Alien: Isolation - 10 Ways To Create The Perfect Experience

4. The Awaiting Threat Of Weyland-Yutani

Beyond chest-bursting and acidic blood, one plot element of the Aliens' franchise which will appear almost no matter what the story is about is the malevolent obsessions of Weyland-Yutani. Along with the first three films, the Aliens vs. Predator video games, and the trilogy of novels by Steve Perry all focus on efforts by the company (or other rogue human organisations) to use as bio-weapons and betray the heroes. Despite being used to the point of predictability, it has developed to become a core staple of the franchise and a reminder of the dark nature of the Aliens universe, and it has a chance to shine through here. Early information has already confirmed the identity of a figure known as Samuels. Approaching Amanda Ripley he confirms that he works for "the company" and attempts to recruit her with promises of "shutting the book" on her mother's fate; primarily by retrieving the Nostramo's black box, which has ended up on Sevastopol. Combined with an early promotional shot of the character and the fact Ripley is now working as an employee of Weyland-Yutani, and the story is ripe for a possible betrayal. With Samuels possibly operating out of his own initiative or on orders, the constant threat of him backstabbing the player would be another element they would need to be thinking about. Depending upon his role he could prove to be a major threat similar to that of Big Boss in the original Metal Gear. Even as Samuels seems to be talking you through a level or how to survive, he could be providing unreliable or outright false information to draw the xenomorph into a trap at the cost of Amanda's life. Even if Samuels himself proves to be reliable, there is still the possibility for the company to arrive or maintain some presence upon the station, concerned with capturing the xenomorph and silencing survivors. It would help to provide a dynamic gameplay shift in the Alien: Isolation's last few hours and perhaps even change the role of the alien, with the player having to draw it into groups of hired mercenaries blocking their escape.