Alien: Isolation

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**Pacific**

Me too! The creators of the game have certainly got a difficult job trying to persuade the game buying public that it isn't going to be Colonial Marines Mk2, but I think they're doing a good job with a lot of previews, interviews, and hands-on of the game with journalists. The more open approach is exactly what Colonial Marines didn't do on the build-up to the launch of that game, so it certainly gives me more confidence that this is going to be worth playing.

Melissia wrote:
If they don't add weapons, then the FPS-kiddies will be upset.

You don't see them playing games like Penumbra or other weaponless horror games.

Believe I've read that the weapons in the game are used against non-Alien opponents. Smacking the alien over the head with a wrench isn't going to do much more than piss it off and send you back to the start of the level again (think someone in one of the preview articles did actually try and do that, with predictable results..

)

**Retrogamer0001**

I'm curious if a CE will be offered, even though I got burned big time on pre-ordering the A:CM one...

**Deadshot**

Guess the one thing we know for certain about the plot is that the game ends with the player escaping the ship, as we see in Aliens movie that Ripply's daughter survives to the age of 66.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
55 years after Alien and the first incursion on LV-426

**Compel**

They could always use the 'WY told Ripley a bunch of complete and utter rubbish' card though.

**Deadshot**

Compel wrote:
They could always use the 'WY told Ripley a bunch of complete and utter rubbish' card though.

Could do, but they did have a photograph that Ripley vaguely recognised.

**mega_bassist**

Looks like the original Nostromo crew will some back together in some preoder/dlc content.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/09/original-alien-cast-reunite-for-alien-isolation-dlc

The original cast of the 1979 film Alien have been reunited for Alien: Isolation’s pre-order DLC.

Sigourney Weaver will reprise her iconic role as Ellen Ripley for the first time in 17 years. She will be joined by Tom Skerritt (Dallas), Veronic Cartwright (Lambert), Harry Dean Stanton (Brett), and Yaphet Kotto (Parker)

The DLC contains two missions, both allowing players to relive classic scenes from the original movie.

Everyone who pre-orders the game will get a free upgrade to the ‘Nostromo Edition’, which includes the first of the two DLC missions, entitled “Crew Expendable”. Taking place moments after the death of Brett, it sees players assuming the role of Ripley, Dallas or Parker, as the crew of the Nostromo attempt to flush the alien from the air vents and into the ship's airlock. Depending on which character you choose, you'll have a slightly different perspective on events and will begin with different resources.

The second pre-order mission – “Last Survivor” – will be available through select retailers depending on territory. Set during the film's dramatic finale, you play as Ripley and must activate the Nostromo's self-destruct sequence and reach the Narcissus shuttle in order to escape.

"Crew Expendable" mission.

The second pre-order mission – “Last Survivor” – will be available through select retailers depending on territory. Set during the film's dramatic finale, you play as Ripley and must activate the Nostromo's self-destruct sequence and reach the Narcissus shuttle in order to escape.

"Last Survivor" mission.

The pre-order missions have been devised as ‘What If’ scenarios according to the game’s creative director Alistair Hope. Speaking to IGN, Hope says, “There’s no point in us trying to match beat-for-beat what occurs in the film. The film is much better at doing that than a game. “We came with the approach these guys had a plan to try and take on the alien, to flush it out of an airlock. What else could have happened?” And even though players will be able to freely explore areas of the doomed Nostromo, from the habitation deck down to engineering, Hope is keen to stress these aren’t interactive dioramas: “We’ve used those moments to give us some kind of structure; as to what occurs is very much down to the player.”

**Pacific**

Oh. My. God. That is possibly one of the coolest things they could have done with this game. In fact, I can't believe that it's real?!

Although, it's slightly crappy that it seems to be the norm these days to have 'pre-order DLC' before a game has even launched!

I'm actually seriously considering buying a new generation machine for this game - I wonder if there is likely to be much of a difference between the PS3/360 versions and the latest hardware?

**Medium of Death**

I'd imagine the lighting/shadows will be better. So it'll probably be worth it.

I'm going to hold off on pre-ordering. Even though this game looks great I'm still wary until I get my hands on a review post release.

**Howard A Treesong**

Will the Nostromo pack be available in some fashion after release? I still don't want to jump in with a pre-order, it's still £30 on Steam.

**BrookM**

It wouldn't surprise me if it became available later down the line, it happens with so-called pre-order DLC all the time.

edit.

From their Facebook page:

It's genuinely been great to see the reaction to The Crew Expendable and Last Survivor pre-order bonus content we announced yesterday and how excited you all are to re-experience those classic scenes from the original movie with our Alien. It's been absolutely amazing for us at the Studio.

However, some of you have been asking if the two pieces of content are only available through pre-order or if we'll be releasing them at a later date as well.

So, I can confirm today that we do plan to release both Crew Expendable and Last Survivor at a later date and we'll have more details for you guys on that shortly.

Best, Nee.

**Ratius**

Still looking great imo.
My only concern would be after your first 5,10, 20 deaths at the jaws of the Alien how do they keep up the tension and feeling of "jaysus, I cant beat this thing"?
It reminds me of the Pit creature from HL1. The first few times were truely jawdropping and terrifying but after a few deaths you stopped giving a gak.
Or even in AvP when you played the Marine levels VS the Aliens or Pred. You really felt naked and underpowered but it soon lost that fear factor.
Im sure there will be plot twists and turns but ultimately its you VS the Alien so how will they keep that fear factor high.

