Journal: Alien Isolation

When I attended the University of Utah I wrote brief journals about games I was playing that week. The reason I did this was to give myself the opportunity to explore new genres of games that I hadn't been exposed to. Different genres use different design techniques, through level design, narrative, art or music. As I continue to work on making games and improving my skills, I thought it would be best to begin documenting these observations again.

Game: Alien: Isolation

Time played: 5 hours 40 minutes

Genre being explored: Horror

Game Journal 1

The game I chose to play for my first Game Journal was Alien Isolation. I picked Alien Isolation for a few reasons but the most important one was that it was a horror game.

Horror is a genre of game that I have always been interested in yet never had the opportunity to experience because I was too afraid. Alien Isolation was perfect because I knew it was a famous horror game that had many great elements and I had heard about the incredible AI the alien itself has.

Alien Isolation is a horror game, yet the actual game play is stealth and survival. You play as Amanda Ripley and you move around a giant space station escaping an alien. The game play isn't too complicated, with you moving around the space station, sneaking behind boxes or through vents. The most thrilling part of the game is when the alien is nearby and you have to hide from it. I could feel my heart through my chest as I hid in a locker or under a desk, it’s scaly tail slithering across the floor. The music and lighting created a frightening atmosphere where you always felt on your toes. There were many times when I was just walking around and suddenly a light turned on, making me immediately jump out of my chair and scream. This was because of the perfectly crafted atmosphere the developers created. 

Part of the game that took me out of this fantastic atmosphere was sneaking around the humans on the space station. You didn’t feel the same sense of fear and danger that you did when hiding from the alien. When the alien was involved I felt afraid yet when the humans were involved I just felt it was like any other stealth game, no fear, just the goal of passing the stealth section.

At the beginning of the game you start with nothing except flares and a flashlight, but as you play through the game you receive new tools to help escape the alien. The way they introduce each new tool is simplistic yet well done. Simplistic and well done is also how I would describe each objective. Throughout the game you have to turn on power, unlock doors and move throughout the space ship. While there were a few moments that got a little tricky, each objective is usually a simple puzzle that you don't have to think too long on.

Alien Isolation does a good job making you feel like you are alone. You meet a few characters throughout the game but you always feel like the only two characters that matter are you, Amanda Ripley, and the Alien. This creates a fun experience that I feel most other games do not express as well. 

There are not many games I have played similar to this one, especially since I have not played much of the horror genre. I have played Dying Light but that game is wildly different with the only similar parts being the survival aspects.

All in all, Alien Isolation is an incredible game. The design of the world they have created is wonderful with very unique "feel" to the world. One thing that really adds to this "feel" is the amazing set design. The levels are filled with retro-futuristic art that produces a eerie feeling. This paired with the incredible lighting that the game has truly creates a fantastic horror game.

Honestly very impressed with this game and excited to keep trying different Horror games as it is clearly a genre I will enjoy.