Alien: Isolation - The Alien Game We've Been Waiting For?

Alien: Isolation is attempting to change everything. Over the years the Alien franchise has been corrupted, pulled very far away from Ridley Scott’s original vision. Only recently with the release of Prometheus have we seen a return to the ‘less is more’ type of suspense that fans of the original have been so very deprived of.

As gamers we’ve also had a tough time with the series. Alien has had its moments with the likes of the Alien vs Predator series, but last year’s Aliens: Colonial Marines saw a line crossed by publisher Sega and a huge backlash from fans of the series made it the talking point across social media and every major media outlet.

So, again, publisher Sega is trying to prove to fans that they’re the right people to own the franchise rights by bringing us a new title; Alien: Isolation. Brought to us by the minds at Creative Assembly, known for their work on the fantastic Total War series, we see a very different take on the Alien formula. Isolation hopes to take you back to 1979 when the future was dark, lived-in and when huge CRT screens were the height of human technology; displaying information with that familiar dull green glow.

At its core the game is a survival horror where your wits and decision making skills are what keep you ahead of the deadliest hunter in the universe: the Xenomorph. The developers have made it clear they wanted to go back to the idea of a singular alien and not a whole horde to be mowed down with numerous large guns. It’s been done and it’s time to try something new is something we often don’t hear from AAA developers, but Creative Assembly seem willing to take a risk to give the franchise and fans something to be proud of and look fondly on.

The story revolves around Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley who is the star in all Alien films to date. Set fifteen years after the first film, we find Amanda in her early 20s still wondering what happened to her mother. A member of Weyland-Yutani (her mother’s old employer) turns up at her door, explaining they have located the black box from the Nostromo (the ship from the original film) and would she like to come find out what happened. Being that her whole life has revolved around what happened to her mother, she jumps at the chance and it leads her to the populated space station the game takes place on.

Creative Assembly have also spoken about how they intend to keep the game fresh, even with only one alien to worry about. The presence of the single Xenomorph is a constant threat, with your actions deciding when it will and won’t appear, this should keep every new environment suitably fresh as you scour for resources while trying to still stay hidden and aware. There are also people on the space station you inhabit throughout the game; they can be either friendly and helpful or possibly the polar opposite. This should also lend to the exploration aspect, as you try to struggle through an area only to stumble into a third party who could help or hinder your further progress.  

The aesthetics of the game all seem to have been put through a 1970s filter to make it look like a VCR on a CRT screen. This all lends to the horror and suspense. Light in the game is an immediately striking visual flair, being your only ally; it seems to bleed into the darkness giving you slight glimpses of your surroundings and setting the tone. Anyone who has seen the original film will be at home with this visual style and the design of the surroundings too.

The developers have explained that they didn’t want technology to be the answer to all your problems and so have made everything seem clunky and very much there for visuals as much as anything else. You even get your own personal motion sensor with its own dull green glow and the unforgettable pulsing noise that has become synonymous with the films. The motion sensor is a small CRT screen you hold in your hand; when focusing on it your peripheral field of view is blurred, adding to the tension with the choice to take a quick look and expose yourself or rely on your senses and reactions.

Creative Assembly seem to be taking a fresh look at a franchise that desperately needs it. The idea of removing all elements of defence from the player and having them rely on their own senses is not a new one, but it’s one that if done with care and attention can create compelling and emergent gameplay. As a fan of the original film, I am hoping this is the game we’ve been waiting for and a game that could change AAA design sensibilities, but only if successful.