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[IbizaPocholo]

Alien Isolation writer says the horror game is too long because its clever Xenomorph was dumber in development - "in a perfect world, I'd shrink it down a bit"

Alien Isolation writer Dion Lay reveals the game's long story is due to the game's Xenomorph AI which was much dumber in early development.

frvr.com

In an interview on an upcoming episode of the FRVR Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more, Alien Isolation writer Dion Lay admits that the game is too long. While it seemed like the right direction at the time, the writer says that it should have been shrunk down.

"I think it would have been hard at the time to do that [cut it down] at the time," Lay explains. "Now, in a perfect world, yeah, I'd kind of shrink it down a bit, get down its core."

One of the reasons why Alien Isolation's story is so long is because of how the gameplay evolved over time. In the final version of the game, the terrifying Xenomorph learns as you play, finding new ways to hunt you. In the final version, this means that the opening third of the game is significantly longer than it was during the writing process which, in turn, makes the game drag as it approaches its finale.

"The Alien really evolved as we were making it," Lay explains. "By the time it was perfect, it was like, 'Oh, wow, everything takes a lot longer!' So, it would be really nice to pair it down to its core, make it a lot shorter."


"At the time, it didn't seem that long," Lay continued. "And then you suddenly go, 'Oh my God.' So, yeah, I'd definitely shorten it, you know. But, yeah, at the time, there was some stuff where we were like: 'Yeah, we can't take that out now, that would kind of upend everything.'"

The fantastic AI of the game's Xenomorph wasn't a constant for the horror game, and that's just one of the reasons why the game is so long.
Lay says the length of Alien Isolation is a "fair criticism" for fans who feel it drags on too much in its latter third, although that criticism isn't the same for everyone. Even so, that final third has some fantastic sequences, and Lay definitely wouldn't remove all of it for the sake of a rapid pace.

"I really like the actual ending, like the last level," they continue. "I love when the ship is blowing up with explosions and running through that… it's a long game!"

 

[T-Cake]

The only part I don't like is the going outside to align the antennas for communication. All that traipsing about with nothing happening. I suppose they left that in to give you a break from all the bedlam.

 

[Tobimacoss]

I think I would prefer the smarter Xenomorph and it adapting, than a forced shorter game with dumber alien.

Also, watch Alien: Earth, awesome show.

 

[Hudo]

Well, now is the time to change things up, seeing that they're working on Alien Isolation 2.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Game was too long for its own good, he's right about that.

Also, watch Alien: Earth, awesome show.

Awesome for the YT teardowns yeah.

 

[Ar¢tos]

I think I would prefer the smarter Xenomorph and it adapting, than a forced shorter game with dumber alien.

Also, watch Alien: Earth, awesome show.

We must have seen different shows...

Little mechanical girl learns secret alien language and turns them into servants.
This after 5 or 6 movies that portrayed the aliens as impossible to tame.

As an Alien show it's complete shit, as a re-imagining of the alien universe the story is just dumb.

 

[Radical_3d]

Thread about Alien: Isolation.
Sparks a fight over Alien: Earth...

 

[Karim]

Never felt too long for me, I never understood such complaint outside to be too pussy to play it for long time. Game is not dull as Ubisoft games so the more the better.

 

[Tobimacoss]

We must have seen different shows...

Little mechanical girl learns secret alien language and turns them into servants.
This after 5 or 6 movies that portrayed the aliens as impossible to tame.

As an Alien show it's complete shit, as a re-imagining of the alien universe the story is just dumb.

Never watched Alien Resurrection? The hybrid alien thinks of Ripley as his mother, and kills the Alien Queen, shows emotions and pain when she decides to send him to outer space.

Every Xenomorph is different and can take on characteristics of the host species.
Xenomorph society structure is that of ants or bees, they're fiercely loyal to the queen, yet that one white Alien evolved beyond that. So if the new babies think of Wendy as their Queen or Mother, they will show loyalty.

P.S. I'm not discussing this further, I have only watched up to Episode 4, I finished the Last of Us Season 1 after that just yesterday, will go back to AE soon.

 

[Ar¢tos]

Never watched Alien Resurrection? The hybrid alien thinks of Ripley as his mother, and kills the Alien Queen, shows emotions and pain when she decides to send him to outer space.

Every Xenomorph is different and can take on characteristics of the host species.
Xenomorph society structure is that of ants or bees, they're fiercely loyal to the queen, yet that one white Alien evolved beyond that. So if the new babies think of Wendy as their Queen or Mother, they will show loyalty.

