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So there's a new game in the Alien franchise coming out, and it's got a really interesting premise. Basically, the devs at Creative Assembly wanted to make a proper Alien horror game. Alien Isolation is survival horror title inspired by Ridley Scott's classic film where the xenomorph is a terrifying monster again instead of fodder for your pulse rifle, and for Isolation it's the xenomorph in the proper sense. You will be attempting to survive trapped on a station with only a single lethal alien that stalks and hunts you. It's a game about avoiding, hiding and fleeing rather than confronting. It's a meticulously faithful adaptation and expansion on the themes of the first film, and it's just the kind of big gamble this franchise needs right now after that other game...
Yes, unfortunately there's just no way of getting around that travesty you're all thinking of. However unfair it might be to the developers at Creative Assembly it's impossible to not bring up Aliens: Colonial Marines. While the industry certainly sees a fair share of bad releases every year, Aliens: Colonial Marines was a bit of a rarity. A high profile title made all the more well-known by its critical panning, of which at least some could be attributed to a feeling of betrayal from such a beloved franchise. If Colonial Marine had simply been some generic space marines versus aliens, it probably wouldn't have been as noteworthy.
It is refreshing then that the developers at Creative Assembly are so devoted to "making the Alien game we always wanted to play". It might initially seem off for a developer known for their PC strategy games to be making a survival horror on consoles as well no less, but Alien Isolation is a new team at Creative Assembly, separate from the Total War folks, that's been selected and poached from industry veterans.
Every aspect of the experience is grounded in the themes, design and aesthetics of the Scott's sci-fi film. The devs were really excited to finally show off what they've been working on in extended secrecy, no surprise given Colonial Marine's reception. Even our preview was handled a bit differently perhaps in response as well, as we were intentionally left in the dark and no shown trailers or images of the game. Our first experience was playing the game, and based on my brief time with it, the folks at Creative Assembly are absolutely nailing the correct feel for this game. It still remains to be seen how a few mechanics will pan out, and if the alien proves an interesting foe with repeated encounters, but I think there's no denying this is the closest we've gotten to an authentic Alien game.
The game's story picks up 15 years after first film. The Nostromo's flight recorder was recovered, after Ripley blew the ship up, and has been brought to a past-its-prime space station out on the fringe of human expansion. You play as Amanda Ripley, Ellen Ripley's daughter, who is still wondering what happened to her mother. Amanda and a team from the series' mega corporation Weyland Yutani travel to the station to retrieve the flight recorder and get some answers. The section we played was near the middle of the game, so the reveal of how a xenomorph got on the station is still a mystery.
Five bucks says that it'll be better than Superman 64.
The people in the past who convinced themselves to do unspeakable things were no less human than you or I. They made their decisions; the only thing that prevents history from repeating itself is making different ones.
-- Adam Serwer
My blog
After hearing what happened to Colonial Marines, I still have a bad feeling about this one.
At least the devs looks like they know what they want to do though.
Faithful... Enlightened... Ambitious... Brethren... WE NEED A NEW DRIVER! THIS ONE IS DEAD!
I really hope this game is good. I love the concept of spending the whole game hunted by one creature. Like the bear level in condemned 2 only not scripted. It's a odd choice picking creative assembly to make a survival horror game, but maybe a 4x dev is just the kind of dev you want to make as complex an AI as this game needs.
nomotog wrote: I really hope this game is good. I love the concept of spending the whole game hunted by one creature. Like the bear level in condemned 2 only not scripted. It's a odd choice picking creative assembly to make a survival horror game, but maybe a 4x dev is just the kind of dev you want to make as complex an AI as this game needs.
Melissia wrote: Five bucks says that it'll be better than Superman 64.
That's cheap, almost anything is better than that one.
SkavenLord wrote: At least the devs looks like they know what they want to do though.
We've heard that one before.
I bring you the worst game of 2013. And probably worse than superman 64. I am not joking. It is worse than the previous WORSE game in video game history.
This game will not be good, because there has yet to be a good game from the alien IP. It could happen. But it is very unlikely.
From whom are unforgiven we bring the mercy of war.
Asherian Command wrote: This game will not be good, because there has yet to be a good game from the alien IP. It could happen. But it is very unlikely.
Really? I quite enjoyed Alien vs Predator Extinction on my PS2. One of the most unique real time strategy games I have ever seen. All three sides worked by completely different mechanics and really had nothing in common with each other at all. Although that might just be Nostalgia speaking.
