P4

P4 Learners produce a review after testing a computer/ console game.


Alien Isolation

A) genre

Alien Isolation is a first person survival horror game that focuses on stealth and hiding. The way the game has put its own spin within the survival horror genre is done really well adding some new elements to the genre which cant be found in other games of the genre the game doesn't have to be all hiding in a closet for hours wondering if there is something outside in Isolation you know the presence of the alien whether its in front of you or at a distance which skips out all the guessing of is the monster there or not which you have to do with most games.

B) narrative/story line

The story follows straight out of Ridley Scott's Alien universe as you play as Amanda Ripley the daughter of Ellen Ripley the protagonist of the series. You want answers to why your mother is gone and what has happened to her so after she is offered the chance at some answers she jumps at the chance. I think the whole push off for the story is good and pretty convincing. After a few mishaps along the story you end up in the main area of the game an abandoned space station. The setting of the space station is good the whole environment does feel abandoned and as if something has happened so it does manage to convey an atmosphere of mystery within the environment.  It does take some time for the Alien to show up and be introduced which feels a bit long and dragged out but you do begin to let your guard down when playing the game only to have it raised up by a million once you have your first encounter with the Alien. As soon as the Alien shows up the game really does begin the AI for the Alien is done incredibly well and the movement is a mirror to the original 1979 Alien.  The environment of the game is also straight out of the original Alien with the DOS- based computers and CRT monitors all bring back some nostalgia of that 80s futuristic look.

C) characters

Amanda Ripley is a good protagonist for the game. Her reasoning for where she is and whats she is doing is believable and seems realistic. Her character seems to adapt well throughout the game at the start being very afraid and shocked by the Alien and near the end having a hatred for the Alien and wanting to kill it which I thought worked pretty well for development of her character especially after she finds out that the Aliens are the reason for her death.



Xenomorph,  The Alien is a great main antagonist for the game as it already has history that people know about from the films and such so you know what to expect an apex predator that has an aspect of stealth and a good set of weaponry. When playing the game you do really feel on edge tip toeing around the space station not knowing if it is safe or if you are going to become a human kebab around the next corner.  



D) platforms

Alien Isolation can be found on all major consoles including PlayStation 4 and Xbox One the game can also be played on a PC. I think its a big plus for the game to be released on a large amount of different platforms as more people get to play and enjoy the experience of the game.

E) game play

The game play for Alien Isolation for the most part is fantastic all movement and mechanics work really well and as intended. The different routes you can take such as through vents or under floor grates works really well to create a more believable environment for you to pass through and explore.

The weapons you get throughout the game work well apart from I feel that most of the guns you find such as the pistol and shotgun to feel a bit useless. This is because the Alien basically has God mode and cant be killed with your flimsy weapons and so the only thing you can use them on is Androids and other people and throughout the game there are not a lot of the other enemies and the ones that do appear can easily be passed with a bit of sneaking. I feel they could have removed the guns and attempted to add more stealth elements to the game. The fact that the Alien cant be killed with your weapons is a good thing to me as otherwise it gets rid of all the tension and suspense of the big killer Alien if you could just put two shotgun shells in it and keep walking. The Alien can be scared off and deterred with the use of fire which I think works well as it would get pretty annoying if every time you came face to face with it you just knew you were done for.

F) Target audience 

    

The target audience for the game will definitely enjoy this game. What the game lacks and what the game does a bit wrong I don't think will affect fans of the genre. People who enjoy the past Alien movies will definitely have a love for this game  as it is as if it is straight out of the Aliens movie world. 

G) Overall review

So in conclusion a kinda strong story with some few drawn out sequences at the start that becomes a great story for survival for the rest of the game. A very strong set of characters that may the game what is is and really intensify the atmosphere and emotion of the game.  A wide choice of platforms to play the game so no excuses fore not being able to play the game. Brilliant interactive game play with a few elements of shooting but a lot of heavy based stealth. If you are a fan of the survival horror genre or a sci-fi/ Alien fan this is a definite pick up. 

Graphics: 8/10

Gameplay: 9/10

Story: 7.5/10

Overall: 8.5/10