Alien: Isolation

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1445 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,198 out of 1445
  2. Mixed: 142 out of 1445
  3. Negative: 105 out of 1445
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  1. RotcodFox
    Nov 1, 2018
    8
    It's almost too long, but the game-play is addicting and the visuals are amazing. Definitely my personal favorite horror game.
  2. fishbone76
    Sep 21, 2018
    10
    As an Alien movie fan (especially 1 and 2) this is a gift for fans who also like a good challenge and stealth. The fantastic game atmoshpere catapults you into the first two movies atmospheres. And you are under stress and pressure even before you meet THE Alien.
  3. WWEJoker2013
    Sep 21, 2018
    9
    One of the most underrated games in history. You can pick this game up for about 10 dollars so go for it.
  4. Alvokun
    Jul 20, 2018
    9
    I thought I was going to find this game repetitive and tedious, but the truth is that I have really enjoyed it from beginning to end.

    Alien Isolation is more of a survival experience, less action-based than almost any other first-person shooter. Thus, its main strength is the atmosphere and the subsequent feeling of constant tension and fear, as the alien is invincible. The game itself    I thought I was going to find this game repetitive and tedious, but the truth is that I have really enjoyed it from beginning to end.

    Alien Isolation is more of a survival experience, less action-based than almost any other first-person shooter. Thus, its main strength is the atmosphere and the subsequent feeling of constant tension and fear, as the alien is invincible. The game itself recommends to play directly on Hard (as I did), and I can understand why because, albeit more difficult, it poses a more realistic challenge this way and it forces you to play wisely, hiding and saving ammunition. Even if you have not seen the original films, you may love the game as one of the best of its genre.

    I have also played the two DLCs, though they are basically no more than a quick mission. Overall, I am convinced that Alien Isolation is a solid 9.    … Expand
  5. phoeniix23
    Jun 15, 2018
    9
    What a game!! As an Alien fan, this gets a 10/10. From a gaming perspective, it gets 8/10 so I'm going to go for the middle which is 9/10.

    If you are into the Aliens universe, and especially if you play this right after watching Alien and it's sequel Aliens like I did, then man oh man are you in for the most IMMERSIVE experience ever. The level design, the art, the graphics, the music,    What a game!! As an Alien fan, this gets a 10/10. From a gaming perspective, it gets 8/10 so I'm going to go for the middle which is 9/10.

    If you are into the Aliens universe, and especially if you play this right after watching Alien and it's sequel Aliens like I did, then man oh man are you in for the most IMMERSIVE experience ever. The level design, the art, the graphics, the music, the voice acting, the lore, EVERYTHING makes you feel like you're in the movie but this time, up the fear by 10 times. You'll get sweaty palms, heightened blood rate and holding your breath so many times and when the Alien does get you, man oh man it feels real.

    The motion detector mechanic is brilliant! Acts as both an Alien detector and as a navigator so it makes the HUD screen clean. I am a gamer who cannot stand busy HUDs and Isolation nails it.

    As I said, from a gaming perspective, the only 2 points docked off, for me, was because of it being a bit too stretched out at the end, and after a while, the Alien doesn't seem as scary as the first few encounters and instead became an annoyance. They should have done more kill/death sequences so it makes dying more scary.

    I love the scavenging gameplay where every resource and ammo counts.

    I enjoyed the hacking systems. Man some can get really tense especially with the Alien hunting you.

    I like that when you're moving around, the guns are automatically kept out of sight just as a real person would hold it by his side instead of having the weapon always taking up screen space. When you press the aim button, Ripley will whip out her weapon along with the crosshair right in front. It feels satisfying each time and more realistic. I wish more FPS games copy this.

    I loved the lore hidden in terminals, it gives the world and characters greater depth.

    I enjoyed the subtle environment story telling of the opening level. Pay attention to the interests of each crew member in their cryo chamber. I actually knew who they were before even meeting them. And was surprised by one of them. And predicted the nature of another.

    I wish the dogtags collectible could have more meaning behind them. It made collecting them less enjoyable and meaningful. I wasn't invested to go out of my way to really find them. They could've provided more lore/artwork/music/anything for collecting them instead of just a picture and job description of each missing person. Maybe there's a bonus ending or video for those who found all of them, I dunno, gotta google it.

