Alien Isolation is a Sci-Fi Horror game for PS4, PS3, XBONE, X360 and PC, which developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA.
I've enjoyed watching both Sci-Fi movies like the original Alien from 1979 and the sequel called Aliens from 1986 is because it has fantastic atmosphere, scary looking creatures, memorable characters, and superb film set of the movie that made the Alien movies so amazing to watch and it is the best Sci-Fi Horror movies in history. Alien franchises is not just have only the film series, it also has comics, novels, and Video Games.
For video game series, I have played Alien 3 for SNES and the Alien Trilogy for SEGA Saturn back in my olden days, but I've never played other Alien games until now of days, I'll give Alien Isolation a shot for my PS4 because this game got me attention after I've watched the game trailer which is looking good for Sci-Fi Horror genres which mixed with Stealth and Survival Horror.
I've heard the game called Aliens Colonial Marines had becoming the worst game on the series due to unfinished project which causes faulty gameplay, poorly made graphics, bad co-op mode, and it doesn't feel close to the film series which the game have lacked horror elements and the presentation didn't match to canon of the film series. Despite with the disappointment, SEGA decided to get Creative Assembly to develop better Alien game to stick with the original root of the film series with original horror elements and better overall presentation.
What do I think about the Alien Isolation? I say this game are fantastic is because the gameplay mechanics feels much smoother to control and the difficulty of the game gives the player higher challenge and goals. It has brilliant story and characters, outstanding graphics design, and it has the best atmospheric sounds in horror gaming that makes the game worth playing on modern consoles.
Okay then, let's start the review.
Presentation
The game starts with 15 years after the events of the original film from 1979. The story is about Amanda Ripley (daughter of Ellen Ripley of the original 1979 Alien), who works at the Wayland-Yutani as Engineer, was informed by Christopher Samuels have told her about her mother's whereabouts and it is believed that the flight recorder of Nostromo had been discovered by salvage ship. Amanda have accept the offer to work with the teams, so she and her teams attempt spacewalk heading over to station to investigate the disappearance of her mother.
The story in the game is absolutely sounds just like the Ridley Scott's movie. It has excellent plot of the game between the characters and it has the history audio logs to hear someone's lectures during their past events to hear what was going on before the bad thing going to happen. This game concepts has more 70's Sci-Fi atmosphere feels to keep the game original form to Alien film franchise that made the game look perfect with nicely designed buildings and inside the stations. The cutscenes in the game has really nice style of techniques to keep it look more intense and scary as hell.
The character Amanda Ripley are quite good as the Signorney Weaver's character from the original 1979 Alien. She has decent personalty and her great character's development to make the main protagonist a excellent successor to Ellen Ripley. Amanda is also mention in the 1986 sequel film Aliens the part where Ellen wanted know what happened to Amanda since her 42 years disappearance.
I say like the types of the enemies, such as Alien is because it is one of the most memorable Sci-Fi monsters in film series. It always gives a players lot of jumpscares due to Alien reacts too fast on humans when Alien hears the sounds of human running steps, gun noises, and caught human in eye are the scariest part of the game. Android robots is also scary as well especially with their eyes glowing red and has hugely disturbing voices in the game.
Overall, the whole presentation has brilliant storyplot, decent characters and it has 70's Sci-Fi feels to Alien franchise.
Gameplay
This game has single player campaign and survival mode. In campaign, you must take control of Amanda Ripley to explore the space station and complete the mission objectives without having to get caught and attacked by the enemies nearby.
The gameplay has really responsive controls because the character movements moves really smooth during the stealth mechanics, it has nice camera control while looking around the level, and the aiming control feels much accurate for weapon attack.
