Aliens: Dark Descent - Game Review

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Veteran Game

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Published on June 21, 2023 5:00:00 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Kt9cDPyac

Game:

Aliens: Dark Descent (2023)

Category:

Review

Duration: 3:12

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Aliens: Dark Descent - Game Review


Hey there, gaming enthusiasts of the "Veteran Game" channel! Today we're diving into the depths of the survival horror RTS, "Aliens: Dark Descent". Get ready, it's going to be a rollercoaster of slimy, adrenaline-fueled action and strategy!

Imagine a cocktail of XCOM, Darkest Dungeon, and Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun with a generous dose of 1986's Aliens movie. That's precisely what Dark Descent offers. Unlike many of its predecessors, which unleashed a pulse-rifle rampage on you, Dark Descent refocuses on the franchise's paranoia and peril, reviving the dread we associate with everyday drones and runners.

It might be tempting to go in guns blazing, racking up quick and easy kills. However, alerting the hive ramps up the difficulty, transforming a leisurely mission into a heart-thumping hide-and-seek with increasingly aggressive xenomorphs. This adds an interesting dynamic to gameplay, encouraging stealth and strategy over sheer firepower.

Your team isn't just battling external threats, though. Encountering aliens, being hunted, or even catching too many blips on the motion tracker ramps up your marines' stress levels. The result? Missed shots, disobedience, and spiralling panic. This mechanic brilliantly humanizes your soldiers while adding another layer to resource management.

When Dark Descent is running smoothly, it beautifully captures the slow-build tension and shrieking, gunfire-laden crescendo that characterize a good Alien movie. However, the game isn't without its fair share of technical hiccups that can sometimes prove game-breaking, requiring mission restarts and resulting in lost progress.

Despite these glitches, the game's campaign layer is relatively unscuffed. From the crashed USCM vessel USS Otago, you'll manage research, medical facilities, training, equipment, and even a therapy clinic to treat long-term psychological harms. Progression can be a tad slow, especially as the planetary infestation intensifies with each passing day. But the diversity of classes, from the iconic smart-gunner to the morale-boosting sergeant, offers some rewarding specialization and synergy.

"Aliens: Dark Descent" delivers a compelling narrative that doesn't merely retread past Alien films. The characters are morally complex and genuinely interesting, despite some inconsistent voice acting. Environmental design is top-notch, with atmospheric light-play and spine-chilling sound design enhancing the overall immersion.

If it weren't for the technical issues, "Aliens: Dark Descent" could easily claim the title of one of the best Aliens games ever. It's a richly imaginative survival RTS that blends tactics, resource management, and pure horror in a unique and exciting way. Here's hoping a little more polish could truly make it shine. For now, it gets a strong recommendation, albeit with a few caveats. Stay tuned for more gaming insights, and as always, happy gaming!