There's something lurking in the shadows aboard the Sevastopol, something dark, terrible and...hungry.

Conclusion: An imperfect gem

Alien Isolation is a painstakingly crafted journey down a lesser-traveled road, one that’s paved with screams of terror and fear. Creative Assembly has created an incredibly vivid thriller that embellishes its source material to deliver something refreshingly unique and original.

But the game isn’t for everyone. It’s tailored for those people who can get into the dark sci-fi spirit of the original film. While my playthrough was punctuated with heart-pounding suspense, there were moments of boredom and tedium.

The game requires a sort of two-fold commitment, requiring that sort of openness that’s needed for a slower more dramatic horror movie, the kind where viewers have to be willing to imagine themselves in the situations they’re seeing.

The computer terminals helped immerse me in the plight of the crew, as it basically served as the elegy to their graves while explaining their plight.

If you can get into it and become receptive, the game can transport you to a world where alarm, panic, anxiety and dread mix together to make a deliciously satisfying brew that intoxicates players the way only a good horror movie can. That being said, Isolation is basically a one-off play that lacks replay value, so that’s something to consider before picking it up.

The Sevastopol is a remarkable backdrop for the long game of cat and mouse that is Isolation‘s campaign, lit in a sterile light that casts an almost surreal glow to every area.

It isn’t perfect, but it has achieved what it set out to do: to make a true Alien game.