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Alien: Isolation

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Maximilian said:
Professional reviews are worthless IMO.
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just read the negative ones.

nobody pays to get a negative review, so you'll know what the bad is, and everything which isn't bad, you can assume you already got it from the marketing hype.

(makes sense?)

edit:
have been reading some reviews, and they are not that great. essentially, the premise of the game is great, but as it drags on for much longer than the demo (read: the concept) it turns from engrossing to boring.
 
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Anyone played it yet? I'm downloading it now.

I was waiting for release day to purchase it to make sure that it wasn't a total clusterf*** like the last Alien game.
 
DigDog said:
just read the negative ones.

nobody pays to get a negative review, so you'll know what the bad is, and everything which isn't bad, you can assume you already got it from the marketing hype.

(makes sense?)

edit:
have been reading some reviews, and they are not that great. essentially, the premise of the game is great, but as it drags on for much longer than the demo (read: the concept) it turns from engrossing to boring.
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That's a poor perspective to have and did you ever consider the other side of the coin. Some places might actually hold it against a game that they didn't get "sponsorship" money from it. Trashing a AAA game is great way to say "pay up next time".

The two biggest problems with your last statement is that I am sure a lot of people would rather see a game stretch itself on plot, rather then give us 6 hour rushed plot, or a 6-8 hour plot padded with 18 different collectables needed to get all the achievements and or full ending. The other is the 20-25 hours rushed. If I died 100 times in one day of playing the game I'd get pissed too. I don't think this game is made for rushing through the plot (I mean it's a stealth game for starters). It's probably intended to be spliced up into 1-2 hours spurts at the end of a night like a television show. These rush jobs on easy to get the game done for a review is going to destroy the tension.
 
This is a must have for me. Reviews will make me decide if I get it imediately or wait for price drops.

Still working on Watch Dogs .... ya, I know.
 
I played the first 3 hours last night and loved it. They really nailed the atmosphere. Ran smooth as silk maxed out, too.
 
davie jambo said:
Is it a walking simulator then ? Bought it last night but I've yet to play it
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No not a walking simulator. 3 or so hours in and I am really only just now needing to crouch walk to most places. But overall your a really active person. It might be worse in area's the Alien has free reign though. I love the pacing so far very slow release the hounds on the alien, a jump scare here, a real scare there, a panic moment in there someone where and a close call. But 3 hours in and I am more worried that I just haven't triggered the Alien yet and less signs that she is stalking me.

Heck one time I was so scared of the Alien being triggered that I missed an android on the ground, when my body stopped I panicked that it was the alien looked at my feet expecting the tail to be protruding through my stomach. Then saw the android's hands around my ankles. My health was too low and didn't notice it so he ends up killing me. But it's like the perfect tension the Alien is by far the most scary thing and just knowing its out there takes so much of my attention that I miss the little things.
 
Topweasel said:
No not a walking simulator. 3 or so hours in and I am really only just now needing to crouch walk to most places. But overall your a really active person. It might be worse in area's the Alien has free reign though. I love the pacing so far very slow release the hounds on the alien, a jump scare here, a real scare there, a panic moment in there someone where and a close call. But 3 hours in and I am more worried that I just haven't triggered the Alien yet and less signs that she is stalking me.

Heck one time I was so scared of the Alien being triggered that I missed an android on the ground, when my body stopped I panicked that it was the alien looked at my feet expecting the tail to be protruding through my stomach. Then saw the android's hands around my ankles. My health was too low and didn't notice it so he ends up killing me. But it's like the perfect tension the Alien is by far the most scary thing and just knowing its out there takes so much of my attention that I miss the little things.
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Sounds like this game is going to be pretty good.

I can't wait for the DL to finish.
 
Couple reviews that sum it up the best:

The Escapist

The beautiful thing about this experience is how it's consistently emergent. Very rarely do scripted scares ever occur. In one particular location, I stumbled upon a group of survivors blocking my path. I decided to throw a noisemaker into their midst, and watched as they panicked around it. I then hid in a closet and looked out through the viewing slots, just in time to see the Alien charging across the corridor in front of me. From offscreen, I heard gunshots and screams as the humans were slaughtered - all except one woman, who stumbled backwards in front of my viewing slot, firing offscreen, before the Xenomorph leaped back into view and murdered her. It was like something you'd see scripted in a film, but it's just how the game naturally played out, and it's full of moments like that.
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Destructoid

The smoke, the details of particles in the air, the equipment -- the art team went above and beyond here. I love just walking around taking in the sights because it feels so authentic, like you are a part of the universe. On higher-end platforms the detail shines even more -- we've progressed to the point where you can clearly see writing on small objects like calendars and notes, all of which add to the magic. Tiny things like notes and audio logs from PCs are also a nice touch. Yes, the atmosphere and tension holds up throughout the entire game.

