Game:

Alien: Isolation (2014)

Duration: 3:53:51

2 views

0

This game is now one of my favourite stealth games of all time. It offers just enough counterplay to the Alien such that you don't need to master a section before moving on, but not enough counterplay for the player to just disregard stealth. With the excellent AI of the Alien the threat varies enough that most sections are not a slog of memorization or testing enemy patterns.

Alien Isolation is also a long form horror game done right. While there are still a few simple jump scares, a little panicked running, and plenty of hiding that is common in the genre, the enemies and threats have other counters to them. Instead of just running from immortal enemies, the threats vary and the player is not completely helpless, but the player does not become too powerful. Even with equipment and ammo the player can never feel safe against the Alien AI that's adapting to their playstyle.

In my opinion there are sections that are a bit long, and feel like padding out the gameplay with more "goto location A, press on screen prompts". Fortunately the story, environment, visual design (other than the oddly low resolution lens flare), and sound design can carry the game through many of those areas.

It's not perfect, but it is easily the best Alien game I have played.

Streamed on 2023-01-25
https://www.twitch.tv/kruge

Other Statistics