Risks are hard to come by when it comes to AAA titles. When they come they aren't always greeted with the most receptive audience; but sometimes a AAA title needs to take those risks in order to right its wrongs. The Alien video games are a great example of a dire need to take risk in order to rise out of a dark and unpromising past. While it may not be the game everyone is looking for and still waiting for, Alien: Isolation proved to be the game I wanted, and perhaps even my most meaningful experience with a video game in 2014.
Alien: Isolation is an emotionally exhausting game of cat and mouse that's immersive, heart-pounding, terrifying, and memorable. Not only did the experience manage to remain fresh for over 20 hours, it also managed to constantly surprise me with its attention to detail. Outside of the stone-faced character animations, the Sevastopol Station is a forlorn labyrinth of steam, darkness, and fluorescence. By the time you arrive, the station is in shambles, reminding me of a dystopian Rapture. Dark figures skitter in the debris, metal clanks in the walls, and for the first few hours the game draws you deep into its world of survivalism.
Just to touch a moment on that "metal clanking in the walls" bit, the sound design is some of the best I've heard in a game in a very long time. It creates a constant sense of depth. Managing to listen to what is both distant and near is practically necessary. The game is very fair when it comes to audial cues. In fact they're an integral part of the game. They let you know when to be both wary and opportunistic. Of course, that's not the only advantage you have while exploring the derelict Seegson station. The iconic motion tracker from the films can be used to roughly pinpoint threats, whether they're organic or bionic in nature. I found using the motion tracker to be almost like clenching a crucifix, a mild comfort in the unfamiliar corridors of Sevastopol. The motion tracker is not without its faults, however, and relying on it too much can lead to destructive hesitation. Using a combination of technology, careful listening, and line of sight will result in greater success.
The collection of things that will pose a threat to you in Alien: Isolation is a short list. What makes the experience unique in a AAA title is the prevailing helplessness that you possess and the overall humiliation that the gameplay requires. While your pistol may save you once or twice, the majority of the situations you'll face prove that it's a downright awful idea to fight. Your supplies are limited and many of them are best left unused or to serve the greater purpose of deception. Opening fire could result in the unwanted attention of something far worse; but fashioning and deploying a noisemaker can result in that greater threat becoming a fleeting boon. In almost all cases the avoidance of conflict is better than rushing to meet it. That's exactly what makes Alien: Isolation such a rare gem considering its level of production. The game is both a survival horror title and a game that throws action blockbuster empowerment out the window and makes you just another soul clinging on for dear life against all odds. There's nothing conventional about it and it makes the game's mere existence such a commendable and surprising endeavor.
Let's talk about the main attraction: the alien itself, a singular enemy that hunts you for a majority of the game relentlessly and unsympathetically. It cannot be killed and it cannot be stopped. Once you encounter it for the first time you are bound to this ever-looming threat for the next several grueling hours. I'm reminded of a mission that takes place in the first quarter of the game where the creature really begins to hunt you and I remember instinctively recoiling back to a previously visited location simply because of how perfectly executed the introduction was. That feeling persisted for the next several hours. Even though I eventually became more confident and had better tools for the job, the game continuously finds ways to manifest a cautious impression. The alien remains a worthwhile attraction that offers worthwhile moments with its presence. While it's one thing to discuss the inherent risk of such a title in the AAA space, the design of the game is based entirely around risk. Advancing felt like a constant thrill, punctuated by moments where the game forces you to complete tasks for a considerable length of time where you feel most vulnerable. You may need to decrypt a computer or cut through steel, all the while the alien (or anything else that wants to kill you) could walk up behind you before you complete the task. Even saving the game, which requires you to keep a punch card inserted in a machine for a few seconds, leaves you susceptible if you aren't careful. All of it feels genuinely nerve wracking and it culminates into an experience that lingers with you long after. Overall I can't sing Alien: Isolation's praises enough. It's not a game that will satisfy everyone, but I found it to be a game that offered immense reward where I originally anticipated little to none. If you're looking for something outside of your comfort zone but still maintaining that high level of production value, I don't think anything else compares. If you let Alien: Isolation sink its hooks in, be prepared for a long and wild ride.
Grade: A
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