P.S. I'm not discussing this further, I have only watched up to Episode 4, I finished the Last of Us Season 1 after that just yesterday, will go back to AE soon.

Alien Ressurection is the biggest abomination in the alien franchise.
How low do you need to go if you are using it as a positive point?

 

[Nevermore74]

The only good Alien movies are the first and second, Alien 3 is not bad. The others are just crap.
Alien Earth is a shit show, although I've not seen it, I just don't want to torture myself.

 

[kpopSuperstar]

Never watched Alien Resurrection? The hybrid alien thinks of Ripley as his mother, and kills the Alien Queen, shows emotions and pain when she decides to send him to outer space.

Every Xenomorph is different and can take on characteristics of the host species.
Xenomorph society structure is that of ants or bees, they're fiercely loyal to the queen, yet that one white Alien evolved beyond that. So if the new babies think of Wendy as their Queen or Mother, they will show loyalty.

P.S. I'm not discussing this further, I have only watched up to Episode 4, I finished the Last of Us Season 1 after that just yesterday, will go back to AE soon.

Don't defend it, stop using bad logic to defend a horrible script. The aliens would never become pets. The cheap rubber alien suit and dumbass Wendy and her crackling alien speak is on the same level as if Frodo would fly a jetplane to Mount Doom.

 

[Radical_3d]

The only good Alien movies are the first and second, Alien 3 is not bad. The others are just crap.
Alien Earth is a shit show, although I've not seen it, I just don't want to torture myself.

Give Alien: Romulus a chance. Is not bad.

 

[Dr.D00p]

Don't like stealth games at all but it does look and run fantastic on the Steam Deck OLED.

 

[Harkonnen]

Isolation is perfect as it is. If there's a remaster one day, please don't cut anything. Time for a replay soon, it's that time of the year.

 

[Arachnid]

It was perfect the way it was.

 

[skit_data]

I really wish this game could get a 4k60fps patch or remaster for PS5. This and Bloodborne. Just a few tweaks would make them sing on current gen.

 

[Nevermore74]

Give Alien: Romulus a chance. Is not bad.

I've watched it, I agree, not bad. But not on the same level as the older classics, present Hollywood lacks quality, even Ridley Scott admits it.

 

[Radical_3d]

I've watched it, I agree, not bad. But not on the same level as the older classics, present Hollywood lacks quality, even Ridley Scott admits it.

¡Está para hablar Ridley Scott! As we say here.

 

[adamsapple]

Eh, I don't think it was that overly long.

Longer than your average Outlast game, maybe, but also a much better game, IMO.

 

[MagiusNecros]

While it seemed like the right direction at the time, the writer says that it should have been shrunk down.

Found the perfect world

 

[Deerock71]

It was perfect the way it was.

Even the small glitches were hilarious, like it's tail dragging around warning cones.

 

[Hugare]

It was perfect the way it was.

To me it was exhausting, but in a good way

I thought it was deliberate that you should feel like you've barely survived an impossible situation like that.

What an amazing game. I wouldnt change a thing.

 

[Ar¢tos]

Don't defend it, stop using bad logic to defend a horrible script. The aliens would never become pets. The cheap rubber alien suit and dumbass Wendy and her crackling alien speak is on the same level as if Frodo would fly a jetplane to Mount Doom.

I forgot about the rubber suit!
The scenes with that "alien" look like one of those cheap, shot in a single take in somebody's garage, SyFy channel productions!

 

[SpearHea.:D]

Nah it was perfect length to me, amazing amazing game.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Main writer on Isolation was Dan Abnett (yes, that Dan Abnett) and it would be more interesting to hear his thoughts on the matter, with all due respect to Lay.

To me it was not long, just the amount of story was a bit too much for a game with so little basic mechanics.

 

[Comandr]

Anyone could really say this about anything, right?

In hindsight, the worst aspect of our game could have been better, in a perfect world.

Yeah; the game is long, but that's because you spend an enormous amount of time hiding. Realistically the best thing they could do for the sequel is improve the level design and story structure so it's not- walk from one end of the station to the other repeatedly.

It's a tricky balance. The game is so good because the alien is a genuine threat. You can't hurt it and it one shots you. Upsetting that balance of power makes the alien immediately less threatening and changes the whole vibe.

Do you go the sonic route? MC can now survive one hit? So as long as you have a health pack and have more than 50% health you're essentially unkillable one time. That means if the player has a stockpile of health items they can be super aggressive and reckless because they can just keep healing.