Also that Ride to Hell game actually looks pretty awesome judging by the cover. Of course cover art isn't really the best way to judge these things. I think it would be hilarious if it was a racing game and the title was accurate. There was actually a portal torn open to hell where various biker gangs were invited to compete in the Demonic Grand Prix. Winner becomes a demon.
Like watching other people play video games (badly) while blathering about nothing in particular? Check out my Youtube channel: joemamaUSA!
BrianDavion wrote: Between the two of us... I think GW is assuming we the players are not complete idiots.
Rapidly on path to becoming the world's youngest bitter old man.
Asherian Command wrote: This game will not be good, because there has yet to be a good game from the alien IP. It could happen. But it is very unlikely.
Really? I quite enjoyed Alien vs Predator Extinction on my PS2. One of the most unique real time strategy games I have ever seen. All three sides worked by completely different mechanics and really had nothing in common with each other at all. Although that might just be Nostalgia speaking.
Also that Ride to Hell game actually looks pretty awesome judging by the cover. Of course cover art isn't really the best way to judge these things. I think it would be hilarious if it was a racing game and the title was accurate. There was actually a portal torn open to hell where various biker gangs were invited to compete in the Demonic Grand Prix. Winner becomes a demon.
If you have played it. You will understand why I have named it the worst game I have ever played.
It is sexist, it uses women as just as a resource.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/01/08 00:38:57
From whom are unforgiven we bring the mercy of war.
It seems a nice concept but... I just can't see it working for a full lengthed, full priced game.
You could get away with it for a 3/4 hour indie style game.
But honestly, an entire game based around running away from something for 8-12 hours (I imagine it'll struggle to reach 8). How the heck is that going to work?
You can only drag out consecutive backstabs from your fellow scientists/humans and fixing random equipment failures for so long.
Compel wrote: It seems a nice concept but... I just can't see it working for a full lengthed, full priced game.
You could get away with it for a 3/4 hour indie style game.
But honestly, an entire game based around running away from something for 8-12 hours (I imagine it'll struggle to reach 8). How the heck is that going to work?
You can only drag out consecutive backstabs from your fellow scientists/humans and fixing random equipment failures for so long.
I'd be happy to be proved wrong though.
Outlast did that. But they did it correctly. They built up anticipation, and used the environment. The first half of the game is fanastic. But the last half of the game was terrible. Which is what happens often in games like that.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/01/08 00:42:08
From whom are unforgiven we bring the mercy of war.
Melissia wrote: Five bucks says that it'll be better than Superman 64.
That's cheap, almost anything is better than that one.
SkavenLord wrote: At least the devs looks like they know what they want to do though.
We've heard that one before.
I bring you the worst game of 2013. And probably worse than superman 64. I am not joking. It is worse than the previous WORSE game in video game history.
This game will not be good, because there has yet to be a good game from the alien IP. It could happen. But it is very unlikely.
I actually am reasonably confident that this game will do well. I mean for starters, it is just a single alien, and they are also using a character that is actually in the universe. They are also basing it highly on the first film, including the visual style and the audio. So far this is looking miles better than colonial marines was. Here's a video where the developers talk about the game.
I like the part where one developer said it was kind of scary putting the alien in the level for the first time because they weren't actually sure what its going to do with its set of AI decisions xD
And then a 26 minute video discussing the actual gameplay elements with someone who actually went to the studio to play it. (Shows a bit more than some of the other short gameplay reveals)
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/09/27 13:18:33
The Rebellion AvP game was very good (and genuinely scary) but I think thats the only good Aliens game that I have played.
It sounds as though CA are taking the right approach to this game although I question its longevity. It is supposed to feature other enemies (doubtless Weyland Yutani goons) later in the game but that could easily be a bad thing.
One thing that I noticed in a preview that i read is that when you finally get access to a gun no one in their playtest group used it on the alien in case they annoyed it, I think that bodes well.
RegalPhantom wrote: If your fluff doesn't fit, change your fluff until it does
The prefect example of someone missing the point.
Do not underestimate the Squats. They survived for millenia cut off from the Imperium and assailed on all sides. Their determination and resilience is an example to us all.
-Leman Russ, Meditations on Imperial Command book XVI (AKA the RT era White Dwarf Commpendium).
Its just a shame that they couldn't fight off Andy Chambers.
Warzone Plog
I remember when they first previewed Colonial Marines what seems like almost a decade ago... I was so optimistic... then they delivered a game that looked and felt nothing like what was originally previewed, and I was disappoint. I am not holding my breath for this one.
CoALabaer wrote: Wargamers hate two things: the state of the game and change.
Compel wrote: It seems a nice concept but... I just can't see it working for a full lengthed, full priced game.
