Alien: Isolation Reviews
Unflinchingly tense and gruelling, Creative Assembly's Alien: Isolation is a better sequel to Ridley Scott's original movie than the film that followed it. Dripping with as much atmosphere and attention to detail as it is with acidic Xenomorph spittle, it's hardly let down by its weak narrative and unnecessary padding.
And with the game's unwavering deference to the film's cinematic world building and detail, and its skillful adherence to Ridley Scott's original vision, Alien: Isolation is quite easily the best Alien game ever made too.
If you can look past the technical hiccups, this is a challenging and entertaining horror game, irrespective of any franchise tie-in. Alien: Isolation reminds us what it means to be playing a survival horror game, with a heavy emphasis on survival. With amazing ambiance, a slow, high-tension pace, and even a decent use of the DualShock 4 and PlayStation Camera, The Creative Assembly has delivered a gem of a movie-based game, a feat that is seldom seen in this industry. This is a welcome addition to the horror genre, and the Alien series.
Alien: Isolation might not deliver the scary, intimate experience players expected for its entire running time, but smart design, good pacing, and a ton of gameplay variety more than make up for the lack of chills.
Alien: Isolation is an experience that takes you back to the vibe of the first film, where humans are powerless against the alien and must find a different way to win against it. For the die-hard Alien and survival horror fan, you won't disappointed. But if you're looking for the action of a first-person shooter, or even a stealth action game, you might be disappointed with the game's slow pacing.
Alien: Isolation expertly captures the look and feel of the Alien universe, and The Creative Assembly's AI-controlled nemesis is an inspired move that will inform the survival horror genre, but the game is held back by some poor characterisation and storytelling.
As important as it is terrifying. A worthy successor to Scott's original vision and definitive proof that survival horror is back with a force.
This is the best game that has ever been aligned with the Alien franchise and the rest aren't even close.
This isn't a horror game. Oh no, this is an Alien game.
After years of fumbling with the license, it's refreshing to see Sega finally deliver a game worthy of the Alien branding.
A stealth-horror game designed, with precision, to make pretty much every single activity and objective as uncomfortable and tense as possible.
Alien: Isolation feels like the kind of game by people who watched Alien over and over again on video-tape. That's a good thing
Alien Isolation is for people who can withstand a heightened emotional state for a prolonged period of time. Patience, observation, and fast action are paramount. There were numerous occasions, after being brutally killed again and again, that I had to step away and say, "Ok, that's enough." But the thing is, it wasn't. I kept going back to see if I could be a survivor, out maneuver the perfect organism, and get through the level alive.
It's been a while since the xenomorph was worth being scared of, and while Alien: Isolation runs a little long, it's a hellacious ride.
A shorter, sharper campaign would condense the high points more potently, and some better characterisation would make the plot twists hit harder. But if you're looking for a game that really sinks its teeth into what makes this iconic movie monster endure, look no further.
Atmospheric and detailed implementation of the SciFi film template, in which the alien gets a bit annoying in the last third
Review in German | Read full review
Alien Isolation is an essential horror game, and the Nintendo Switch version might even be the very best place to play it, as long as you can ignore the caveats mentioned above. With excellent picture and audio quality, thick atmosphere, and a beautiful aesthetic, it is one of the most interesting licensed games ever released, and a great stealth horror title to enjoy.
You will be frightened and trust me, you'll never escape. You will be sniffed out no matter where you try to hide.
Alien: Isolation is still well rounded and comprehensive in its reverential use of the original 1979 film, even with its shortcomings. I cannot imagine any future Alien game attempting a similar feat with the same level of success. While the interlude made me question whether you can have too much fan service, I respect this kitchen-sink approach from The Creative Assembly. This sense of completeness is all the more affirmed by the DLC featuring the movie's original cast (which I have yet to evaluate). Alien: Isolation's ideal for those with the patience to deal with unpredictable behavior of the alien and who accept the inevitability that you will die once in a while through no fault of your own.