ALIEN: ISOLATION 2 DEMO AT TUBI FRIGHTFEST OFFERS A PREVIEW OF ANOTHER ALIEN CLASSIC
The original ALIEN: ISOLATION game from 2014 proved to be one of the best games in the entire ALIEN franchise, offering a suspenseful and invigorating experience in which you have to hide from a Xenomorph, using all your wits not to get caught. Over a decade after the game arrived to strong reviews, publisher Sega and developer Creative Assembly have once again joined forces for the sequel, ALIEN: ISOLATION 2, which was playable at this year’s FrightFest, with Sega and Creative Assembly both serving as sponsors for the event. And attendees were thrilled to be able to play the demo, having a great time with what will no doubt be a great game.
The demo starts off on a mysterious, forested planet, in the middle of the night. Playing as a female Weyland-Yutani Blake employee named Blake, you need to navigate the unfamiliar landscape to reach a downed spacecraft in search of survivors. When you get to the ship and make your way inside, you will find yourself being hunted by a vicious Xenomorph, and only skilled players will make it out alive. The demo only lasts for thirty minutes, but you will still die a large number of times before your playtime is up. Like the first game, ALIEN: ISOLATION 2 heavily focuses on stealth mechanics, and you will need to sneak around and hide behind just about anything you can find to avoid being killed. Creative Assembly have absolutely captured the sense of hopelessness a human being would experience when they encounter a Xenomorph, since there really is no chance of physically defeating such an immensely powerful beast. As with the first game, the feelings of tension and suspense are palpable, since you need to carefully plan out every single step you take in order to avoid being killed. This is a game which takes a great deal of intelligence to master, due to the endless mental planning needed to navigate the areas while avoiding the Xenomorph, making it all the more rewarding when you reach your goal without getting killed. Since just one wrong move can result in a Xenomorph tail sticking out of your abdomen, you really cannot afford to make mistakes when you play ALIEN: ISOLATION. And be ready to die a great deal of times before reaching the end credits.
Visually, ALIEN: ISOLATION 2 is a stunning game, with everything from glistening raindrops battering the outside of the forest world to the polished surfaces inside the ship all being shown in great detail. And the sound design is also as excellent as you would expect, and the Xenomorph’s cries sound as bone-chilling as ever. You will need to be as quiet as a mouse in order to avoid being attacked by it, and your heart will start racing uncontrollably if you start to run and realise that you have made too much noise. Even the tiniest sound can draw the beast’s attention, so players really will need to be as careful as possible to avoid being loud, and the incredible sound design will no doubt make you aware whenever you are old enough to draw it close. Every aspect of the game is designed to complement the stealth elements, so be ready to die a great deal of times while also enjoying the great visuals and sound design.
Throughout the thirty minutes of ALIEN: ISOLATION 2 which could be played at FrightFest, it became clear that Sega and Creative Assembly already have another winner on their hands. Judging from the demo, it seems safe to assume that ALIEN: ISOLATION 2 will be a truly special game which ALIEN fans will cherish.
DAVID GELMINI