Pop Culture Movies and More: Alien Isolation (Video Game 2014)

In search of answers about the disappearance of her mother: Ellen, after the incident of the Nostromo, Amanda Ripley, takes matters into her own hands in this first-person survival/horror video game. Hoping to find out what happened to her fifteen years previously, Amanda travels to Sevastopol Station, a deep-space base in orbit of a massive gas planet along with her colleagues, Samuels and Taylor, to recover the flight recorder unit of Ellen's ship. However, things are not as they seem. There, hostile synthetics and humans are the least of her worries, as a powerful adversary, an invincible Xenomorph, is lurking in the shadows, ready to strike on the slightest disturbance. Now, armed only with a flashlight, some ineffective weapons and her will to survive, Ripley has no other choice but to do everything in her power to outsmart the alien. Will she find closure, get out of the crippled base, and live to tell the tale? This is hands down one of the best games ever, especially when it comes to the Alien franchise. It feels like the first film in video game form and you are the one now surviving the horror. This game is not for the faint of heart as it has to be one of the scariest games I've played through and, despite being completely terrified, I loved it. If you're not convinced as to how scary this game is - the developers were scared when making and play testing it out. Yeah, it's THAT scary. The Xenomorph is 100% the scariest thing in this game as the A.I constantly gets smarter throughout your playthrough, making it appear as if the alien is learning like a real creature would. It doesn't help that the game's code makes it so it always knows where you are, but only the vicinity, it must then hunt you from there. Any sound you make will alert it, you can't outrun it, you can't kill it and hiding is only a temporary solution. Sounds fun doesn't it? There was one time in my personal play of the game when the alien dropped down from a vent whilst I was crouched behind a counter and it walked right up to me. As I started to back away, by some stroke of luck, it didn't see me and moved on. I can tell you now my heart was pounding! I have put that encounter down below as a video you can watch. This game also looks phenomenal with some stunning visuals, which I have to say is kind of amazing for a 2014 game as it looks like it was released today. All the characters are really investing and props to all the voice actors who brought this game to life because although the visuals and gameplay are big criteria in the gaming world, the story and characters are just as important. I love the story of seeing Amanda take off to space searching for her mother and her development over the course of this adventure is a truly thrilling experience. The location, Sevastopol Station, feels like it fits right into the franchise having that 70s/80s sci-fi feel to it which I am a huge fan of and this nailed it. It makes for some great exploration and setting with parts being pristine and clean to damaged and wrecked. Set between the events of the films: Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986) this game is an amazing addition which puts you in the shoes of Ripley's daughter, Amanda, letting you take control and technically engage in your own story in this universe. I would highly recommend watching the first two films before playing this game as the second film introduces us to Amanda in the special edition and is then a good bridge to go on to play this game and see what she did and the attempts to find her lost mother. It also gives you a good idea as to how the alien universe works and sees a peak into the evolution of the world's advancements during the 57 years of Ripley's disappearance. Overall, this is a must-play for fans of the films. If you are unable to play it, you should certainly check out a full gameplay walkthrough, like the one I linked below and you can watch it like a very long film. Alien Isolation is truly a gaming masterpiece that is sure to have you jumping at every sound and movement. If your heart isn't racing then there must be something wrong! Definitely, a game to play during the Halloween season.