Alien: Isolation has been hailed as one of the best survival horror games of all time, and after 12 long years, players are finally getting a sequel. Recently, CBR had the opportunity to preview Alien: Isolation 2 at Summer Game Fest Play Days, and so far, it looks to be delivering even more scares than the original.
During the Alien: Isolation 2 preview, we had the chance to play for the first 20 minutes and encounter the Xenomorph for the first time. Like the original, this game isn’t for the faint of heart, and it’s sure to terrify gamers when it launched.
Alien: Isolation 2’s Atmosphere Is Incredibly Chilling
Even though Alien: Isolation 2 is a sequel, gamers can easily dive in without playing the original. It’s got a brand-new cast, and the game does a great job of quickly providing some backstory.
Players start out on a dark planet where it’s raining heavily, to the point where it feels miserable and cold to move around. The rainy forest is incredibly realistic, and the graphical leap here is incredible to witness.
It wasn’t long before I headed towards an abandoned ship. Entering the ship is obviously a bad idea, but in classic horror fashion, I entered even though I knew something terrifying had to be lurking inside.
The abandoned ship feels both futuristic and retro and the same time, making it a fantastic environment to explore, even though it’s terrifying. This area also teaches players they’ll need to look out for crafting materials and collect the parts needed to power up the ship.
Alien: Isolation 2’s Xenomorph Is the Most Terrifying in the Franchise
Once the ship’s power is back on, the Xenomorph appears. Xenomorphs have been a frightening figure since they were first introduced, and there’s a reason for that. Players can’t kill the Xenomorph, even with weapons. The only way to escape it is to backtrack and climb a ladder to escape.
Of course, even running away isn’t as simple as it sounds. The Xenomorph is a ruthless killing machine that moves like a snake in the grass. It’s also large enough that it towers over the player, which is why it’s horrifying to be its prey.
The only way to escape is to return to a couple of rooms and climb the ladder. It’s not that simple, as the Xenomorph moves like a snake in the grass. That and the Alien is towering over as it stalks its prey.
Since players are no match for the Xenomorph, the only thing they can do is hide beneath tables and track its movements. The creature is smart enough to detect the slightest sound players make, especially if they sprint, so every move needs to be made with caution.
Alien: Isolation 2 needs to be played with headphones, since that’s the best way to experience its incredible audio design and track where the Xenomorph is moving. The preview ends with the player scrambling up a ladder, only to be caught by the creature anyway.
Even from those opening moments, this feels like the sequel fans have been waiting more than a decade for. It captures the exact kind of horror that made the franchise so iconic in the first place. This belongs on every horror fan’s wishlist.
Alien: Isolation 2 has no launch year yet. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
- Developer(s)
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Creative Assembly
- Publisher(s)
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Sega
- Prequel(s)
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Alien: Isolation
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown