Alien: Isolation (2014)

Alien: Isolation is a survival horror game released all the way back in 2014 that has stood the test of time and stands as the greatest release of its video game franchise and one of the very best genre games ever in general. It's available on multiple different platforms and still deserves to be played and appreciated to its fullest in this day and age. The story revolves around astronaut Amanda Ripley who travels to space station Sevastopol to recover the flight recorder of her mother's ship in order to discover what has happened to her. As she arrives at the space station, Amanda Ripley gets separated from her group and must find her way through different sections of the gigantic complex. In addition to recovering the flight recorder and finding the rest of her group again, she must also be prepared to fight against a mysterious invader who has taken control of the space station.

Several elements distinguish this video game from so many others of its genre. First of all, one has to mention the video game's spooky atmosphere from start to finish. Being trapped on a gigantic abandoned spaceship with a deadly enemy who could lure behind every corner develops an almost claustrophobic vibe that entertains from start to finish.

The set design are also praiseworthy. Even though the game takes place in the twenty-second century, the designs are surprisingly authentic, grounded and realistic which makes it easier to put yourself in the protagonist's place. This is an element where this game excels if compared to franchises like Mass Effect.

We obviously need to talk about the titular monster. Just by reading the title, you know that the Alien will eventually show up and present itself as a relentless menace. However, as a player, you never quite know where, when and how this is going to be happening. The artificial intelligence of this opponent is dangerous, impressive and unpredictable. You can play a specific section of the game several times and the outcomes might always slightly differ from one another. This element of surprise also adds a lot of replay value to the game. However, the titular monster certainly isn't easy to defeat as this task asks for much courage, focus and resilience.

At the end of the day, any fan of the Alien franchise, anyone who is interested in science-fiction and anyone who is intrigued by horror video games should certainly check this wonderful game out. It has stood the test of time and entertains for many hours thanks to its spooky atmosphere, flawless designs and challenging antagonist. Give this game a fair try alone and enjoy it on a rainy autumn afternoon or on a cold winter night.

Detailed rating:

Atmosphere: 10 / 10 

Challenge level: 9 /10

Controls: 7 / 10

Game flow: 9 /10

Graphics: 9 /10

Length: 10 /10

Long-term fun factor: 9 /10  

Sound: 9 /10

Soundtrack: 7 /10

Story: 8 /10

Total score: 87 / 100