Alien: Isolation had a lot to live up to. Not only because it was an Aliens game, which already has some of the most die-hard fans around, but also because the previous Aliens game, Colonial Marines, managed in one fell swoop to shatter what little faith we had left in the triple-A industry. Fortunately, Isolation is everything that Colonial Marines shouldve been, but wasnt. The spaceship is entirely built out of tight corridors and small rooms, so the claustrophobia is very real which only intensifies the panic of hiding under a table, heart in mouth, while an Alien shuffles around not ten metres away. As youd expect, the game properly shines (and becomes its scariest) during those sections where the Alien decides its hungry. Any horror game which has you constantly looking upwards in fear of getting your brain chewed off is probably doing something right. And when its not skittering through the vents, its out in the open so you have to anxiously keep an eye on the motion sensor, as well as whats around you, lest your journey into hell be unceremoniously ended by a claw through the back. Although sometimes a bit slow, theres no limit to the amount of tension that Isolation builds making is one of the most nerve-wracking and scariest experiences of recent years.
