[4K] Aliens: Dark Descent \ Xbox App RTX 4080 Gameplay
2Aliens: Dark Descent is a real-time tactics video game developed by Tindalos Interactive in collaboration with 20th Century Games and published by Focus Entertainment. Set in the Alien universe, the game was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on June 20, 2023. It received generally positive reviews from critics.
Gameplay
The Dark Descent story is set in the year 2198, 19 years after the events of the original trilogy films. It is a real-time tactics video game played from a top-down perspective. Players need to issue commands to a squad of four colonial marines, who must battle the Xenomorphs and rogue agents from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. The game features five starting character classes, each with their own unique weapons and abilities. While combat happens in real time, players can briefly slow time to a crawl in order to issue commands or set up an ambush. Players are encouraged to explore the moon station, discovering short cuts and deploying motion trackers which allows players to track alien movements. They can also use a welder to open locked doors, and can weld doors shut as they retreat from one room to another. The changes to level layout are permanent. Welding a door may stop the Xenomorphs from advancing, but it may also block the player's route in subsequent visits.
Between missions, players can upgrade and customize their marines. Players need to maintain not only the physical health but also the mental health of these characters. Each character has their own mental traits. Their combat performance may be affected if they were put under too much strain. They may miss their shots, behave irrationally, or even sabotage the player's mission. Squad members may die permanently after being attacked. Players can evacuate during a mission to prevent losing the entire squad. According to the developer, each mission in the game lasts "anywhere between 20 minutes and an hour".
Development
Dark Descent is developed by French studio Tindalos Interactive, which had previously developed the Battlefleet Gothic: Armada series of real-time strategy video game. According to managing director John Bert, the game was inspired by both tactical and computer role-playing games. The game was announced during Summer Game Fest in June 2022. It was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on June 20, 2023.
Reception
Aliens: Dark Descent received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Rock Paper Shotgun praised how the game recreated the atmosphere of Aliens, using elements of the franchise to help build tension, "It's the first to really capture the white-knuckle vibe of setting up perimeters, quipping out that last line of top-tier banter you've been saving, and seeing the shapes on the motion tracker creep closer and squeal louder". Eurogamer felt that the game didn't do anything to distinguish itself from other games inspired by XCOM: Enemy Unknown, "Descent doesn't introduce any memorable mechanics or stylistic flourishes at the campaign level. It's as spare and utilitarian as the boxy grey architecture of the Otago itself". While enjoying the Onslaught mechanic for increasing tension, IGN criticized the technical state of the game, writing, "These issues are just a bit too frequent and a bit too game-breaking for me to look the other way".
GamesRadar+ thought the game added interesting, unique flourishes to the tactical game formula, especially the safe room mechanic, "It's a brilliant and original feature that makes you stop and consider your squad of toughs as a little more human than just walking guns". Game Informer disliked the game's controls, "Unfortunately, stealth sections through packs of sleeping Xenomorphs make squad movement feel cumbersome. And at times, crouching and clicking other buttons aren't snappy, leading to deadly encounters with enemies". PC Gamer liked the increasing infestation that progressed each day, saying that it made the player make hard choices, "It's a fascinating mixture of ideas that creates tons of emergent conundrums".