Alienation Reviews
Alienation is a solid shooter that halfheartedly ends and then asks players to do it all again. The hooks just aren't there though to make it a game that you want to replay after completing its relatively short campaign.
Alienation is an ambitious twin-stick shooter that goes beyond Housemarque doing what they do best. It's gorgeous it's addictive, and its's some of the best fun you'll have on your PlayStation this year - especially if you're the get caught up in the grind for better loot.
It might not have the arcade purity of Resogun, but Housemarque has crafted a genre mash-up smash. This is a smart, addictive twin-stick shooter with no shortage of adrenaline, yet it also works as a compelling action RPG with potential for a lot of co-op mileage. Alienation has short-term appeal and eye-candy spectacle, but also replay value and long-term depth. It's furiously entertaining AND has the legs to keep you coming back.
Alienation is another extremely polished game from Housemarque that takes well known game mechanics and combines them in unconventional ways for an experience that is not only satisfying to play on the surface, but has a layer of depth that most other twin-stick shooters cannot claim. While it could do with a deeper tutorial to engage players in the beginning and the story isn't about to win any special awards, it's a game that I repeatedly find myself coming back to, even if it's just a mission or two here and there with random players. It's one of those games that urges you to continue playing beyond the initial offering and it succeeds in giving us yet another genre to loot a bunch of really cool and powerful weapons in.
The chaotic and explosive nature of the action in Alienation is both addicting, and a pure pleasure to watch unfold. The vibrant, colorful, neon palette used for players armor and all of the items pop off the screen, along with the sheer amount of destruction. Cars will explode, trees will fall over, wind gusts blow snow across the barren landscape, and everything in the environment is affected by players weapons. Alienation is best played with others, as you can easily be overwhelmed by the higher difficulties when playing solo. The loot and upgrade mechanics were a pleasant surprise, and the inclusion of unique end-game content will expand the life of this twin-stick shooter for quite some time. I just hope that offline cooperative play arrives sooner rather than later.
Alienation is a must-buy for any fans of twin stick shooters. Featuring fun gameplay, a deep weapons system (for the genre), smooth visuals and plenty of reason to repeat missions it’s certainly worth your $30.00 AUD.
While Alienation does everything it tries to do well, it fails to be as deep and rewarding an experience as it tries to present itself as.
Although it has some minor drawbacks and can be frustrating at times, Alienation sucks you back in quickly with its beauty and incessantly fun gameplay.
A short but uniquely brilliant strategy shooter
Alienation is a Mountain Dew and Doritos experience. It's a weekend game to satiate the teenage memories of LAN parties and junk food binges. An unregrettable one-night stand with that girl from ages ago. Another reminder that shameful, when done well, isn't that shameful at all.
Alienation isn't a terrible game by any stretch, but it's not great either. It's monotonous and lifeless, but can entertain in short bursts and with friends. Housemarque has done better in the past, and they should have done better here.
Alienation is a great game for any PS4 owner and is a blast either solo or with a group of friends.
I had a blast with Alienation, and if you have friends willing to invest to play it with, you'll have a ton more on top of that. The loot system is appreciated as well as the various ways to progress your character and your gear. Yet another top notch game from Housemarque under their belt. Now we just wait to see whether Matterfall ever see the light of day, whatever that game is.
Alienation might appear like a fun little distraction but it's a lot more than that. With intuitive controls and a welcome sense of depth, it's an enjoyable romp that will keep you enthralled longer than you think you'd be.
Trust me, if your eyes could somehow reach orgasm (eye-gasm?) they would. In fact, it looks so good that they'd have multiple eye-gasms
While Alienation might lack Resogun's instant hook, it retains its visual flair and stacks enough firepower in its core to keep even the most ardent shooter fans busy for a long time to come. Sure, the storyline might be somewhat hackneyed, but it's a genre that doesn't really require a deep narrative and its robust play mechanics, competitive/co-operative multiplayer options, and deep layered rank progression more than compensate for any shortcomings in plot. Housemarque has once again remained true to its arcade roots and delivered a solid twin-stick that channels its many influences into a game far exceeding the sum of its parts.
Ultimately, the objectives in Alienation aren't anything special, but the good shooting mechanics and abundance of things to do make up for that. The loot and XP systems will keep players addicted, while the campaign length is just right. It could've used more weapon variety and local co-op, but overall, Alienation is a dependable addition.
Alienation feels like a series of half-measures that never come together, destined to be little more than a mediocre arcade shooter.
Alienation could stand to be better in a lot of the ways I've already mentioned, but it's also one of the best twin-stick shooters I've played, so I can't complain too much. Even with its shortcomings, I found it to be a good waste of time.
Alienation is a hugely enjoyable game, but it's one that's playing the ball a little too safely, and resting too heavily on the successes of games that have come before it. Ultimately I don't think this will be remembered as a classic, and it doesn't need to be; what Housemarque has created is a bit of fun with friends around, no more, and no less.