**BrookM**

Agreed, being constantly on edge can wear you and the novelty of it all down quite a bit.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
It reminds me of DOOM 3 where after the umpteenth time the lights flicker and fade, instead of flinching I would just sigh, rev up the chainsaw and wave it around as suddenly, oh nooooo, zombies appear!

**Pacific**

Undoubtedly it's a fundamental problem with this kind of game, think it will be interesting how they handle it.

Your fear when watching the film (for the first time) I think came a lot from the unknown and mystery - you didn't know what was coming, suddenly there was something moving around the ship that you hadn't seen.. again, that's something that this game will not benefit from, we already know the Alien in perfect detail.

I'm hoping that the AI for the alien is as good as they say it will be - being out-witted by it, or thinking when you are escaping that you are safe (you lock yourself in a room, only for your dolby to give a hissing sound from behind you, you slowly turn around... imagine it!

) I think that could go some way to creating a horror experience if it's well implemented

Some games (some of the Resident Evil ones I found) managed to keep up the unsettling feeling for a good portion of the game. Of course, a big part of it comes from the player-side. If you have an imagination and scare easily, have it on a big screen in a darkened room it's going to be that must more effective than for the guy who sat through 'that bit' from the Japanese version of The Ring while happily munching on a sandwich and checking his phone

**Ratius**

Yes agreed. A certain portion of it will be how much "atmosphere" you can create yourself. Since its a November (?) release those long dark evenings with the lights out and a good set of headphones will certainly help.
However, after 2-3 hours of play will the big Xeno still scare you?
Will it do something really off the wall AI-wise? Will I have the same experience VS it compared to you? Hopefully they put as much time and thinking into its AI code as they did to the game aesthetics.

**BrookM**

They claim it's a random experience every time as the Xenomorph never does the same thing twice, making exploiting knowledge you gained beforehand rather moot.

**Soladrin**

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/9539-The-Poison-of-Pre-Order-Culture

Feth you sega.

**BrookM**

As always, Jim does make an excellent point. I mean, why the feth not?

**Ratius**

New info up on the website including more on survivor mode.
Note it says "a variety of challenging enemies". Plural.
Interesting. Different xenotypes maybe?

**Nostromodamus**

Ratius wrote:
New info up on the website including more on survivor mode.
Note it says "a variety of challenging enemies". Plural.
Interesting. Different xenotypes maybe?

Or good old WY Corp...

**Pacific**

From what I've read, just the one alien in the game, but there are other humans/androids on the ship that they could be referring to.

**Nostromodamus**

Yeah I've been watching videos. No WY Corp in the game at all (boo) but there are other survivors and Androids.

Freaky, freaky Androids...

**Vertrucio**

I played this at PAX last month.

It was a really early build, but what they had was looking good.

Sadly, it was also definitely at a point where the final implementations of their systems and gameplay could make or break the game from what they had.

So I can't even say that the final game will be good, other than that they at least nailed the atmosphere, look, tension, and basic gameplay. Having the motion tracker just makes things scarier than it helps to locate the Alien, and the Alien can home in on the beeps and light from the tracker if you use it too much.

Problems I could see coming up was that if you were spotted, it's impossible to escape the Alien. However, it can also be way too easy to hide from the alien by simply moving to the other side of a bench from it while constantly peeking to look at it.

They mentioned the full game having a crafting system where you can make distractions and deterrents, which I assume will help you escape if spotted or are close to being spotted. Which would then let them ramp up the Alien's ability to find you, or track you. None of that was present in the demo, and they have yet to show off any of that gameplay in videos, so who knows how far along they are at that.

I'd wait for reviews on this one, but would buy it right away if it reviewed well after release.

I definitely wouldn't pre-order, that's no matter how interesting the pre-order DLC is. I'd rather give them more money for a good product than accidentally pre-order a bad one.

**Ratius**

Yes, I wont be preordering tbh. I dont think the preorder content is that enticing but am also wary of longevity of the game.
Theres only so many scare moments they can do before it potentially gets old.
I interested in seeing how they keep it fresh.

**Pacific**

Has anyone heard of any PS4 console-bundle deals with the game?

First reviews are coming in, looking very good indeed. Lots of 8's and 9's coming in from the likes of Edge and CVG, and when I read 'best use of a license since Arkham City' I get very excited about this indeed!

**BrookM**

Review by Jim Sterling - http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/12346-Alien-Isolation-Review

**Manchu**

I wish they had hired Summer Glau to play Amanda.

**Compel**

Manchu wrote:
I wish they had hired Summer Glau to play Amanda.

Is the game so bad that you want to kill off any chance of having a sequel ever?

**Manchu**

IGN gave it a 5.9.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/10/03/alien-isolation-review

**AdeptSister**

The IGN review was interesting. I understand why they did not like like it, but it seems like they wish the game was shorter due to pacing.

**Manchu**

I think what the reviewer really wanted was not a shorter game but the introduction of new mechanics by the mid-point.