Many consider Alien to be one of the best films ever made. Everything about it is just so well crafted. It feels like an art house science fiction horror film, which is a strange combination of genres, yet it works perfectly. It is one of those movies that shows that even the most potentially silly of concepts, if done well, can be elevated to something greater. While the first three Alien films are each enjoyable in their own way precisely because of how different they are from each other, there is no denying the power of the original. When transitioning to the medium of video games though, Alien has always been given the shaft. Other than a couple games released early on to capitalize on the hype, the world and tone of the first film has never been properly adapted into a video game. After Aliens, every game based on the property has been based on the world of that film. Colonial marines, pulse rifles, motion trackers, drop ships, and APCs have all been exhaustively used in nearly every Alien game. Even non-Alien based video games borrow concepts and imagery from Aliens, thats how influential it has been on the design of video games. Dont get me wrong, the world of Aliens is perfect for a video game adaptation, but it has been used so often at the expense of exploring other aspects of the Alien universe. The result is that what was once a new and original vision of the future is now derivative in its overuse. Many would agree (especially after the travesty that is Colonial Marines) that the Alien franchise needs to expand beyond the world of marines and pulse rifles if it is to remain relevant and compelling going forward. There are so many futuristic military first-person shooters that Aliens, despite having arguably given birth to this particular genre, simply gets lost in the shuffle. In order to stand out, an Alien game has to really deliver a unique and different experience, and churning out another FPS makes that more difficult. This is why Alien: Isolation is worth being excited for. It is not based on Aliens. Everything, from the design to the tone, is based on the original 1979 classic. Remember the last sequence of Alien, when it was just Ripley trying desperately to reach the Narcissus and escape the Nostromo while trying to evade the Alien? Now imagine that as a video game. The potential for a game that truly captures the feeling of Alien, of being Ripley in that terrifying situation, is just too good to pass up. It could offer gamers, both fans of the franchise and casuals, a new and fresh gaming experience. Video games like this are becoming less common, which is why I am so happy this game is being made. It is time for the world of Alien to finally get its proper video game adaption.
