Aliens: Colonial Marines was tripe, serving as a sequel to James Cameron’s Aliens – and playing like a gung-ho action shooter. Alien: Isolation from develop Creative Assembly is more of a sequel to Ridley Scott’s creepier Alien. Does it live up to that? Is it at least a better game that Colonial Marines? Well, that depends on who you ask.
Much like what happened with the (In my opinion) Excellent ZombiU on the Wii U, American reviewers seem to hate it. Those based in Europe and its colonies, or who’ve hailed from there seem to disagree, thinking it’s possibly the very best Alien game.
And honestly, I think it comes down to that fact that you don;t shoot much in it. Americans seem to favour being able to shoot out of any situation, whereas stealth and sneakiness seems to be the way to go for our European chums. From everything I’ve seen (and played), this is the perfect Alien game for me.
Here’s what critics think.
Joystiq – 4/5
In the same way that Ash respected the alien for its brutality in the original film, though, maybe I also respect Alien: Isolation just for how long, grueling and relentless it ends up being. Instead of completing the game, it feels more like I’ve escaped it and the nightmare it put me through. I no longer have to hear the sickening slump of the alien being spewed out of a vent.
Destructoid – 8.5/10
Halfway into playing Alien: Isolation, I stopped to watch the first four Alien movies again. It wasn’t just for research purposes, but mostly because the game had me yearning for more of the universe. Isolation has some flaws, but it’s faithful to the film series, and I’d love to see a follow-up with a few extra alien evolutions.
Sixthaxis – 9/10
That idea of never being comfortable with how the game is unravelling is something that feels quite unique and it’s extremely well imagined here. Plenty of survival horror games have you feeling vulnerable as you essentially fulfil the role of a hero but things are different here. In Alien: Isolation you’re not the hero, you’re the prey.
The Escapist – 4.5/5
Alien: Isolation can be frustrating, but it’s mostly terrifying in a near-perfect way. The Alien is scarier than it’s been since Ridley Scott first showed it to the world, and the atmosphere is thick enough to cut.
IGN – 5.9/10
It may seem strange to complain that a game’s too long, but when the genuine scares of being hunted by an unstoppable predator are so diluted by repetition and padding, Isolation’s epic length really does work against it. Someday, someone is going to make an incredible Alien video game that checks every box. But, sadly, Isolation is not it.
Polygon – 6.5/10
In the process of contriving story twists and turns to support this spectacle, Alien: Isolation ruins the unique focus of its premise and moves away from the inspiration of the first film. It becomes something depressingly predictable for fans of the property who have been hurt again and again by underwhelming video game representations. Alien: Isolation isn’t the worst Alien game, but thanks to its unrealized potential, it just might be the most disappointing.
Last Updated: October 3, 2014
Admiral Chief 0
October 3, 2014 at 15:36
Hmmm, very mixed
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 3, 2014 at 16:23
4 good vs 2 bad is not mixed. It’s actually good
FoxOneZA
October 3, 2014 at 15:40
It’s like Destiny but with an Alien on your ass all the time.
Jac7
October 3, 2014 at 15:44
Still buying it.
Hammersteyn
October 3, 2014 at 16:03
same
64bit
October 3, 2014 at 16:09
me to!
Me and Jac7 are the cool hipsters who play crap games “just cos”
Jac7
October 3, 2014 at 16:26
Read IGN’s review. I just can’t take the reviewer seriously when his biggest complaint is that the game is too long. From what I’ve seen it looks effing awesome. If you haven’t seen it yet, check the link for the first 40 minutes of the game.
julian
October 7, 2014 at 09:16
I think the dude says that the game dynamics don’t support a long game. He’s not saying he hates long games
Spaffy
October 3, 2014 at 15:46
Lol IGN. Envelope not thick enough?
64bit
October 3, 2014 at 15:52
hehehe its funny, becos its true
64bit
October 3, 2014 at 15:51
ok wow if the kok sucker review mags who get paid for high scores say its crap then its utter sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
Rock789
October 3, 2014 at 15:54
Hopefully the sub-par reviews are just ‘mericans being ‘merican… I’ve seem some gameplay vids and it looks very atmospheric and awesomely promising. Hell, even the gameplay vids on IGN looked good and scary (and had the previewer saying it looks good). Just to be safe, I may just wait before getting hold of this one…
64bit
October 3, 2014 at 15:58
yeah the 1 min of footage that has been allowed to the public im sure looks amazing…
Rock789
October 3, 2014 at 16:10
IGN had a ton of footage – over 30 minutes at one stage. Plus they then did the whole “IGN staff play Alien Isolation – is it scary?” vid, which showed some of the actual Alien encounters. Altogether, it really did look impressive. But +-40min of gameplay does not make a game… Like I said – probably gonna hold off on getting this for a while…
KingKappie
October 3, 2014 at 15:58
SO IGN gives it a 5.9 for being to long?
Hammersteyn
October 3, 2014 at 16:03
They are slaves to COD, goes hand in hand with a short attention span
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 3, 2014 at 16:20
I want to laugh at this but unfortunately it’s true. Length = bored in todays gaming terms and that sadens me. It’s the reason games are all so short.
Mark my words. Games are going to become one of 2 things in the future:
1) Online for long term
2) 2 hour “experiences” for SP.
🙁
HvR
October 3, 2014 at 16:53
I hate you for telling the truth.
RonaldoDeFranko
October 3, 2014 at 17:02
🙁 🙁
…all of that lost potential, time to listen to AHA.
Thami540
October 3, 2014 at 16:02
I’d still hit that.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 3, 2014 at 16:22
So IGN and Polygon, what happened? Both of you complain it’s too long. Since when did being short equate to being good?
IGN and Polygon, you guys seem to have the attention span and emotional range of a teaspoon
HvR
October 3, 2014 at 16:57
Weird, if they said repetitive/drawn out I can see it being boring.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 5, 2014 at 07:19
They did say repetitive. But IGN is the only one who said it. It seems odd that only 1 out of all those claim it’s repetitive. I think they are just used to cod and bf style sp where the campaign is short and condensed.
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 3, 2014 at 19:08
There’s a “that’s what she said” in there somewhere.
Willem Swanepoel
October 3, 2014 at 16:28
Do not want to be rude here but … who the fuck cares what IGN think, they suck balls anyway .. for cash
HvR
October 3, 2014 at 16:55
“they suck balls anyway .. for cash” they can not even do that right
Greylingad
October 3, 2014 at 17:59
Murica!! Pew…pew… That’s disappointing… Especially that cod loving ign has such a short attention span, which is funny because they loved gta v… That reviewer is one of the worst though…
SNTJulio
October 5, 2014 at 16:31
7,9/10 of Areajugones http://areajugones.es/alien-isolation/analisis/ (in spanish) 🙂
Nikola
October 6, 2014 at 09:45
I stopped looking at reviews more and more Destiny had bad reviews across the board I love the game play it everyday have not put it down since it release, people that review game’s rush it as it’s their job and they have a deadline to meet so they forget about actually enjoying the game and it becomes a job to them and let’s be honest who here likes their job;) So I am very careful when it comes to reviews now days don’t really pay too much attention to them, if this game interest you get!