Alien: Isolation Reviews
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.
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.
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.
It took me a while to get into Alien: Isolation and, I can't imagine that everyone will enjoy it but, if you're a fan of either the Alien series or scaring yourself into next Tuesday, I'd suggest giving it a try. The story itself isn't particularly inspired, but it's more about the parts in between the story that work for Isolation.
There have been many games based on the Alien series over the years, but Alien: Isolation is the first that truly does justice to the original movie.
Alien: Isolation is a terrifying game that looks, sounds, and feels like living in the setting of the classic movie. It may wear out its welcome for some, but there's no denying that it's successful in creating the dread players want from the genre. If you're a fan of horror in any medium, you need to play this game.
Sure, we may have seen much of what Alien: Isolation has to offer before, but never from this frightening perspective.
I truly want to say 'Alien Isolation' is a contender for game-of-the-year. It's the rare gaming experience that offered me something I never experienced and immersed me in a setting from start to finish. It's beautifully rendered and one can't praise the sound design enough. Still, there's no denying it's long and repeated trial-and-error will only stretch that out to moments of sheer frustration at the game. The story of Amanda Ripley is definitely worth experiencing, but be prepared for some stretches of thin narrative amidst your quest to survive, or more aptly, die less. Finally, it seems, Sega, has directed developer Creative Assembly to make a game with enough authenticity, creativity, and style to make the franchise proud. For those willing to look past the most recent abysmal offering, Gearbox's 'Aliens: Colonial Marines,' 'Alien Isolation' brings it back to where it started. I can't lie about your chances, but... you have my sympathies.
Alien: Isolation could have been a superb experience if some components were better balanced or removed. There is still enough tension to make you fear the dark.
Alien: Isolation does so much right. It's beautiful, atmospheric and interesting, and it does a great job of maintaining the ambiance of the original film. When the game works, it is head and shoulders above any other title that uses the license. When it fails, however, it descends into frustration and tedium. A few critical design decisions have the potential to turn an awesome experience into a tiring one, and it's very hard for the game to maintain its atmosphere with an unhappy player. A better save system or a less flawed set of enemy AI patterns would've done wonders for Isolation. If you're a giant "Alien" fan, this is the game for you. More casual horror fans should only take the dive if they have the utmost confidence in their skills or a very high tolerance for frustration.
Alien: Isolation desperately tries to give us something fearsome and memorable. But the inconsistent approach leads to periods of tedium thankfully interrupted by flashes of unmitigated terror. If you can revel in the highs and forge through the lows, you should emerge satisfied.
If some of the technical issues could have been ironed out, such as the choppiness of the cut-scenes, clipping, or when the HAVOK physics engine goes berserk, this might have been a 10/10. As it is, Alien: Isolation is a very pure gem with some minor hairline fractures. This is a worthy game and comes highly recommended to anyone who enjoys excitement or is a fan of Ridley Scott's Alien, or for fans of survival horror in general.
For fans of the Alien series, the films, books, comics, and every other form of entertainment imaginable, Alien: Isolation is simply a must-play, given that it fits so well into the storyline that it nearly seems to be a chapter in it's own right.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Alien: Isolation is exactly the game that Switch owners were clamoring for. Simply, the greatest survival horror based on Alien franchise.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Alien Isolation provides an utmost emotionally pulling experience, and runs flawlessly on the Nintendo Switch. The game truly is a testament to what can be done by third-party developers and porting studios.
Ultimately, Creative Assembly has delivered on its promise of an unforgiving thriller that refuses to pull its punches. Isolation reaffirms the Alien as the ultimate horror icon, both terrifying and awesome; trapping you within its cage proves to be the shot in the arm the franchise needed. Bold, unrelenting and very scary, Alien: Isolation is a triumph in every department. No prior knowledge is necessary. Just prepare yourself for the most terrifying game of the year.