Release Date:
October 7, 2014
Switch - December 5th, 2019
Genre: Survival HorrorPrice: $34.99/€34.99
Player(s): 1
Format:
Switch - Digital Only
XB1, PS4 and PC - Physical/Digital
Developer: Creative Assembly/Feral InteractivePublisher: SEGA/Feral Interactive
Size: 17.6 GB (Switch)
How does the game run on Switch?
Very well!
+ 1080p docked (majority) dynamic resolution: lowest recorded resolution was 756p
+ Modern TAA that makes a less aliased images than even the PS4
+ Adaptive sharpening that further refines the image
+ Great Audio (equivelant to PS4)
+ Nearly locked 30fps: Known stress areas have a more consistent fps than Xbox One
+ No screen tearing (vs other console versions)
- Comparable but demonstrably worse loading times
- Ambient Occlusion Removed (or changed dramatically)
-/+ Motion blur disabled
- LOD/Shadow draw distance pushed in
- In game videos running at a lower res
Everything else (chromatic aberation, film grain, reflections, lighting etc) are in tact.
Note: There are some users reporting input lag in the game.
Are there gyro controls?
Yes. The game supports optional gyro aiming.
HD rumble?
Yes.
Surround sound?
Yes.
Is there a physical release?
The game is a digital-only release with no word on a future physical release.
What content is included?
You get the original game along with all the bonus and post-release content. The extra content essentially amounts to challenge levels that take place before/during the main campaign or during the original movie.
What is Alien: Isolation?
Alien: Isolation is a first person horror game where you must explore and survive a decrepit space station populated with hostile humans, androids and the titular Alien. This creature will hunt you throughout your journey through Sevastopol Station, using dynamic AI to adapt to your actions and learn where to look for you.
Is there combat?
Yes, while the tools on Sevastopol Station aren't able to kill the Alien, you are able to challenge it and scare it off for a time. You are also able to fight back against the androids and humans (even calling the Alien down upon the latter with a distraction tool) so you aren't entirely helpless but stealth is still a highly valuable playstyle.
How does saving work?
You'll need to find a save station and activate it, but make sure the coast is clear before doing so. During the startup save sequence you can be killed by anything that crosses your path.
How long is the game?
15 to 20 hours.
How scary is the game?
It's not a jumpscare factory or anything of that sort; the game is built on tension rather than typical scares.
How hard is the game?
There are a range of difficulties that range from "Novice"—where the Alien is easier to distract and resources are more plentiful—to "Nightmare" where the Alien is highly adaptable, your motion tracker is damaged and resources are scarce. The Alien will always be a threat regardless of difficulty but you can make those encounters more manageable with those options if you prefer.
Is the Alien always a factor?
There are times when the Alien is not in play
Should I be familiar with the Alien franchise before playing the game?
Alien: Isolation takes place in-between the first two Alien films so knowledge of the original movie is recommended. While the character you play as has no knowledge of the events of that film there are a handful of moments that are less impactful if you haven't seen Alien.
Is the game enhanced on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X?
No, but the performance hiccups the game had on the base machines are improved while playing on a PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. Screen tearing is also eliminated on the X.
Does the game use FPS Boost on Xbox Series consoles?
Yes, both the Series S and X will run Alien Isolation at 60fps.
Game Pass?
Yes, the game is available in the Game Pass service on both Xbox and Windows 10 PC.
Metacritic
Xbox 360 | Xbox One | PC | PS3 | PS4 | Switch
Opencritic
NintendoLife 9/10
Alien: Isolation is a survival horror masterpiece and straight-up one of the very best horror video games ever released. It's a nerve-wracking affair – a slow, methodical game of cat and mouse against a brilliantly clever recreation of one of cinema's most infamous killers – but if you're up to the task you'll find one of the most satisfying gameplay experiences in the genre; a brilliant and beautiful homage to one of the greatest Sci-Fi movies of all time. Feral Interactive has done a stellar job with this Switch port and the excellent motion controls and inclusion of all previously-released DLC only go to sweeten the deal. This is essential stuff for survival horror fans.
Cubed3 9/10
Without any of the technical issues that plagued it on other systems it got released on, Alien: Isolation was, and remains, one of the best survival horror games ever made. It's a top notch addition to the Alien franchise as a whole, which has seen its fair share of missteps over the years. Then, adding to all of this, Feral Interactive's port of Alien: Isolation to the Switch is a defining example of a port to Switch done right. On Switch, the game runs smoothly 95% of the time, unlike even the powerful Xbox One, without sacrificing too much in the way of visual fidelity, making it mostly on par with the best console version yet - the PS4 one - but with the audacity of blessing it with better anti-aliasing and even smoother pre-rendered cut-scenes... albeit more compressed looking, sadly. This release is an indispensable addition to any Switch fan's collection of masterpieces, only really let-down by the absence of any plans for a physical release, at least at the time of writing.
Metro UK 7/10
A masterclass in terms of cinematic adaptation and slow burn survival horror, but the overly long running time and lack of compelling storytelling prevents it from being a classic.
Official Site
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