If you're worried about the game being all jump scares -- don't be. Isolation has its fair share of jumps, but it gets off on building its tension with a steady pace. Whether it's chilling bits of the game's soundtrack or classic horror movie sounds, odds are you'll be feeling a bit on edge the entire time. As previously mentioned, the atmosphere is incredible, and the ominous art direction keeps you guessing throughout. Playing in the dark with surround-enabled headphones only amplifies the experience.
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I went with this over Shadows of Mordor, very close, but happy with the choice.
 
I was going to play this and give my thoughts, but Shadow of Mordor kinda crept up on me instead and I'm gonna have to wait until I've finished that one before starting this. 😛
 
WiseUp216 said:
That's odd... I've been killed by an alien twice but haven't seen any androids, yet.
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Okay maybe my fears are founded and I just haven't triggered the Alien yet. It's been pretty obvious to me that my current run-ins have just been the scripted ones.

Unless your deaths where from the one time that you go back to the room where you find the cracking tool and the Alien is killing all the people that the chick brought to the room. I was super careful there. That might be the only time I got the feeling that the Alien might come after me if I wasn't careful.
 
There are several youtubers showing some tard function in-game. If you're hiding in a locker there are several instances where the AI breaks. The alien, who was otherwise oblivious to you and walking away, will inexplicably turn around at times and race right for your locker and kill you.

Other major complaints are the flagpole syndrome where the save point system has you doing several things over again repeatedly because of the AI issue, compounding the irritation.

The last of the major complaints that I've seen involve a mechanic about 2/3rds the way through the game that make it seem like the ending was rushed or careless.
The end apparently involves hostile androids but seems to take away from the atmosphere the game so carefully crafted -as if being careful and quiet and intentional the first part of the game was all for nothing. Many streamers / youtubers commenting on this seem to be pulled out of the immersion by this gameplay mechanic. The weapons don't do anything to the alien, either, save one that simply scares the alien off for a short time.
 
ThinClient said:
There are several youtubers showing some tard function in-game. If you're hiding in a locker there are several instances where the AI breaks. The alien, who was otherwise oblivious to you and walking away, will inexplicably turn around at times and race right for your locker and kill you.
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When you come out you make some noise if it's close enough to hear it, then it makes sense it would come rushing for you. I have yet to run into this so I'll refrain from assuming its one way or the other.

Other major complaints are the flagpole syndrome where the save point system has you doing several things over again repeatedly because of the AI issue, compounding the irritation.
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Depends on how big of an issue the AI system is. The save system is pretty clearly laid out. You A.) should know you will die a lot and B.) know that you can't save very often. While I admit dealing with bugged deaths shouldn't happen and hopefully don't happen very often. If you can't deal with redoing work because of a death, even if you felt that you weren't responsible for the death, then this probably was never going to be the game to get.
 
Topweasel said:
When you come out you make some noise if it's close enough to hear it, then it makes sense it would come rushing for you. I have yet to run into this so I'll refrain from assuming its one way or the other.
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Nah, the sentiment was levied against situations where the player isn't moving at all, is just sitting there in the locker watching the alien walk away.

Depends on how big of an issue the AI system is. The save system is pretty clearly laid out. You A.) should know you will die a lot and B.) know that you can't save very often. While I admit dealing with bugged deaths shouldn't happen and hopefully don't happen very often. If you can't deal with redoing work because of a death, even if you felt that you weren't responsible for the death, then this probably was never going to be the game to get.
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The impression that I got was that these streamers were saying that it happens enough to drive them into actual anger. I know that's not saying much for gamers, but still 😛

However, as with any review (that's almost guaranteed to be paid if it's pre-release), I take it with a grain of salt and I watch for my standard review clique to comment on it, like Total Biscuit or Scott Manley, along with the rest of my real-world gaming peeps.
 
ThinClient said:
The impression that I got was that these streamers were saying that it happens enough to drive them into actual anger. I know that's not saying much for gamers, but still 😛
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The better they think they are the worse they react to a negative outcome that isn't there fault and lots of times completely ignoring the early steps that their hubris could have avoided the situation.

Again not far enough to judge for myself. The fact that I am playing on hard, yet have the reaction skills of a turtle means I'll probably write off most deaths as my fault. But I'll say this I have died 8+ times to androids, 0 to an Alien. Apparently there were opportunities for her to kill me.
 
True, true. I'm going to give this one a try since it's part of my favorite franchise.

And yes, I'll be playing on hard first time around too 😀
 
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