Alien: Isolation Reviews
However, those other elements do keep Alien: Isolation from ascending to heaven to stand at the right hand of God. It is merely the regular type of excellent.
First, Alien: Isolation is a good, yet flawed, stealth game; second, Alien: Isolation is a very good, yet flawed, survival horror game; and, third, Alien: Isolation is an almost flawless tribute to the original Alien film. Rest assured, the third reason makes putting aside the few issues at hand quite easy, in order to enjoy what is one of the most thrilling sci-fi rides ever.
To sum it up in a handful of words, the entire game is about an unfair, unwinnable boss fight that you're doing your best to avoid. It's as difficult and frustrating as an Alien game should be. It's not a ride in the park and you're not an action hero. You will die a lot and you'll like it, because almost every time, it will be due to a mistake you made.
I couldn't turn off Gremlins or Chucky or Bun Bun fast enough, tripping over myself to end the experience. But Alien: Isolation reels me in for more. If the light of the churning sun streaming through the window is the last thing I see before having my face torn off, then it was a good run. Next time I will happily take it slower.
Overall, Isolation is a superb game that stands on its own feet, regardless of its ties to the Alien franchise. Of course, fans of the series will be the ones who enjoy it the most; if you consider yourself an Alien fan even slightly, you pretty much have to play this game. It treats the alien creature with the respect it deserves; as an indestructible perfect organism, and not some screeching bug that can be blown apart with a shotgun. The Sevastopol is a pure joy to explore, brought to life by the game's pristine visuals and sound. Newcomers to the series will also find plenty to enjoy, as Isolation brings a new level of unpredictability to a genre that has lately come to lack it. The long segments of exploration will probably put off people who don't understand where Isolation is coming from, and some might find it too long. My opinion is that a game like Isolation, which many of us have been waiting for longer than today's newest generation of gamers have even been alive, can never be too long. This is a stunning return to form for a series that hasn't seen anything good since 2001's Alien vs Predator 2, and I hope a signal for more to follow.
I'm not coming out of this locker.
There is a lot to discover with Alien: Isolation and for fans of both the franchise and the genre you cannot go far wrong with this title. The story if well written and the game oozes atmosphere whilst wrapping it all up with game mechanics that work exceptionally well.
Alien: Isolation is not without its flaws, but overall, it is a riveting, stunningly designed horror game that does justice to the "Aliens" franchise.
There have been a handful of Alien games over the years, but none have delivered an experience so close to the intent of the films as Isolation. With visuals authentic enough to have been ripped right from the movies and a terrifyingly intelligent monster as the primary antagonist, Alien: Isolation makes for a memorable experience, and clear proof that Colonial Marines was the fault of the developer and not the material.
You will be frightened and trust me, you'll never escape. You will be sniffed out no matter where you try to hide.
Without any of the technical issues that plagued it on other systems it got released on, Alien: Isolation was, and remains, one of the best survival horror games ever made.
The game's ability to capture a strong dose of the original Alien film's atmosphere helps create a wonderfully immersive experience. As long as you understand that this is a survival game where brute force will simply lead to a quick death, it's highly recommended.
Even if you have already played it, this is the best way to jump back into a game that has aged incredibly well, both visually and in terms of gameplay mechanics.
By the time I reached the end of my sojourn on Sevastopol, I'd been beaten, bruised, shot, electrocuted, bitten, and burned. I'd gone into the heart of the alien nest and into the icy black vacuum of space. I'd jumped in terror at sounds coming from all sides, and forced myself to continue when all hope was lost. But I fought through it all, dammit, and came out on the other side a changed woman.
Is any of this scary? Often, yes, insofar as I remained terrified of being killed and forced to replay the 30 minutes since the last save point. Mostly, it's just annoying.
Alien: Isolation is a frightening, atmospheric experience, and a perfect example of how to properly adapt an Alien game. However, it is not without its pitfalls. Abysmal pacing, a thin plot, bugs aplenty, and a frustrating save system are just a few of the many snags in an otherwise faithful representation of the franchise as a whole. Even with those drawbacks, I'd recommend A:I wholeheartedly to fans of horror, or devotees of the series. If you're not either of those things, however, you may find more aggravation than fun in the 15-20 hours of gameplay the game has to offer.
Contrary to what we were perhaps expecting, Alien Isolation performs incredibly on PC. Armed with just a GeForce GTX 750 Ti we were able to max everything out and achieve respectable frame rates without a hitch. The Creative Assembly's technical marvel is a visual and atmospheric tour de force, particularly once all of the volumetric fog and dynamic lighting is enabled. Don't spend too much time gawping at the environment though, you're always only seconds away from a grisly end.
[I]t's a well-made game that definitely looks and feels next-gen. Sure, there are a few glitches in both the graphics and gameplay but overall, Alien: Isolation will make you scream in both frustration and euphoria.
Wrapped in the grainy trappings of detail-perfect environments, Creative Assembly have done devout fans proud, managing to create a game that fits the right tone. It's a love letter for the fans - one so delicately written that it's fun to imagine what the studio would do with other films.
Alien: Isolation finally delivers the Alien experience fans have been waiting for.