After binge-watching 4 Alien movies in less than 16 hours, I became absolutely obsessed with what is meant to happen next.
The fifth and sixth films don’t mention anything about fans’ beloved Ellen Ripley. So, of course, any reasonable fan would turn to the internet for answers.
Someone on my Twitter feed mentioned an Alien game I had never heard of before. Alien: Isolation, and I just had to check it out!! The story follows Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley. Nobody would miss an opportunity of a lifetime so when Amanda’s turn came she grabbed with both hands. Amanda Ripley was made aware of the black box, from a downed spacecraft, that could hold all the answers she has been asking herself, “What happened to her mother nearly 15 years ago”.
Amanda finds herself staring at a damaged Sevastopol space station. She quickly discovers that the last remaining survivors have been killing off their fellow colleagues in a fight for resources, as well as trying to avoid the Alien that is hunting them and doing their best to keep the aggressive red-eyed androids at bay. Unfortunately for you, all three factions see you as a threat… or in some cases, as dinner!!
As you play through the game you have to work your way through the small vents, corridors, and tunnels. Moving from location to location you quickly find yourself sneaking around, using the environment to your advantage, as you do your best to outsmart everyone AND everything. Noises attract the alien’s attention and fighting it head-on is pointless. Aggravating the creature leaves you with no other choice but to run and hide. We are reminded in-game that fire might help kill the beast (just like in the films). However, if you do actually use your flamethrower it only scares off the beast for a few seconds. Thankfully those few seconds can give you a slim opportunity to run and hide.
When encountering other survivors not everyone is hostile and trigger happy if you stay out of their territory. Venture too close and they will give you a warning, ignoring the warning they open fire. Fortunately for you, gunfire attracts the beast in just a few seconds. Appearing and killing everyone…. SO HIDE!!!
Some might use this to their advantage since it does not count as you killing the survivors, which will allow you the trophy “mercy or prudence?” if you somehow manage not to kill others yourself.
Along with trying to avoid the Alien and other survivors, the androids can be just as scary and in some ways are even harder to kill. It takes up a lot of resources to deal with them. Thankfully they are slow which can make it easier to escape and hide, but make a wrong move and they will grab hold of you, dealing damage to you as you struggle to break free. They follow you around with glowing red eyes and at some points they can be more frightening than the Alien simply because just keep walking after you!!
No matter which enemy you find yourself up against they are all deadly and will try to take you out. Especially when it comes to either you or them… It’s a survival game after all and very early into the game you are reminded of that. Everyone will do what it takes to survive.
So sneaking around will be your best bet since the weapons you come across will attract unwanted attention. You can track enemies with a scanner type weapon a weapon called the ‘tracker’ and if you are as paranoid as I am then it will become your new best friend!
My first playthrough was like being on a non-stop adrenaline rush, heart pounding really fast, sitting on the edge of my seat. Eyes focused on the screen and listening to every sound made since you almost always hear the enemy before you see them. So trying to avoid the Alien and the other survivors were frustrating and very nerve-racking.
Overall the game is amazing! The Alien is truly scary and is a force to be reckoned with. If you’re not a master at hiding then this game will give you some good pointers. The levels are designed to challenge the player with its fast-paced action which constantly keeps you on your toes. Since the Alien can appear at any time, knowing your surroundings is important. You will also need to gather materials in order to make most of your equipment throughout the game. Things like bombs, noisemakers, and smoke bombs. Not all parts are easy to find so when you craft an item to use, use it wisely.
Alien: Isolation takes you back to the original story, you have a different hero but the game takes strong influence from the films (think of it as a rebirth of the series). The Alien you encounter is terrifying and unpredictable, much like the movies it comes out at exactly the right times. It leaves you fearing your next unpredictable encounter, and if you enjoy a game that will challenge you around all corners then this is it.
If you’re an Alien fan then you probably heard rumors of a possible Alien: Isolation 2 on the way. While the remake of the game is still not confirmed we have other things to look forward to. We have films and games such as Predator, Alien VS Predator, and the new additions of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant to keep us entertained! Not only will they keep us busy but they all help to build the universe and narrative of the Alien franchise.
For me, the gameplay for Alien: Isolation is incredibly fun, making you doubt your decisions and replay your actions in your mind over and over again to really see if you did the right thing. Lighting your torch will improve your sight but will show your location to enemies. Don’t want to sneak? Then run… but risk making too much noise and you’ll be found!!
Think you can outsmart the Alien, androids and other survivors? Then you need to try the nightmare difficulty (I refuse! I already had a way to may jumpscares through the game and nightmare mode will actually give me nightmares for years to come!!)
Lots of Love
