Alien: Isolation released on October 7, 2014, almost five years ago. It opened to mixed reviews that leaned on the positive side but the one review that would be seen as disproportionately scored and would remain in the collective conscience going forward is IGN's 5.9 review.
Unfortunately the game went on to sell modestly and barely break even. Fans such as myself are most likely not getting a direct sequel, which is why I try to appreciate as much of this game as I possibly can.
The things I love about it:
As for my favorite part of the game, it's when Ripley exits an elevator during one of the earlier chapters after having restored power to the shutters. As you descend the stairs, the shutters rise, the best music of the game cues and you're greeted with an awe-inspiring view of the planet below. I LOVE it.
Unfortunately the game went on to sell modestly and barely break even. Fans such as myself are most likely not getting a direct sequel, which is why I try to appreciate as much of this game as I possibly can.
The things I love about it:
- The atmosphere exudes character. I felt like I was in the original Alien movie. I've never experienced such a carefully crafted adaptation of source material before.
- The music does a fantastic job of building tension and elevating your paranoia.
- An enemy AI which, up until that point, I had never experienced. Despite the rubber-banding, I thought it was unique and allowed the game to be as tense as it was. Today my standard is Resident Evil 2's Tyrant, which I think refined the AI formula of Alien: Isolation.
- Balances feeling powerless, as you can't damage or kill the alien, versus empowered, as you can fend off Working Joes and other humans throughout the station. While the tension does die down by the time you get the flamethrower, it happens late enough in the game for me to welcome it.
- The sound design is SUPERB. Playing this with quality headphones is definitely a treat.
- One or two many chapters that drag out the end of the game.
- Missions, such as the one where you walk on planet LV 426, where the pacing is completely cut in half. You can't move any faster than the scene allows you to. This really kills the momentum and I despise it.
As for my favorite part of the game, it's when Ripley exits an elevator during one of the earlier chapters after having restored power to the shutters. As you descend the stairs, the shutters rise, the best music of the game cues and you're greeted with an awe-inspiring view of the planet below. I LOVE it.
