Alien: Isolation was one of the hot games at the recent E3 expo. We saw a new trailer, screenshots and game details come out at the entertainment show. Since then one of the lead game designers, from developer Creative Assembly, has talked in more detail about the game on a YouTube video channel, the Angry Joe Show.
Game designer Garry Napper told Joe that the development team has been working quietly on this title for around three years. Meanwhile people have been twittering on about how much they would like to play an Alien title with the atmosphere, dread and horror embodied by the original film.
An interesting mechanic is discussed where the play hides in a locker as the alien prowls an area – your character can actually hold their breath for a short time. Also Napper talks about the 'old tech' in the game where all the gadgetry is influenced by the old-style bulky 1979 futurism of the original film. For instance the famous handheld tracker device is only 2D and so must be pointed around to check in other directions/dimensions for the threatening alien. You will also encounter other human and synthetic NPCs in the game but Napper points out that you could play the whole game through without killing anyone/thing at all.
Overall the game is said to give players about 15 hours of gameplay in its linear playthrough. However there is a lot of extra things a player can discover and explore if they choose to play the game in a more considered way.
VR fans will be happy to know that Alien: Isolation is being developed with the Oculus Rift headset in mind and if it isn't scary enough on a monitor in a dark room then this level of immersion will really have you stressed out – in an enjoyable escapist pastime kind of way. Check out the reaction of one of the ShackNews reporters at E3 last week (see video below).
Alien: Isolation is scheduled to be released on 7th October on the PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
