10 Hidden Video Game Mechanics That Will Blow Your Mind
3. This Xenomorph Has Two Brains - Alien: Isolation
The thing that separates the Xenomorph from Alien: Isolation from other monsters in horror games is its ability to learn from the player's actions and use that information while hunting them down.
The way in which the game accomplishes this is actually quite surprising. The Xenomorph is controlled by not one but two AIs that work together when chasing the player. The first AI is programmed to know where the player is at all times but isn't in direct charge of the Xenomorph. The second AI controls where the Xenomorph is going but doesn't have any information regarding the player.
In order to simulate the Xenomorph learning from and adapting to your behavior, the first AI feeds small pieces of information about your location and movement to the second AI. The clues are small enough to not sell you out immediately, but they are still enough for the second "brain" to be able to effectively search for you.
In other words, if that nasty acid-spilling alien ever pissed you off by finding you way too easily, just remember that it wouldn't have been able to do it without its big brother's help.