    TLDR; SUPER IMMERSIVE TENSE FIRST PERSON SURVIVAL GAME. GET IT!!    … Expand
  6. RipleyDead
    May 18, 2018
    10
    This Game is Awesome action, story, graphics and figures. 10/10. I recommended
  7. njja02
    May 15, 2018
    7
    One of the most intense experiences I've ever had. Even though there is a decent amount wrong with it, such as a weak story and pacing, it's still a fun game overall.
  8. diggityd2713
    Mar 8, 2018
    8
    Replayed this game after getting soured on it by glitches. I really liked it, the organic subtle tension makes it for me. The ending is draaaaaged out though
  9. Ryko616
    Mar 2, 2018
    10
    I guess Alien: Isolation is love/hate for most. This was one of the last games I bought for PS3, but never really got into it back then. Later on I gave it another try on PS4 and was absolutely hooked, after having searched a while for any good space oriented scifi-game. (There ain’t too many).

    So why Alien: Isolation is good: Controls, linear but intriguing maps which accommodate the    I guess Alien: Isolation is love/hate for most. This was one of the last games I bought for PS3, but never really got into it back then. Later on I gave it another try on PS4 and was absolutely hooked, after having searched a while for any good space oriented scifi-game. (There ain’t too many).

    So why Alien: Isolation is good:
    Controls, linear but intriguing maps which accommodate the story, optional item/weapon use and crafting, overall game mechanics just perfect on the par. And real tension one gets so rarely on todays (stealth) games.

    After reading some negative reviews of this, the aliens random appearance (?) AI frustrates many negative reviewers, but I haven’t had any unfair play-throughs or moments from easy to hard difficulty levels. (Though there are a few specific parts where you need luck and/or a good headset not to die.)

    Currently doing nightmare mode and still loving the game. For me this is one of those few games, of which I absolutely had to gain every trophy. More than often The Collection edition is on sale, so I recommend.    … Expand
  10. iddqd4
    Jan 19, 2018
    9
    Ужасы, ретро сайфай, сурвайвал хоррор, и так довольно нишевые штуки, а тут бюджет, возвращение в любимую вселенную, и оригинальный геймплей в кошки мышки с приличным ИИ. Пройти мимо не возможно.
  11. visiblelight7
    Jan 5, 2018
    5
    IT gets a perfect 5/10 of which it deserved every single mark! The presentation , the sound and the atmosphere was TOP NOTCH. This game is quality but it had a core flaw that ruined it. They absolutely had the right idea and the talent.

    Unfortunately, they completely ruined the game from being fun by turning it into a tedious fetch quest on a space ship. Basically, you spend the whole    IT gets a perfect 5/10 of which it deserved every single mark! The presentation , the sound and the atmosphere was TOP NOTCH. This game is quality but it had a core flaw that ruined it. They absolutely had the right idea and the talent.

    Unfortunately, they completely ruined the game from being fun by turning it into a tedious fetch quest on a space ship. Basically, you spend the whole game being told "get this generator. Push this lever, go to room C. Ok Go back and push the lever". I'm not kidding when I tell you that this is the gameplay. They throw in an alien in the middle while you do this repeatedly. It gets old really fast...

    The game was trash to be honest. Don't believe me? Go ahead, you'll get suckered in and enjoy the first 3 hours and after that....well... I told you so.    … Expand
  12. riquelmeone
    Nov 22, 2017
    10
    I have read through some reviews, the good, the medium and the bad ones.
    While I understand that the game itself might be regarded as quite long (I still do not understand how this can be negative though) and slightly repetitive in the gameplay I would like to focus on something different.
    The game should be regarded more as a movie and as an additional part of the whole chronology. It    I have read through some reviews, the good, the medium and the bad ones.
    While I understand that the game itself might be regarded as quite long (I still do not understand how this can be negative though) and slightly repetitive in the gameplay I would like to focus on something different.
    The game should be regarded more as a movie and as an additional part of the whole chronology.
    It obviously takes part after the first movie and just does a brilliant job in recreating the original mood and atmosphere. The level design, even small objects, the soundtrack, the whole feeling you get is just so intense and gives you the feeling of watching a movie directed by Ridley Scott.

    As the story unfolds you will of course come across some points of frustration.
    For me those experiences were, however, fairly similar to the first two movies. And that's exactly what my point is.
    You get a crazily good Alien experience for at least weeks.
    I have played the game multiple times over the years and am still finding new things.
    Essentially you can sort of create your own movie versions. The outcome will be the same, but you can decide if you are a brutal or harmless character.
    I do not know what else to say, but similar to The Last of Us, Alien Isolation gives you more than just gaming experience. It really gets you into the story. For me this is what makes a great game.
    10 out of 10 anytime.

    If you are worried about the repetitiveness of the gameplay, consider using all the gear the game gives you. There are so many ways to interact (or get rid of) NPCs, androids or even the alien itself.
    I found myself not being creative with my tools when I played first. Now I am taking full advantage of the complete gear and it definitely helped.    … Expand
  13. Hectik
    Nov 21, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bought the game for heaps cheap on the PSN store along with all DLC.

    One of the best survival horror games I've played since the 90s Resident Evil series. Wasn't very scared of the Alien movies but after playing and finishing this game made me rethink the horrors of when the Alien find its prey.

    Visuals and sound are fantastic giving you the 80s nostalgia with the old school computer GUI and grainy effects (can be removed in the options).

    Level design is good with tactical areas to hide like lockers, under desks and if you're brave enough air ducts.

    Another bit of nostalgia and to annoyance of some are save game checkpoints. There is no autosave so you need to find save points to save progress even when you change levels (found out the hard way).

    The alien AI is where it gets really frightening. It is really unpredictable, it can easily double check rooms you are in. The number of times I get caught coming out of the locker after it left the room I was hiding!

    You need to use your eyes and also your ears as their is a distinct sound when it moves, footsteps on the ground and when it is in the vents.

    Recommend to anyone who wants a scare. Bit of a change to the usual walking dead genre.    … Expand
  14. rafaaguilera
    Oct 8, 2017
    8
    Being chased by a Xenomorph in this game was certainly the most terrifying experience i ever had playing a video game. That thing is really intimidating and its appearances are not scripted, so if you hear any grunt or steps, be prepared because the Alien may show up anytime and whenever this happens you need to desperately hide as fast you can or move way from him making little noise asBeing chased by a Xenomorph in this game was certainly the most terrifying experience i ever had playing a video game. That thing is really intimidating and its appearances are not scripted, so if you hear any grunt or steps, be prepared because the Alien may show up anytime and whenever this happens you need to desperately hide as fast you can or move way from him making little noise as possible, because if he detects our presence is game over! Escaping from him is not that easy, you need to be really careful! My heart went all over the place during these sequences and leaving this thing behind was a hell of relief. This is how a survival horror needs to be done, right? It's all about surviving, do not expect a war arsenal like Resident Evil 6 to help you, things here are very scarce.
    So amazing was the level of production. Te environments are very rich, detailed and the film elements were perfectly translated to the game. The developers did a great job!

    However, even enjoying (and i really did) my playing time exploring and trying to escape from the sinvastapol station, i felt that this would have been better if it was cut 5 hours shorter. I never considered to stop, but you can clearly see that the developers put some content fillers to make it last longer. I lost account of how many times i had to cross the entire station map to turn on a power switch to open a single door located really far, and once there, turn on another switch to open another door where i was before and still have to worry about the Alien showing up and kill me before i reach a save point. Really unnecessary, frustrating and annoying moments that prevents this for being a perfect game.

    Remark: play it on easy, it's hard enough this way.    … Expand
  15. DirigiblePulp
    Oct 1, 2017
    5
    I don't get the love for this game. The stealth is atrocious. The A.I. is broken, it always seems to hover around you and can spot you through cracks and behind walls and if it gets too close. The alien doesn't move very smoothly. It walks around like a hulking nemesis most of the time, waiting to spot you instead of hunting you. First person controls are imprecise for stealth too, goodI don't get the love for this game. The stealth is atrocious. The A.I. is broken, it always seems to hover around you and can spot you through cracks and behind walls and if it gets too close. The alien doesn't move very smoothly. It walks around like a hulking nemesis most of the time, waiting to spot you instead of hunting you. First person controls are imprecise for stealth too, good luck trying to escape and do something with precision.… Expand
  16. il_fenomeno
    Sep 22, 2017
    10
    To be honest when I started to play this didnt like it much but later... The best PS4 game and even best game ever I've played... (yes I played top PS4 games like Horizon, Uncharted, Last of Us...) Story, gameplay, everything and especially especially especially Alien, I couldnt believe with my eyes what I'm playing... 4 me this is the GOTC (game of the century :) I doubt that any otherTo be honest when I started to play this didnt like it much but later... The best PS4 game and even best game ever I've played... (yes I played top PS4 games like Horizon, Uncharted, Last of Us...) Story, gameplay, everything and especially especially especially Alien, I couldnt believe with my eyes what I'm playing... 4 me this is the GOTC (game of the century :) I doubt that any other game will be so good to me after this one and what ive passed in Alien. 10/10… Expand
  17. EwanD20
    Sep 18, 2017
    10
    Alien: Isolation
    I got this game in 2015, about a year after its release. And it's one of my absolute favourite games of all time. The story is very well implemented and the detail is incredible. Every panel has lettering and lights. The attentions to detail is superb. The game has a fantastic storyline and it ties in to the film nicely. The thriller elements of the game are good, it has    Alien: Isolation
    I got this game in 2015, about a year after its release. And it's one of my absolute favourite games of all time. The story is very well implemented and the detail is incredible. Every panel has lettering and lights. The attentions to detail is superb. The game has a fantastic storyline and it ties in to the film nicely. The thriller elements of the game are good, it has your heart racing at points. Definitely get this if you have the chance. This gets a 10/10 and a huge thumbs up from me.    … Expand
  18. MilanYildirim
    Jul 5, 2017
    10
    That game hooked me up to my ps4 for hours and l am not even into horror,survival games. One of the best games l've ever played on my ps4. On hardest difficulty game never lets you catch a break! I had a headache when l beat the game due to high level of stress.
  19. BITESCREEN
    Jun 22, 2017
    6
    Das Survival-Horror-Spiel Alien Isolation will vor allem eins: Den Shooter-Totalausfall Colonial Marines schnellstens vergessen machen. Das gelingt Entwickler The Creative Assembly schon mit der Optik: Von den in der Dunkelheit flimmernden Uralt-Monitoren über die eckig-sterile Architektur der Raumstation Sevastopol bis hin zum nostalgisch-piepsenden Bewegungsmelder adaptiert man denDas Survival-Horror-Spiel Alien Isolation will vor allem eins: Den Shooter-Totalausfall Colonial Marines schnellstens vergessen machen. Das gelingt Entwickler The Creative Assembly schon mit der Optik: Von den in der Dunkelheit flimmernden Uralt-Monitoren über die eckig-sterile Architektur der Raumstation Sevastopol bis hin zum nostalgisch-piepsenden Bewegungsmelder adaptiert man den 70er-Look von Ridley Scotts Über-Science-Fiction-Horrorfilm Alien beinahe perfekt. Die Licht- und Schatteneffekte sind fantastisch, ebenso der in den ruhigen Momenten subtile, in den stressigen drängende Sound. Leider vernachlässigt man bei dieser stilsicheren Verbeugung vorm Vorbild die Pflichten eines Videospiels: Das nahezu waffenlose Versteckspiel mit dem Alien frustriert durch eine inkonsistente KI und nicht vorhandene Checkpoints, während immer gleiche Missionen das Spiel in die Länge ziehen. Glücklicherweise bewahrt eine beklemmende Atmosphäre und die audiovisuelle Brillanz Alien Isolation vor dem Schicksal seines Vorgängers.… Expand
  20. Mac2311
    Jun 20, 2017
    10
    This isn't a game for a passive or novice player since it will test you on how well you handle stress and takes time to try to understand the Xenomorph's world understanding and what it pays attention to. it's gritty and fascinating.

    The world takes you back to the original Alien movie very well. it's a nostalgic ride but at the same time doesn't feel that it just uses that as cover for    This isn't a game for a passive or novice player since it will test you on how well you handle stress and takes time to try to understand the Xenomorph's world understanding and what it pays attention to. it's gritty and fascinating.

    The world takes you back to the original Alien movie very well. it's a nostalgic ride but at the same time doesn't feel that it just uses that as cover for a crappy game. The stress in this game alone is incredible. you are trying to unlock a door and you can hear something behind you. hell, you can actually feel it behind you.

