Metacritic Score: 78-81 Here's another game that ended up relatively well-received by critics, but many gamers were simply too burned by previous poor Alien games to give this one a try, and as such they've missed out on one of the year's most surprisingly entertaining (and terrifying) titles. Sure, Alien Isolation is a little too long and some of the difficulty spikes feel a bit unfair (especially when you haven't been able to save in a while), but it's a game of pure, gut-wrenching dread like hasn't been seen in quite a while. If too many survival horror games these days make the player feel too comfortable, Isolation is the total opposite: having to spend most of the game simply fleeing from the Xenomorph, there's an overwhelming vulnerability here that keeps the pulse racing throughout. After Colonial Marines was a disappointing dud, it's not exactly surprising that some dismissed this game as another failed effort to adapt the Alien license, but the final product proves that suspense-driven gameplay seems to be the most appropriate approach.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
