Alien: Isolation – does it bring the scares?

Moosedrool said:
Sheesh. It got some seriously bad reviews. :(
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And some excellent ones as well.

More than likely the ones that gave it a bad score were looking for all out action instead of a survival horror game.
 
Some of the negative reviews have focused on the really inconsistent ability of the xenomorph to find you.. which I can imagine could get massively annoying.
 
Alien: Isolation is due to be released for the PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 on 7 October 2014.

The game’s build up has, at the very least, captivated my attention with its short, thriller-style gameplay trailers and looks to embody the fear induced by the movie it was based on.

Now that the critics have had a go, though, does Alien: Isolation deliver? Let’s find out.

First up is the game’s Metacritic score across the various platforms, which shows that the game hasn’t done badly at all.




Alien: Isolation – Metacritic Score



Platform

Score



PC

79



PS4

79



PS3

N/A



Xbox One

76



Xbox 360

N/A


The experts had quite a bit to say – with the critical reception quite mixed, ranging from average to great.

IGN – 5.9/10 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

It may seem strange to complain that a game’s too long, but when the genuine scares of being hunted by an unstoppable predator are so diluted by repetition and padding, Isolation’s epic length really does work against it. Someday, someone is going to make an incredible Alien video game that checks every box. But, sadly, Isolation is not it.

Gamespot – 6/10 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

Alien: Isolation provides us a glimpse into a future that holds the Alien game you’ve always wanted. It is not, however, the vessel that carries you there. This is four hours’ worth of a great idea stretched into 14-plus hours of messy stealth gameplay, creaky video game cliches, and limp exploration.



GamesRadar – 4.5/5 (PS4)

Deep, intelligent, intense, and utterly unlike any experience before it, Alien: Isolation presents all that’s truly great about AAA, and also its evolution. If you truly embrace it, then during its most powerful moments, Alien: Isolation will probably make you feel more alive than a video game has in years.

Eurogamer – 8/10 (PS4)

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.



Kotaku – Yes

Often in horror games, I find myself averting my gaze from the thing that terrorizes me. It’s too scary, too gross, too horrifying. In Alien: Isolation, I found myself behaving more like Ripley—if I kept my eyes on the monster, at least I’d know where it was. That was my only advantage, and I refused to give it up. It was when I couldn’t see the alien that I felt truly frightened.

Polygon – 6.5/10 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

In the process of contriving story twists and turns to support this spectacle, Alien: Isolation ruins the unique focus of its premise and moves away from the inspiration of the first film. It becomes something depressingly predictable for fans of the property who have been hurt again and again by underwhelming video game representations. Alien: Isolation isn’t the worst Alien game, but thanks to its unrealized potential, it just might be the most disappointing.

Who of you are going to be getting Alien: Isolation? Let us know in the comments and forum.
 
Euro reviewers love it, merican reviewers don't. Guess the mericans wanted more action and less tension and horror. Wonder if they know that this is a survival horror.
 
Started playing it. Is quite intense not to mention some thinking is actually required to progress. The game introduces you to it's style and playing method quite slowly, which is a good thing actually cause it's pretty hard finding a tiny box in all that poly beauty.

As for the American reviewers:

[video=youtube;s2xY9bR0Sqs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xY9bR0Sqs[/video]

:D
 
At rage this game scared a few, dono if it was cause the funny guys scaring people playing this game but if its remotely related to AvP then yes it will scare people silly. Love Alien :love:
 
Moosedrool said:
Started playing it. Is quite intense not to mention some thinking is actually required to progress. The game introduces you to it's style and playing method quite slowly, which is a good thing actually cause it's pretty hard finding a tiny box in all that poly beauty.
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Also got it and busy playing it, although on PS3.

So far, I love it! As many have said, it is a survival horror game, not a gun and run. If you think this is supposed to be like AVP, forget it. Here you have to sneak, remember what is where in your area, use your noggin sometimes to get from point A to point B etc.

What is also awesome is the setting, where they actually mimicked the style of the first Alien movie, i.e. computer screens, decoration etc. Feels like you’re really part of the movie, or in the same setting.