    This game doesn't hold your hand and that I think is the best part. I feel some people feel it can be linear at times. I didn't feel that way except for around the first 20 minutes but to me that was them setting the stage and all the plot pieces.

    I highly recommend this game to everyone unless you scare easily or you just like a laid back game. this is not for you.    … Expand
  21. badgerryan19
    Jun 19, 2017
    8
    We FINALLY get a good alien game. The Alien's AI is so freaking awesome in this one. The game is also so terrifying at least for the first 6 hours or so and it starts to kinda loose steam, and I did feel it did drag on too long at around 14 HRS. That could of been trimmed by 2 hours or so. Still a good time though.
  22. theeDarkhorse
    Jun 2, 2017
    10
    Amnesia: The Dark Descent was great. It invented the genre. Everything that attempted to emulate it felt trite to the extent that i gave up on the genre. I avoided Alien: Isolation for two and a half years for that reason. The middling reviews confirmed my expectations. After 2 and a half years It was cheap enough in stores to warrant a go (It was the only game on the shelf i hadn'tAmnesia: The Dark Descent was great. It invented the genre. Everything that attempted to emulate it felt trite to the extent that i gave up on the genre. I avoided Alien: Isolation for two and a half years for that reason. The middling reviews confirmed my expectations. After 2 and a half years It was cheap enough in stores to warrant a go (It was the only game on the shelf i hadn't played)

    This game gave me the experience you expect from a new console. It felt like Tomb Raider or Resident Evil on PS1. Turok on N64 and Resident Evil 4 on Gamecube. It feels new and exciting. Its genuinely tense. The sound and art design are hollywood level. Beautifully presented. Remember when you bought games because they were unique and fun as opposed to having the quality of being an update or a sequel? This games a reminder of that and I'm so pissed that i allowed external influences to prevent me from playing this. The reviews are mixed because not everyone has the same experience. The a.i makes each playthrough unique. Well done sega. Games like this are the reason you invest in a games console.    … Expand
  23. tom_kirkland
    May 29, 2017
    9
    Alien: Isolation delivers a unique, memorable and technically impeccable survival horror experience that does the revered Alien franchise proud. It perfectly captures the essence of the original film but also transforms its formula into something new and smart that feels like a natural evolution. The game's incredible atmosphere, sound design, setting, and mechanics make you feelAlien: Isolation delivers a unique, memorable and technically impeccable survival horror experience that does the revered Alien franchise proud. It perfectly captures the essence of the original film but also transforms its formula into something new and smart that feels like a natural evolution. The game's incredible atmosphere, sound design, setting, and mechanics make you feel vulnerable and build tension masterfully, but it also gives you power and capability as you progress, rewarding your hardship and fuelling your determination to survive. It cleverly builds on the Alien universe's lore and its narrative and characters fit in well whilst moving in a compelling new direction. The Alien itself is the game's star. its design is faithful to Giger's original, and its behaviour is well conceived and unscripted (for the most part), making it unpredictable and deadly. The game has breathed new life into the Alien and its AI is the best I've experienced in a game which keeps things interesting and intense. My only criticisms are that some of the tasks you must complete to progress can get repetitive and a bit of backtracking is involved when navigating. The single player story is long, intense, and full of twists and survivor mode offers a complementary, stand-alone experience with tons of replay value. Bravo Creative Assembly!… Expand
  24. SimbaUno
    May 19, 2017
    7
    Overall, Alien: Isolation is a fun and interesting dive into the Alien franchise, one that anyone that is a fan of the series will enjoy. The world is beautiful, the Alien is terrifying, and the lore is deep. My complaints aren't much to do with the story or the characters, but the gameplay itself. The controls feel clunky and many of the items don't ever seem that useful or helpful inOverall, Alien: Isolation is a fun and interesting dive into the Alien franchise, one that anyone that is a fan of the series will enjoy. The world is beautiful, the Alien is terrifying, and the lore is deep. My complaints aren't much to do with the story or the characters, but the gameplay itself. The controls feel clunky and many of the items don't ever seem that useful or helpful in most situations. The map is all over the place and very hard to follow. One thing the game nails is the theme of being alone and helpless. I was legitimately terrified of the Alien and ALWAYS felt vulnerable. If you are a fan of survival horror or the Alien franchise, this is a must play, otherwise there are other games that do a similar thing, but just a bit better.… Expand
  25. BlakDak666
    Mar 23, 2017
    8
    The Alien franchise has always been a mess: with terrible sequels in the films, terrible games in its universe and a mess of directions for its future. Despite the issues the franchise had, Creative Assembly were successful of giving players and fans alike a terrifying horror game that traps the original Alien film in terms of atmosphere and setup. The music is sparse, but when played makeThe Alien franchise has always been a mess: with terrible sequels in the films, terrible games in its universe and a mess of directions for its future. Despite the issues the franchise had, Creative Assembly were successful of giving players and fans alike a terrifying horror game that traps the original Alien film in terms of atmosphere and setup. The music is sparse, but when played make truly heart-pounding moments that intensify as Gigar's monster gets near you. The technology and retro style is pleasing visually and contrasts extremely well with the Alien as it passes through doors and vents to relive the tension of the first film. The Alien itself is a marvel of AI; though initially it had numerous glitches and bugs that made it hard to see, the post-patch AI adept of the Alien is shockingly amazing. It learns from your actions and strategies and makes pushing it away increasingly difficult and the death scenes at its hands are brutal. The hide-and-seek stealth with the Alien is a wonderful gauntlet that will see you dying and experimenting constantly.

