Game over, man! Game over!
Except it’s not game over, it’s more game on! There’s a new Aliens game here, and it’s successfully scratched that Alien itch.
Aliens Dark: Descent successfully captures the essence of the franchise, offering a terrifying and exciting gaming experience. From its cinematic opening to intense cutscenes, the game is truly immersive.
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The game offers unique gameplay mechanics, challenging difficulty options, and a mix of turn-based and real-time strategy elements. It’s an atmospheric and engaging adventure for both Alien fans and strategy game enthusiasts alike – and I’m not usually one for a strategy game.
Gameplay
In Aliens: Dark Descent, players must not only manage the health and ammo of their troops but also their stress levels, leading to an anxiety-inducing experience. Welding doors closed is one way temporarily protect stressed marines, although it’s worth noting that Aliens can still break through in some instances. Resource management is crucial, and strategic decision-making is required to navigate challenging mission objectives.
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Exploring and looting everything possible is essential for success, providing valuable resources. The game also offers various difficulty modes, accommodating a wide range of players, which is something I greatly appreciated. But once you pick your settings you’re stuck with them – there’s no dropping down to easy mode when things get tough.
There’s a great prologue that acts as a tutorial, easing you into the overall game.
Each mission comes with primary objectives to complete, along with data pads and resources to collect. I loved not having to worry about completing it all in one go, flexibility is on offer as players can revisit missions later, allowing them to tackle objectives in their preferred order.
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Customising the loadout team before starting missions enhances the strategic element, a great addition to the game. But make sure you look after your team of four, your marines carry injuries from one mission to another, requiring time in the ship’s medical bay for recovery. And this game is brutal – there are some dark consequences for not looking after your team.
As if monitoring motion censors and ammo supply wasn’t enough, just the thought of having an Alien snatch one of your teammates and drag them off into the hive… Do not want.
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While in the action, squad placement and commands are limited, with marines required to take cover as a group. This limitation proves beneficial when facing swarms of enemies, ensuring the team’s collective survival.
Thankfully you can, should you choose to, slow down and pause the action to give you more time to think about your next move.
Patience is key in Aliens: Dark Descent, as some levels may take considerable time to complete. At the end of the day, the reward for perseverance is a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
I found some of the character dialogue broke the immersion, with my squad often yelling out unnecessarily to each other when I commanded them to move to a certain location.
Like seriously… Shut up, Galvez! There are angry blips on the radar and you’re yelling!
Androids are never not scary AF. (Quest Daily)
Graphics, Sound and Performance
Playing on an ASUS ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop, Aliens Dark Descent ran smoothly on Epic graphical settings. The game excels in creating a fitting atmosphere through its atmospheric lighting and attention to detail. The red glow of warning lights and emergency lighting contributes to the overall immersion, enhancing the game’s suspenseful atmosphere.
Another big hit was Dark Descent’s sound and music, further immersing me in this thriller. The ambiance alone gives me goosebumps.
I highly recommend wearing a good pair of headphones while playing – don’t be a scaredy cat.
Alien: Dark Descent features incredible in-game cutscenes. (Quest Daily)
The game can be played with both a keyboard and mouse or a controller. While the keyboard and mouse route offers a more user-friendly experience, using a controller provides a glimpse of how the game would play on consoles such as PlayStation and Xbox. Although there may be some small visual flaws, Aliens Dark Descent remains a solid addition to the Alien series.
Aliens: Dark Descent successfully delivers a thrilling and atmospheric experience and fits perfectly within the Aliens universe. The game’s intense cutscenes, anxiety-inducing gameplay mechanics, and captivating atmosphere immerse players in a genuinely terrifying adventure.
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The gameplay is a bit lacking and there are a few bugs on show, but thankfully there’s a nail-biting story to tie it all together.
Whether you are a die-hard Alien fan or simply enjoy strategy games, Aliens: Dark Descent is a worthy addition to the franchise. It’s chest-bursting onto a PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S or PC near you today.
Quest Daily scores Aliens Dark Descent:
7.5/10
Quest Daily was supplied with an early release copy of Aliens Dark Descent for the purpose of this review.
