After having watched a few walkthroughs of this game, I decided to actually try it myself, ignorant of the backstory that tied in with the old Alien movies from the '70s. My first run-through was on medium difficulty as I didn't know whether it would be diabolically perverse or just a cakewalk

For a horror/survival styled game they got the gameplay half right, but half wrong. The survival aspect was created perfectly - you try to escape a derelict space station - with few allies and guidance, while avoiding the remaining human inhabitants and a somewhat elusive creature who feasts on whatever it senses. This feeling of helplessness is perpetuated throughout the game; despite being able to wield multiple weapons and use an expansive arsenal of gadgets, you never feel at ease wandering through the non-linear, fear-inducing labyrinths that the station holds.

The horror aspect, on the other hand, was incorrectly set out, with a few redeeming factors. Towards the early stages of the game the alien's prescence puts you on edge, but after encounters become common the genuine fear becomes more and more lacklustre. That, in conjunction with the ability to use a flamethrower to temporarily fend off the alien, makes it more of a nuisance than a ghastly, ravenous monster. The AI of the alien, however, is well-engineered, making encounters optimised to counter your style of play. Along with those mechanics, the visual impact the game puts on you is outstanding. Meticulous detail to each room and the dark eerie atmosphere certainly invokes a sense of tentativeness.

Overall, an excellent, visually appealing game that, despite having some disappointing gameplay elements, is made up for by the extraordinary mechanics and impeccable survival aspect. Playing this game has to be in a specific manner - stealthy play with a few tactical approaches to enemies will prove to be very rewarding, whereas a trigger-happy rushing play-style will get you eviscerated by the alien countless times.

8/10

After having watched a few walkthroughs of this game, I decided to actually try it myself, ignorant of the backstory that tied in with the old Alien movies from the '70s. My first run-through was on medium difficulty as I didn't know whether it would be diabolically perverse or just a cakewalk For a horror/survival styled game they got the gameplay half right, but half wrong. The survival aspect was created perfectly - you try to escape a derelict space station - with few allies and guidance, while avoiding the remaining human inhabitants and a somewhat elusive creature who feasts on whatever it senses. This feeling of helplessness is perpetuated throughout the game; despite being able to wield multiple weapons and use an expansive arsenal of gadgets, you never feel at ease wandering through the non-linear, fear-inducing labyrinths that the station holds. The horror aspect, on the other hand, was incorrectly set out, with a few redeeming factors. Towards the early stages of the game the alien's prescence puts you on edge, but after encounters become common the genuine fear becomes more and more lacklustre. That, in conjunction with the ability to use a flamethrower to temporarily fend off the alien, makes it more of a nuisance than a ghastly, ravenous monster. The AI of the alien, however, is well-engineered, making encounters optimised to counter your style of play. Along with those mechanics, the visual impact the game puts on you is outstanding. Meticulous detail to each room and the dark eerie atmosphere certainly invokes a sense of tentativeness. Overall, an excellent, visually appealing game that, despite having some disappointing gameplay elements, is made up for by the extraordinary mechanics and impeccable survival aspect. Playing this game has to be in a specific manner - stealthy play with a few tactical approaches to enemies will prove to be very rewarding, whereas a trigger-happy rushing play-style will get you eviscerated by the alien countless times. 8/10