    Of course no game comes without problems, as the human and android encounters leave something to be desired, with bugged out AI and/or tedious shooting controls against them is far less fun and engaging. The save systems are tedious to save at and can prove detrimental if you get killed quickly after. The story is subpar, with wooden characters (including the main protagonist) that makes anything memorable to them that the Alien doesn't amplify. The time trial based mode is alright, but the inclusion of season passes and modes for it just don't feel right. Admittedly, the story goes a bit too long (roughly 20-25 hours max), but I appreciate the attempt to making it worth it by the end. Alien Isolation is a great horror game that will scare you so dam hard with its main Xeno star and prove to be a possible comeback of the Alien franchise.    … Expand
  26. LordMOrion
    Mar 21, 2017
    9
    Graphically and plot-wise this is an all-time classic. The atmosphere generated in the game is an all-time classic for any form of media. If you want to literally walk around in Alien then this is the game for you. The narrative is phenomenal and engaging. However the game doesn't get a 10 as it is a little short. Otherwise a great success and I hope there is a sequel.
  27. bellonman
    Mar 7, 2017
    8
    If you enjoy the Alien films, this is like playing one out from start to finish. Not too much character development, but the game play keeps you engaged the whole play through. The Alien was a really sporadic enemy that kept me on my toes at all times.
  28. dyinginbeauty
    Feb 24, 2017
    9
    PHOAW!

    I got this on sale on PSN for £9.99 including all DLC - anyone who likes horror games or is into the Alien franchise should give this a go. It is brilliant! The atmosphere, the sound, the tension, and the possibility of multiple styles of play (use distractions or choose full stealth) in a game that tests your patience is why this is a real gem. It misses out on 10/10 due to    PHOAW!

    I got this on sale on PSN for £9.99 including all DLC - anyone who likes horror games or is into the Alien franchise should give this a go. It is brilliant! The atmosphere, the sound, the tension, and the possibility of multiple styles of play (use distractions or choose full stealth) in a game that tests your patience is why this is a real gem.

