Alien: Isolation

As my title suggests, stealth is paramount and abundant in this gem. Depending on the difficulty level selected (you can change it during game play) it ranges from extremely difficult to a piece of cake. I do not suggest wasting your time on mods that make the alien stupid just find the difficulty level that works for you and (i.e. you can't tell until the alien starts hunting you) and then strap in for a gorgeous immersive experience that will truly entertain you with a level of respect to the devs who obviously put a lot of work in the graphics and crafting the atmosphere that captures the original movie perfectly. I purchased this game on sale which was a real bargain but I also think that this is one of the few games that is worth the full price too. Unless stealth is not your thing, do not let this was get by you.

Finished the game in 30 hours. Played 70 % on second hardest, last 30 % on easiest. For most of the game, 4 stars, for the last 10-20 % of the game, 1 star. Thematically the game is: We need to get this done, and in order to do that we need to do this. But in order to do that we need to do this as well. But in order to do that we need to do that as well. Etc. In game terms this amounts to running this way and that and pushing buttons. And eventually, thematically, all your plans fail. I don't like this kind of design. Especially at the end it felt REALLY prolonged. The end also had a collection of scripted event deaths and small enemies that would've simply been better left out. The story has all the clichés of a similar game. Space station falls apart, station AI doesn't like you, Alien is killing you... It seemed like in the later parts of the game the alien AI became too aggressive for my tastes. This coincided (?) with getting the flamethrower, which allows you to keep the alien at bay. Then it was no longer a game of terror of not getting found, but strolling through the station and flaming the alien a bit if he showed his face. Even up until that point... I'm not sure. The game was most tense when the alien was not around. Either because you thought he MIGHT be around any second, or because of the android enemies that I found way creepier. Easier to deal with, but creepier. The alien AI has major problems, namely that on higher difficulties it's just constantly on your face and only moves within a certain radius of you. On easier difficulties the alien is around a lot less, which made the game more tense for me. Higher difficulties should've been about getting found easier when the alien shows up, not simply showing up all the damn time. As for reviews of "I need to hide in lockers for 5 minutes": you don't. You walk around normally, keeping an eye out for places to hide for when you need to. It's not a horror game, simply survival.

"Alien Isolation" is an exceptional adaptation of Ridley Scott's "Alien." The game masterfully captures the film's suspense, keeping players on edge throughout its lengthy gameplay. The story is engaging and well-developed, staying true to the original while introducing new elements. The graphics are outstanding, recreating the film's iconic look with incredible detail. From the retro-futuristic technology to the eerie environments, every aspect immerses players in the world of Alien. Overall, "Alien Isolation" is one of the best games ever made, combining suspense, a strong narrative, and impressive visuals to honor the legacy of the original film.

(Fini sur Steam il y a quelques années, je viens de le racheter sur GOG). Si vous pensiez (comme moi auparavant) que l'adaptation en jeu vidéo de cette œuvre majeure du cinéma qu'est « Alien, le huitième passager » n'a jamais été qu'une série d'échecs relatifs, si vous n'espériez plus grand-chose, alors n'hésitez pas car l'improbable messie est enfin arrivé. Le moteur graphique est tout à fait correct et optimisé pour un jeu qui a 8 ans (j'y jouais sur du milieu de gamme et ça tournait à 60Hz ultra-stable), et on croirait que le directeur de la photographie du film faisait partie de l'équipe. Niveau son, on atteint un degré de finition rarement égalé. Que ce soit le Xénomorphe, les alarmes, les sas et divers mécanismes, les ordinateurs, l'incontournable détecteur de mouvements, et j'en passe, tout cela frise la perfection et contribue énormément à l'immersion dans l'univers de Ridley Scott. Le gameplay ? Ma foi, si l'idée d'être dans la peau d'un petit être fragile, pas forcément plus futé que cette impitoyable machine à tuer qui vous traque, vous et vos semblables... si cette idée là ne vous dérange pas, alors le gameplay est excellent. Par contre, si vous ne vous amusez que lorsque vous pouvez potentiellement tout dégommer, alors passez votre chemin. C'est à peu près aussi simple que cela. Mon conseil : avancez accroupi, TOUJOURS ;) VF particulièrement réussie, c'est assez rare pour être noté. En résumé, « Alien: Isolation » est une véritable déclaration d'amour au film culte qui a réveillé en nous cette peur ancestrale d'être une proie sans défense (les sadiques par contre risquent d'être un poil déçus, car non, on ne peut pas incarner le Xénomorphe), un hommage qu'on attendait plus, à la hauteur de ce phénomène de la SF qu'on croyait intouchable. Bref, amoureux de jeux vidéo et d'Alien premier du nom, ne ratez ce chef-d’œuvre sous aucun prétexte.