Rather than that…

As it stands, the alien is invulnerable to any weapon. I would change this. Maybe you can't KILL the alien, but weapons DO hurt it, and would drive it away for longer periods while it heals.

Maybe if you find a gun and shoot it a bunch, it reaches its lowest health potential and leaves to find easier targets to eat and heal for an hour. This reward's the players bravery with confidently being free of the alien for some time and being able to aggressively get through the campaign or pursue other goals for a time.

I would like to see the alien quickly learning from your attacks though. Xeno doesn't know what a gun is. Charges right at you, making an easy target. Maybe the second or third time it starts intelligently avoiding coming at you from the front or trying to dodge your attacks more. This incentivizes the player to change strategies or weapon types to throw it off.

Ultimately, if the player takes too long overall, the alien will have adapted to all of the player's efforts. So you're given some breathing room, but you're encouraged not to fuck around for a long time.

Idk. Creative Assembly, if you just want to call me, I've got a zillion ideas.

As a foot note, alien earth fuckin sucked. The core premise was retarded, and nothing made any sense, and everything conflicts with the established canon. I have a laundry list of grievances that I will air another time, in another place.

 

[RCX]

Please: I can't take anyone seriously who recommends Alien Earth or Romulus (or really anything after Aliens in 1986). The more recent stuff is inane, illogical garbage for lobotomy patients.

Alien Isolation on the other hand was pretty damned good but definitely about 5-7 hours too long. I'd say that I'd like to see it adapted for film but then they'd just hand it off to the retards who made Earth and Romulus.

 

[Esppiral]

I don't understand how making the alien smarter makes the game longer shouldn't be the other way around?

 

[RAIDEN1]

The game is by far the best Alien game of all time, and ended up being better than the Alien related movies that followed it, it took Alien Romulus to set the course correctly, after the flop show that was Covenant..

 

[Johnny Concrete]

I don't understand how making the alien smarter makes the game longer shouldn't be the other way around?

If it takes more effort to avoid it, you go through the game more slowly?

 

[spookyfish]

Never watched Alien Resurrection? The hybrid alien thinks of Ripley as his mother, and kills the Alien Queen, shows emotions and pain when she decides to send him to outer space.

Every Xenomorph is different and can take on characteristics of the host species.
Xenomorph society structure is that of ants or bees, they're fiercely loyal to the queen, yet that one white Alien evolved beyond that. So if the new babies think of Wendy as their Queen or Mother, they will show loyalty.

P.S. I'm not discussing this further, I have only watched up to Episode 4, I finished the Last of Us Season 1 after that just yesterday, will go back to AE soon.

ALIEN is a haunted house horror film
ALIENS is an action horror film
ALIEN3 is a dramatic horror film
ALIEN Resurrection is a horror comedy

EDIT: On-topic -- Man, that alien ate my proverbial lunch in Isolation. Shows I would have been one of the first kills in any of the movies.

 

[JPSLotus97T]

Nah, it was the perfect length on hard when I played it for the first time.

On that difficulty with headphones and in a pitch black room, it felt like the perfect immersive experience for me.

Definitely one of the best gaming experiences I've had, and rewarding as all fuck upon completion.

 

[RJMacready73]

I never finished this game and have been itching to get back in but I had heard rumours of a remaster and possible PSVR2 version to coincide with the news of a sequel, have those rumours been quashed? If Resident Evil 7, 8 & 4 have taught me, VR is the only place to play first person horror games, it elevates them onto a whole other plane of terror that flat screen simply can't compete with and Alien Isolation in VR would be incredible, not to mention a chance to walk around the Nostromo DLC would definitely have me shelling out for this again

 

[BacklashWave534]

The only good Alien movies are the first and second, Alien 3 is not bad. The others are just crap.
Alien Earth is a shit show, although I've not seen it, I just don't want to torture myself.

Yep,it started off great. Then the Alien became an attack dog for the robot. Might as well have AI write stories because no one in Hollywood can do it anymore.

 

[bighugeguns]

Can't they leverage modern AI to make that evil fucking thing even scarier now?

No fucking way I would play that game. No way, that would legitimately pose a health risk to people, terrible idea.

Imagine a fully dynamically functional xenomorph trained to screw with you as much as possible. Total emergent horror. You could have three of them working together constantly keeping the player off balance.

Game over, man.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Replaying it right now for the third? time. I love its length and pacing. If it would've ended at the first encounter "finale" it would've been underwhelming. It was paced marvelous it gave you a sense of phew once you got rid of it, and then a few hours later, the nightmare begins again multiplied, just like the first movie.