My only complaints so far have to do with the PS3 version. The resolution is on 720p, so the graphics suffer a bit here and there and in many of the cut scenes you can actually see noticeable frame rate drop – so basically a ****ty port it seems. But the gameplay is still top notch!
 
^haha First thing I noticed is all the CRT screens. Was like waking up in the 90's. Is funny to think the setting for an environment built in 1979 miss predicted the technology of a few hundred years from now not to mention even today's digital age. However gravity can be simulated, hyper sleep is perfected and these ships travel across vast areas of space as if it's like driving a car.

None the less, I'm glad they did it like that. It really captures the setting quite well. Feels a bit strange walking through an environment that you remember from a film you've watched ages ago.

I am however struggling a lot with the game. The maze like layout confuses the crap out of me even with the map not to mention that you can't just randomly walk in the middle of the corridor. I constantly look at the motion tracker because this thing moves so damn quickly and if he sees you it's practically over. I love it, it's so stressful and almost hilarious having him crawl through the roof and dropping in at your location through an air vent then sneaks around for whatever amount of time sniffing and listening. He hears your freaking breathing even when listening too close to where you're hiding giving you a few milliseconds to react by holding your breath.

I'm pretty jumpy when playing this and therefor I admit, it lives up to being the best Alien experience I've ever had.
 
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Ars Technica's review was rather unfavourable and their explanations for why they rated it such seems legit.
As was mentioned earlier, the xeno sometimes impossibly/miraculously finds you even after you've gotten away and hidden far away in a dark hole - while other times he looks right at you and doesn't see you.

I'm hoping this will get patched before I make the investment.
 
Moosedrool said:
^haha First thing I noticed is all the CRT screens. Was like waking up in the 90's. Is funny to think the setting for an environment built in 1979 miss predicted the technology of a few hundred years from now not to mention even today's digital age. However gravity can be simulated, hyper sleep is perfected and these ships travel across vast areas of space as if it's like driving a car.

None the less, I'm glad they did it like that. It really captures the setting quite well. Feels a bit strange walking through an environment that you remember from a film you've watched ages ago.

I am however struggling a lot with the game. The maze like layout confuses the crap out of me even with the map not to mention that you can't just randomly walk in the middle of the corridor. I constantly look at the motion tracker because this thing moves so damn quickly and if he sees you it's practically over. I love it, it's so stressful and almost hilarious having him crawl through the roof and dropping in at your location through an air vent then sneaks around for whatever amount of time sniffing and listening. He hears your freaking breathing even when listening too close to where you're hiding giving you a few milliseconds to react by holding your breath.

I'm pretty jumpy when playing this and therefor I admit, it lives up to being the best Alien experience I've ever had.
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Jeez! I definitely want to get this now after your review but I'll wait for my PS4 rather.
 
I have a key I am willing to gift to someone. This doesn't look like my type of thing.
 
Ykv said:
I have a key I am willing to gift to someone. This doesn't look like my type of thing.
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It's a survival horror game. You run away more than you shoot like Rambo.

If you want to be Rambo this isn't for you.
 
Again. Just so people understand this game. It’s not an FPS! It was never meant to be one. The genre is survival horror and you play as Amanda Ripley who is a human, aka a fragile character that dies when a bullet hits you on the head or get stabbed through the chest.

There is no fighting the Xenomorph, yes, THE XENOMORPH. There is only one on Sevastopol. You need to outsmart him, hide from him, disorientate him or even chase him off for a little while with the flame thrower. “You can’t kill it.” Quoting Ash from the original Alien film in 1979. The environment is filled with closets, tables, vents, control systems, collectables, save stations and objectives. You need to use these elements to progress and complete the objectives. You need to listen to the sounds in the roof, avoid drool coming from the vents and stay the fsck out of its way.

So don’t buy it if you won’t like playing something like that. If you want a alien shooter rather purchase Aliens: Colonial Marines or some crappy alien game that is about shooting hundreds of mindless charging xenomorphs.
 
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