You could get away with it for a 3/4 hour indie style game.
But honestly, an entire game based around running away from something for 8-12 hours (I imagine it'll struggle to reach 8). How the heck is that going to work?
You can only drag out consecutive backstabs from your fellow scientists/humans and fixing random equipment failures for so long.
I'd be happy to be proved wrong though.
The original survival horror games where quite long, so I don't think that is really going to be a big problem. It's really easy to think of different environments and items and enemies you could introduce to mix up the gameplay without changing the general idea.
I think the bigger problem might be that if you make a decently long game themed around just you and the alien constantly playing cat xenomorph and mouse, it needs to pace itself, you can't be on edge all the time, which while probably the point of it all, can influence the overall experience.
I was all about that Q&A to the last question about sound design. The tagline for Alien was "In space, no one can hear you scream" and the movie itself, in large part, was very quiet. Very low background noise, the soundtrack was very quiet, the only real significant noise was the sound of the living things as they went about doing what they were doing. The movie used this to great effect to freak you out, as even a slight noise is able to make your hair stand on edge.... In fact, the entire movie has you on edge in part because of how quiet it is. Considering they didn't mention that as part of the Q&A really makes me wonder what direction they're going in. Dead Space achieved a similar effect, but that was by producing a disturbing ambiance via shrill sounding music and LOTS of background noise. You hear whispering coming from the dark corners of the environment, pipes dripping, chains rattling, the occasional tool falling off of something onto a gantry... its amazing, but it isn't the right 'experience'.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/01/08 20:46:10
CoALabaer wrote: Wargamers hate two things: the state of the game and change.
I'd like to think I've learnt my lesson about not buying into a nice trailer and some pre-release developer hype speak, but I can't help but feel a little bit excited for this game. The sound engineering seems really top notch and they've nailed the lighting.
The concept is obviously really good. I'd probably make the argument that it could drag on a bit for today's audience but there are so many successful survival horror games on the indie market like Slender and Amnesia that, providing the story is decent, I think it could work.
One thing that does worry me, other than the fact that the last Alien related game that came out was nothing like what the previews showed, is the rumors, or talk, of other bad guys being introduced later. There's potential for it to go off an undesirable tangent involving pulse rifles and mercenaries depending on how much publisher/producer interference there is. If CA stick to their guns, concentrate on delivering a good, sci-fi Alien survival horror, and go for the niche, then I think this could be one of the greats.
Could we just let the aliens franchise die already?
The only decent thing that came out of it in forever was Prometheus and even that didn't really answer much with hard facts. The movie had stupid moments like the 2 biologists finding the little alien creature on a planet that otherwise had no life and befriending it instantly (without approaching it carefully first)despite crapping their pants from an alien hologram. Then there was the awesome like the android saving the couple only so he could experiment on them later rather than saving them to help them out and the alien being aborted from the main female lead in a horrifying fashion.
Other than that nothing that you could even debate was good has come from the aliens franchise. It really just needs to die already.
Yes but the aliens universe by itself has been shown to suck. Most people would prefer to be the predators in AVP just because they're always f*cking awesome despite how sh*tty things end up being.
Anyway far as I'm concerned 'colonial marines' was the last hope of the aliens franchise and they f*cked it right up the *ss. I see nothing here I didn't see during the making of colonial marines. After all this it's just BS. Who cares anymore?
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/01/09 00:59:00
If it's made by anyone who touched Colonial Marines, there is no way in hell I will touch it.
If it's made by anyone else, I'm extremely cautious, but willing to be optimistic.
There's just no way in hell I'll buy it until I see several reviews, let's plays, and maybe borrowed it from a friend first.
'I've played Guard for years, and the best piece of advice is to always utilize the Guard's best special rule: "we roll more dice than you" ' - stormleader
"Sector Imperialis: 25mm and 40mm Round Bases (40+20) 26€ (Including 32 skulls for basing) " GW design philosophy in a nutshell
Ohhhh, color me interested. I'm not a huge survival/horror guy, but Alien is one of my favorite movies. Looks like this is keeping the faith...but like others have said, I'm not sure if it'll keep my attention for more than a couple hours.
I want something good to come from it, but not holding my breath.
I'm cautiously hopeful. I mean... it looks more survival horror than combat. So I think it could be better than Colonial Marines was.
A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head. - Maxim 12 - The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries
Faithful... Enlightened... Ambitious... Brethren... WE NEED A NEW DRIVER! THIS ONE IS DEAD! 
And if you're drinkin' well, you know that you're my friend and I say "I think I'll have myself a beer" 