Alien: Isolation – does it bring the scares?

Alien: Isolation is due to be released for the PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 on 7 October 2014.

The game’s build up has, at the very least, captivated my attention with its short, thriller-style gameplay trailers and looks to embody the fear induced by the movie it was based on.

Now that the critics have had a go, though, does Alien: Isolation deliver? Let’s find out.

First up is the game’s Metacritic score across the various platforms, which shows that the game hasn’t done badly at all.

Alien: Isolation – Metacritic Score
Platform	Score
PC	79
PS4	79
PS3	N/A
Xbox One	76
Xbox 360	N/A

The experts had quite a bit to say – with the critical reception quite mixed, ranging from average to great.

IGN – 5.9/10 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

It may seem strange to complain that a game’s too long, but when the genuine scares of being hunted by an unstoppable predator are so diluted by repetition and padding, Isolation’s epic length really does work against it. Someday, someone is going to make an incredible Alien video game that checks every box. But, sadly, Isolation is not it.

Gamespot – 6/10 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

Alien: Isolation provides us a glimpse into a future that holds the Alien game you’ve always wanted. It is not, however, the vessel that carries you there. This is four hours’ worth of a great idea stretched into 14-plus hours of messy stealth gameplay, creaky video game cliches, and limp exploration.

GamesRadar – 4.5/5 (PS4)

Deep, intelligent, intense, and utterly unlike any experience before it, Alien: Isolation presents all that’s truly great about AAA, and also its evolution. If you truly embrace it, then during its most powerful moments, Alien: Isolation will probably make you feel more alive than a video game has in years.

Eurogamer – 8/10 (PS4)

A shorter, sharper campaign would condense the high points more potently, and some better characterisation would make the plot twists hit harder. But if you’re looking for a game that really sinks its teeth into what makes this iconic movie monster endure, look no further.

Kotaku – Yes

Often in horror games, I find myself averting my gaze from the thing that terrorizes me. It’s too scary, too gross, too horrifying. In Alien: Isolation, I found myself behaving more like Ripley—if I kept my eyes on the monster, at least I’d know where it was. That was my only advantage, and I refused to give it up. It was when I couldn’t see the alien that I felt truly frightened.

Polygon – 6.5/10 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

In the process of contriving story twists and turns to support this spectacle, Alien: Isolation ruins the unique focus of its premise and moves away from the inspiration of the first film. It becomes something depressingly predictable for fans of the property who have been hurt again and again by underwhelming video game representations. Alien: Isolation isn’t the worst Alien game, but thanks to its unrealized potential, it just might be the most disappointing.

Who of you are going to be getting Alien: Isolation? Let us know in the comments and forum.