features three main aspects: the Alien, a dynamic and unpredictable enemy that hunts the player with its senses, emotions, and instincts; the Sevastopol, a detailed and immersive setting that resembles the original Alien film and creates a sense of dread and tension; and the story, a gripping and emotional journey that connects to the Alien film series and affects the gameplay.
Recommendation and rating
We highly recommend Alien: Isolation to anyone who loves horror games or Alien films. It is a game that will challenge your nerves and skills, and immerse you in its world and story. It is a game that will make you feel like you are in an Alien movie, but with more control and interactivity. It is a game that will make you scream, but also make you want to play more.
We rate Alien: Isolation 9 out of 10 stars, based on its graphics, sound, gameplay, and replay value. The game has excellent graphics that create a realistic and atmospheric environment. The game has superb sound design that enhances the immersion and horror of the game. The game has engaging gameplay that combines stealth, survival, action, and exploration. The game has high replay value due to its nonlinear and branching story, its different difficulty levels, its permadeath mode, and its downloadable content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions that people have about Alien: Isolation:
How long is Alien: Isolation?
The length of Alien: Isolation depends on how you play it, but on average it takes about 15 to 20 hours to complete the main story. However, if you want to explore every area, collect every item, complete every side mission, or play on a higher difficulty level, it can take much longer. The game also has several downloadable content packs that add more hours of gameplay.
Is Alien: Isolation scary?
Alien: Isolation is very scary. It is one of the scariest games ever made, according to many critics and players. The game creates a constant sense of fear and anxiety by putting you in a hostile and unpredictable environment where death can come at any moment. The game also uses various techniques to immerse you in its world, such as realistic sound design, minimal user interface, limited resources, and permadeath mode. The main source of fear in Alien: Isolation, however, is the Alien itself. The Alien is a truly dynamic and reactive creature that uses its senses to hunt you down and respond to your every move. The Alien can also adapt to your strategies and tactics, making it harder to evade or confront. The Alien is not the only threat in the game, as you also have to deal with hostile humans and androids, but it is by far the most terrifying and formidable one.
Is Alien: Isolation canon?
Alien: Isolation is considered to be canon by its developers and publishers, as well as by many fans and critics. The game is officially licensed by 20th Century Fox, the studio that owns the Alien franchise, and follows the events and characters of the original Alien film. The game also features voice acting and likeness from some of the original cast members, such as Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, and Yaphet Kotto. The game also references and expands on some of the lore and mythology of the Alien universe, such as the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, the Nostromo, and the Engineers.
Is Alien: Isolation multiplayer?
Alien: Isolation is primarily a single-player game, but it does have some multiplayer features. The game has a mode called Survivor Mode, where you can compete with other players online or offline to complete various challenges and objectives in a limited time while avoiding or fighting the Alien. The game also has a mode called Salvage Mode, where you can cooperate with other players online or offline to collect resources and items while surviving the Alien. The game also has leaderboards and achievements that you can compare and share with other players.
Is Alien: Isolation VR compatible?
Alien: Isolation is VR compatible, meaning that you can play it with a virtual reality