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LTTP: Alien Isolation (PS3) 2014

EverydayBeast

ChatGPT 0.1
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Somehow I skipped over Alien Isolation and it's gotta be one of the toughest games I ever played, the constant threat from the Aliens, the working joes, the game is 10 years old and doesn't show it, I wished I played it at launch.

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Sevastopol is BIG, it's a space station that revolves around looting, surviving the situation with enemies in the room and you can't move to fast or you'll die. If I have to critique this Sevastopol is it feels like a maze, I think my problem occurred during the second half of the game right before the reactors, I saw corridors that looked the same, some areas of the ship just didn't make any sense. Yes the ship does have maps to help you navigate it, and I give them credit on all the detailed points. Now the ship does have soul to it, particularly the 80's inspired terminals, the hacking mechanisms etc. but I'd have Sevastopol below a level, with USG Ishimura from Dead Space, and the Rapture from Bioshock being levels above.

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You have these 80's inspired computers scattered everywhere that reference the Alien movie, provide utilities and audio on the story.

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Weapon wheel from Alien Isolation, you have to take time to build things like medkits, and noisemakers.

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In terms of expressing yourself through tools, you have a radar that senses the alien. The sensor isn't apart of the flagship weapon wheel and just requires you to press R1 so it's considered an essential tool.

The plot is simple, you're essentially escaping the space station. There's opportunity to save allies, blowing up alien hives by overheating reactors, and there's evidence of a real story here, when you go to terminals you have available briefings about the space station and how it's being decommissioned, or how the specimen got onboard. It seems like a sequel to the movie Alien which is crazy, I think Nostromo (The Ship from Alien) was mentioned many times. You're the daughter of space commander Ripley, you need to get a flight recorder from the Sevastopol space station that is under attack from the Alien, a race that exists to destroy humans. Other than that Alien villain, a guy that stalks you throughout, the other enemies are the space station's employees, just one shot kill them, and there's back stabbing kind of things from your allies.

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Save points, another donk, I think you should be able to save from the pause menu like Mass Effect, this puts more tension and fear into every chapter, think about saving with half health and no ammo and trying to advance further without those things. Oh brother.

Alien isolation shows flashes of greatness (Metacritic 79), and resembles an Elon Musk space fantasy, but sometimes the hacking through doors, the time spent finding the right way to the next objective get's in the games own way that said it's a classic first person shooter horror game that I would gladly go back and play and so I would encourage everyone to go buy Alien Isolation.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
I'm glad you finally got to play the game, but the PS3 version is probably the last one you should be playing. If you have a PS4/PS5, you have the much better PS4 version at your disposal.

Or if you have an Xbox, that version supports 60fps, and the PC requirements aren't all that high either.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
The Switch version is actually the best console version when it comes to visuals



Switch: TAA
Xbox: 60fps

They both have trade-offs, but I think most would probably go for the 60fps.

PS4 is the only one that's left in the dust and never got any improvements.
 

Diseased Yak

Gold Member
I have this in my Steam library but haven't played it. My main worry isn't the tension, that sounds bad ass, but I'm just assuming (perhaps very wrongly) that the game is nothing but trial and error, pathing things out by repeated deaths until you make it to the next save point, rinse repeat.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I really should just fire it up and find out.
 

diffusionx

Gold Member
I have this in my Steam library but haven't played it. My main worry isn't the tension, that sounds bad ass, but I'm just assuming (perhaps very wrongly) that the game is nothing but trial and error, pathing things out by repeated deaths until you make it to the next save point, rinse repeat.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I really should just fire it up and find out.
Like many horror games, if this is how you want to play it, you can play it that way, but it doesn't have to be.
 

EverydayBeast

ChatGPT 0.1
I have this in my Steam library but haven't played it. My main worry isn't the tension, that sounds bad ass, but I'm just assuming (perhaps very wrongly) that the game is nothing but trial and error, pathing things out by repeated deaths until you make it to the next save point, rinse repeat.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I really should just fire it up and find out.
Some parts are designed set pieces and maybe there’s trial and error but the alien meddling with you sets the tone, you will go into rooms crouching because you’re too scared to alert enemies. Some parts of rough during the middle area and has its issues but play it!
 

bundylove

Member
I have this in my Steam library but haven't played it. My main worry isn't the tension, that sounds bad ass, but I'm just assuming (perhaps very wrongly) that the game is nothing but trial and error, pathing things out by repeated deaths until you make it to the next save point, rinse repeat.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I really should just fire it up and find out.
its nit trial and error as the alien is all iver the place but is somewhat predictable.
You cant rush in this game but you also have tools and gadgets to distract or to lure the alien to enemies.
Once you get the flame thrower it becomes much easier.
I played it on hard and didnt find it difficult.

