Alien Isolation is a first-person game based on the popular Alien film franchise. The game is set between the events of Alien and Aliens.
Challenging Play
Great Graphics/Art
Great Music
Great Story
Click a title to learn more about each topic.
Story & Themes
Alien Isolation follows the story of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, who was the main protagonist in the films played by Sigourney Weaver. The game is set 15 years after the event of the first film. The elder Ripley is still missing, but word that a team has recovered the flight recorder from her ship sets Amanda on a trip to the Sevastopol station to find answers. Unfortunately, things on the station are not on the up and up. Besides the fact that it’s falling apart, it’s also on lockdown and the synthetics who are supposed to help run things have gone a little haywire. The remaining human inhabitants have formed small groups and barricaded themselves in various areas of the station. They don’t trust anyone they don’t know and are openly hostile to strangers. In addition, and the whole reason for the mess, it turns out, is that a creature is aboard the ship, terrorizing everyone by killing people one by one. That creature is, of course, the familiar xenomorph with nested jaws, acidic blood, and a spiky tail.
Save Points
Players can save the game only at special places scattered throughout the game. In some cases there is a lot of gameplay that happens before you can reach the next save point. Quitting without saving can result in the loss of a lot of progress.
Difficulty
Even on the easiest difficulty, the game can be challenging. If the alien sees the player, the player dies. The amount of space between save points means significant portions of the game may need to be repeated.
Heads Up!
Violence Players can be killed by or witness killings by the alien, which involve being stabbed through the chest or torn apart. The synthetics will also attack the player by grabbing her around the neck, knocking her down and stomping on her. In addition, the player witnesses the synthetics kill another human by smashing his head repeatedly against a wall. Throughout the game, the player finds bodies that have been killed by the alien or other humans. Other humans can shoot the player, and likewise, the player can use a variety of weapons to shoot humans or synthetics, although the game can be completed without killing anyone. The player can use diversionary tactics to chase the alien away, but the alien cannot be killed.
Scary Imagery The player must navigate dark environments and actively hide from other humans and the alien. The alien actively stalks the player throughout the game, and the death sequences involved can be very scary. In addition, the music in the game helps to instill a sense of dread and anxiety as players don't know what to expect around the next corner.
Strong Language Although there are a few instances of swearing in the game (f*ck, sh*t), it’s not pervasive.
Conversation Starters
- How is this game similar to the Alien films?
- Why do you think the people on the station have reacted the way they have in the crisis?
- Do you think extra terrestrial life exists in the universe?
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