    It misses out on 10/10 due to pacing issues - it drags when about 50% through.    … Expand
  29. mash27
    Feb 15, 2017
    10
    This game is a masterpiece of atmosphere, immersion and tension. The vibe of the movie is carefully recreated and the attention to detail is amazing. Only noobs and morons would give it a low score.
  30. Odogreviews
    Jan 24, 2017
    9
    Alien: Isolation is a horror game based off the original Alien film created by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. Alien: Isolation is one of the best horror games I have ever played. The game is not perfect and suffers from a few flaws but is overall an excellent experience that should not be missed by fans of the survival horror genre and fans of the original Alien film. Alien:Alien: Isolation is a horror game based off the original Alien film created by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. Alien: Isolation is one of the best horror games I have ever played. The game is not perfect and suffers from a few flaws but is overall an excellent experience that should not be missed by fans of the survival horror genre and fans of the original Alien film. Alien: Isolation is the first real AAA horror game to have come out in years that focuses on pure horror over constant combat and empowerment. Alien: Isolation breaks the convention of traditional horror games by including less combat than even the original masters of survival horror such as the Resident Evil and Silent Hill franchises. The graphics are stunningly detailed and look almost photo-realistic at times. The fog and light effects are impeccably designed and really help add to the game’s amazing atmosphere. The alien model is well designed and so are its animations which really help intimidate the player. The setting of the game Sevastopol is well designed and full of detail that makes it look truly lived in and real. I found the character models in the game especially corpses looking wonky compared to the game’s detailed setting. The lip syncing is also bad during cutscenes and in gameplay. Luckily they are not a lot of human characters in the game so this did take that much away from the experience. The excellent lighting makes up with this issue times making the character models look better. The androids that chase you out throughout the station are excellently designed as cheap knock offs of the ones in the films. The sound design is first-rate and really adds to the games uncomfortable claustrophobic atmosphere. The noise on the 80’s tech is loud and booming and so is the score. The noises the Alien’s makes are quite horrifying from the thud of its clompy feet to the heavy breathing of the alien and pounding of your character’s heart make the atmosphere thickly repulsive. Alien: Isolation tells a good narrative that stays true to the original movie but suffers from some pacing problems. The game stars Amanda Ripley the daughter of the protagonist of first movie Ellen Ripley. I recommend that it is best to see the original film before playing this game because the narrative expects that most players have seen the movie at times. The narrative is slow paced just like the original film. The game does not suffer from the same ludonarrative dissonance that a lot games suffer from where there is a conflict between the story and gameplay. Amanda Ripley is a simple engineer and is not a powerful fighter and there is next to no combat in the game to tell that story accurately. I enjoyed every minute of the game but I felt the story was too long and drawn out than was necessary and had a bad cliffhanger ending. I found the gameplay focus on evasion over combat an excellent design choice. Alien: Isolation decides to give the player some weapons including a pistol and shotgun for androids and human enemies but are best not used at all because they often attract the alien which can one hit kill you. To stay true to your character most of the gameplay consists of doing repair work to the station to find a way off. The game has hacking mini games for unlocking doors and computer terminals and superb crafting system. The beginning is tense and only introduces the alien only a few hours in than having it appear right at the beginning. Encounters with the alien are tense and uncomfortable and make the player feel vulnerable due to the Alien’s advanced A.I. The game uses a checkpoint save system where players go to phone booths to save which added to the game’s tension. The player is given a motion tracker that can track the alien and enemies in the area which makes encounters even more horrifying. I liked that the game has many difficulty selections for the player to choose. The Alien can be cheap sometimes. Later in the game a flamethrower is introduced that cannot kill the alien but if used can scare it away which balances the difficulty. The human A.I. on the other hand is extremely dumb. The humans in the game seem to have no self preservation skills and summon the alien killing them and you. The androids which I found at first creepy slowly became a nuisance throughout my playthrough and will often grab and stun the player forcing the player into a QTE event. The game at one point skid the line of ludonarrative desidense by throwing a few hordes of androids at the player. One complaint people have told me about the game is the backtracking which I did not mind because it made me feel familiar with the station and allowed me to see the changes I have caused to the station. Alien: Isolation is an overall excellent game. The game has a few flaws that hold it back but Alien: Isolation’s model for survival horror should be used by all horror games coming out in the future.
    9/10: Excellent    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

44
#44 Best PS4 Game of 2014
14
#14 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2014
12
#12 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 50 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 50
  3. Negative: 1 out of 50
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Nov 16, 2014
    80
    A beautiful game that captures the essence of Alien and even expands its fiction. There are some cracks under the polish, but it gets more right than it gets wrong. [Dec 2014, p.91]
  2. DarkStation
    Nov 8, 2014
    90
    Alien: Isolation represents a strong return to form for an ailing franchise.
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  3. Edge Magazine
    Nov 5, 2014
    80
    Unlike the creature at its centre, Isolation isn't structurally perfect, but it is brilliantly hostile in a way that's likely to shock many players. [Dec 2014, p.102]
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