To be frank , most people have to make it to chapter 5 before it clicks.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
its nit trial and error as the alien is all iver the place but is somewhat predictable.
You cant rush in this game but you also have tools and gadgets to distract or to lure the alien to enemies.
Once you get the flame thrower it becomes much easier.
I played it on hard and didnt find it difficult.

To be frank , most people have to make it to chapter 5 before it clicks.


Yea, wouldn't call this trial and error, if you're dying, it's because you're mostly doing something that attracts the AI, like sprinting when the Alien is nearby, or repeatedly using the same hiding spot over and over. The alien gets smart to it after a bit.
 
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bundylove

Member
Yea, wouldn't call this trial and error, if you're dying, it's because you're mostly doing something that attracts the AI, like sprinting when the Alien is nearby, or repeatedly using the same hiding spot over and over. The alien gets smart to it after a bit.
Not sure if i remember correctly but wasnt there a mic option where you had to be quite once he was searching for you?
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Not sure if i remember correctly but wasnt there a mic option where you had to be quite once he was searching for you?

Correct, it has optional mic support and the game can detect you making sounds and lure the Alien to it. I think it works with USB Mic's on all devices but also for Kinect owners, the Kienct mic would also work.

I don't know why I would want to put that extra strain on myself but it's there for those who want it.
 
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bundylove

Member
Correct, it has optional mic support and the game can detect you making sounds and lure the Alien to it. I think it works with USB Mic's on all devices but also for Kinect owners, the Kienct mic would also work.

I don't know why I would want to put that extra strain on myself but it's there for those who want it.
Cuz when you hide in the closet in the game and from all the tension you let one ripp and then get killed, thats comedy gold right there
 

bundylove

Member
I feel nothing, however I do find your dedicated fanboyism equally hilarious, embarrassing but most importantly, entertaining :messenger_beaming:
But he is a fanboy with respect and not a rikhy vrr nutcase. Or there were many others when i was around even before adams was a member that were bat shit crazy.

And he or she, hell do i know , in my mind just wanted to promote the best version on console.

60fps is not a must but it helps.
 

maxwell247

Member
Somewhere in August 2015or 2016, I brought my old ps3 with bunch of games to a countryside estate of my friends. We had an old CRT widescreen tv, drinks and snacks and few spare evenings ahead of us. We sat in front of TV and someone said - oh, you have Alien Isolation on the disc, let's try that one. And after that we played the whole thing in 2 sittings. The atmosphere was so intense and story was interesting to follow. I was waiting for the sequel ever since. One of the best games I ever played.
 
Cheers on being late to the party too, OP. I also slept on Isolation for years. I'm actually glad I did. Experiencing it for the first time this past October was an extremely refreshing experience. The FPS boost on XSX was a great way to experience the game for the first time.

I love how the game makes you earn your full arsenal and by the last chapters you can actually defend yourself against multiple threats. The art direction is true to Alien and the atmosphere is incredible throughout the entirety of the game. I'm looking forward to what they bring with the sequel.
 

sloppyjoe_gamer

Gold Member
I messed with it but havent gotten too far......i got to the area where you have to avoid the humans to find some part you need to fix the elevator decoder handheld thing, but there's no radar to give you any idea where the humans are and you only have to go on sound which i guess maybe is the point, but i could never find a good time to move without always being seen and shot dead
 

Arsic

Loves his juicy stink trail scent
With the announcement of the sequel I tried this out on PC since it was on sale the other day. I couldn’t get into it at all. It was extremely slow pace, and not engaging at all. I also hate that you can’t turn off the character wobbling when they walk.

I think I was two hours in and still had not seen an alien.
 

jason10mm

Gold Member
I forget how far i got but I rage quit when the damned androids mobbed me. WHY GIVE ME A PISTOL IF IT WONT SMOKE THOSE SYNTHETIC BASTARDS!!!! I need to fire it back up, not sure how easy it is to jump back in.
 

Zuzu

Member
I finished it for the first time recently and it’s in my top 2 best survival horror games ever made along with Resident Evil 2 Remake. Resident Evil 4 Remake and Dead Space 2 are probably better but I consider them action games with horror elements rather than true survival horror games.

It stands alongside the original movie as the best representation of the Alien universe. The biggest downside of the game is the poorly structured story which doesn’t end up being interesting (and neither are the characters).
 
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