For stealth mechanics, you have to move slowly by walking or crouching quietly without disturbing at the enemies nearby. You can able to hide on hiding places where the enemies can't see you somewhere in the levels does help the players to not get killed in action. The weapons are useful in the game where you can attack your enemies with variety of weapons, such as Revolver, Shotgun, Bolt Gun, Flamethrower, Molotov and Pipe Bomb works very well in the game, but try not to do it too much or else Alien will react very quickly if it's nearby to your area, but you can also use motion tracker are very handy for players to know where the Alien's whereabouts in the area. The melee attack is quite handy for stealth gameplay which you can attack the enemy behind with your tool weapon or stun weapon, but the android robot can instantly block your melee attack, unless you can kill them with other weapons instead. You can also use touch or flare in the dark area are much useful in the game. You can also craft items, such as medkit, Molotov, EMP's, Pipe Bomb, and Noisemaker are very useful to craft things that are very handy for players to use items.
The puzzle solving are really outstanding is because it's gives the player a higher challenge with curtain goals and objectives which keeps the game more fun to play. I like hacking the locked doors, finding key pass or codes, regenerates the power electricity, finding alternative routes, using tools to open the path, and using computer terminal that made the game puts so much efforts to Survival Horror genres.
It has survival mode which is fun, but way harder to beat the challenge, but it is enjoyable to play with.
Overall, it has well made gameplay controls, superb stealth mechanics, great variety of weapons, crafting items, and outstanding puzzle solving.
Graphics
The graphics in the game is far beyond perfect with the excellent use of graphics engine. The character design looked very real with greater detail of facial expression and balanced body figures to keep the character model looked more realistic. The building design of the levels are much like the 70's Sci-Fi movies settings to make it look more originally to original 1979 film. It has fantastic texture surface around the layouts without any blurred effects and the backgrounds looks more professionally well made, and the special effects of the game is absolutely look gorgeous with visuals and the use of animation that made the game so close to modern days consoles. It is far the best graphics ever made by developers who can able to push so much limits to hardware systems.
Overall, it has realistic character design, original looking level design, fantastic texture, professional looking backgrounds, and gorgeous special effects.
Music and Sounds
It has the most outstanding music and sounds in gaming. The music has well made Sci-Fi ambient noises that fits the mood of the game and it has the best use of atmospheric sounds effects that puts really efforts on creepy background noises, space station sound sequences, and the original Alien roar from 1979 film. I love the sound of motion tracker on my PS4 controller which is cool. The voice acting did a great job on the characters with fitting voices and great plot dialogue in the cutscenes.
Overall, this game has well made ambient sounds, atmospheric sound effects, and great voice acting.
Special Features
This game has 2 DLC chapters, such as Crew Expendable and Last Survivor which you can play as Ellen Ripley and her crew. You can also collect ID tags, playing audio logs, and storing information to your archives.
Advantages
Fantastic Gameplay
Perfect Graphics
Outstanding Music and sounds
Brilliant Presentation
2 DLC chapters
Jumpscares
Disadvantages
Enemies can be very dodgy and frustrating in the game
Save points turns red after you save the game, which means you have to wait 1 or 2 mins to turn green.
30 second load times
Final Verdict
Gameplay 9/10 - Well made gameplay controls, superb stealth mechanics, great variety of weapons, crafting items, and outstanding puzzle solving.
Graphics 10/10 - Realistic character design, original looking level design, fantastic texture, professional looking backgrounds, and gorgeous special effects.
Music and Sounds 10/10 - Well made ambient sounds, atmospheric sound effects, and great voice acting.
Special Features 8.9/10 - It has 2 DLC Levels, collecting ID tags, playing audio logs, and storing information to your archives.
Overall 9.1/10 - Alien Isolation is the art of Sci-Fi Horror game. SEGA made a great move of having Creative Assembly to develop a better Alien game than what Gearbox Software did with Aliens Colonial Marines have received badly in 2013. It sticks to original root of the series that made the presentation so outstanding, the gameplay is somewhat very playable and enjoying the single player experiences. The graphics is far superior for modern days consoles and it has the best sounds of the game overall.
It is the best game in the series in my opinion and I highly recommended for all Alien's fans and Survival Horror gaming's fans should must play this game.
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