TheAlienfranchise has released many video games based on its horrific sci-fi universe.These video gameshave covered a multitude of genres from strategy to adventure and most notably shooters. Of the numerousAliengames, there are plenty of noteworthy additions, such asAliens: Infestation, but few compare to the latest entries,Alien: IsolationandAliens: Fireteam Elite.
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Alien: IsolationandAliens: Fireteam Elitehas captured the essence of theAlienuniverse perfectly. Both excel in satisfying fans old and new while being compelling video games in their own right. Moreover, they are considered to be among the best additions to theAlienfranchise’s video games. While arguments can be made for bothAlien: IsolationandAliens: Fireteam Elite, one stands well above the other as the betterAliengame.
9Action - Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Aliens: Fireteam Elitetouches uponthe action aspectof theAlienfranchise. Rather than cowering in fear, players fight against the Xenomorph horde as Colonial Marines. With allies and the right equipment, swarms of Xenomorphs are nothing more than a harmless infestation, hence why they are referred to as bugs.
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Aliens: Fireteam Eliteeffectively reflects the action-packed sequences seen throughout theAlienfranchise. This game perfectly captures the danger and thrill of being a Colonial Marine in a Xenomorph hive. WhileAlien: Isolationhas similar moments, it fails to capture the action of theAlienfranchise.
8Horror - Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolationdraws upon theelement of horrorpresent throughout theAlienfranchise. Alone, players must trek through Sevastopol Station while avoiding what appears to be a single Xenomorph. With nothing more than intuition and a few handy tools, players can fend off the Xenomorph threat but never truly overcome it.
Alien: Isolationdoes well to invoke the same fear present throughout theAlienfranchise. This game successfully makes players feel helpless as they can do nothing more than delay the Xenomorph lurking on Sevastopol Station. Even thoughAliens: Fireteam Eliteboasts a number of intense scenes, it does not capture the horror of theAlienfranchise.
7Setting - Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Aliens: Fireteam Elitetakes playersto various locationsthroughout the campaign. The story takes place on LV-895, a jungle planet bordering the known systems. The campaign will take players to the Katanga orbital mining refinery, LV-895’s surface, and under LV-895’s surface to deal with the Xenomorph threat.
Every location that players travel to is immensely similar to those seen in theAlienfranchise. Everything from the abandoned ruined station to the Xenomorph-infested caves makes for a perfect setting. WhileAlien: Isolationtakes place in a similar location, it lacks the diversity ofAliens: Fireteam Elite.
6Story - Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolationtakes place between the events ofAlienandAliens. It follows the story of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley, who is searching for answers regarding the disappearance of the Nostromo and her mother. From beginning to end, this story engages players and keeps them invested.
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Alien: Isolationties in well to the ongoing story of the movies while providing a new and interesting basis. Moreover, it provides a great deal of information regarding theAlienuniverse and its characters. Even thoughAliens: Fireteam Elitehas a campaign, it does little to further the overall narrative of theAlienfranchise.
5Enemies - Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Aliens: Fireteam Elitefeatures twenty-five different enemies for players to face. These foes consist of Xenomorphs, Weyland-Yutani Synthetics, and Pathogens. While many of these enemies are recurring figures in theAlienfranchise, there arefrightening new additionsas well.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite’sinclusion of a multitude of adversaries furthers the fact that this is anAliengame. Everything from the Facehuggers to the Xenomorph Queen reminds players of notable moments within theAlienfranchise. WhileAlien: Isolationfeatures a few memorable enemies it fails to compare.
4Characters - Alien: Isolation
Alien:Isolationfeatures a few memorable and well-developed characters throughout the story. Each character has sound reasons behind their actions and drives the story in their respective ways. Many of these characters are akin to those seen in theAlienfranchise with significant differences that set them apart.
The characters ofAlien: Isolationadded depth and separated it from other survival horror games. Every major character,chiefly Amanda Ripley, had a compelling story that inspired players to be invested. Even thoughAliens: Fireteam Elitepresented a few characters, they lacked any semblance of depth.
3Nostalgia - Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Aliens: Fireteam Elitefeatures many different elements that imbue fans with a sense of nostalgia. Fighting against Xenomorph hordes as Colonial Marines reminds fans of theAlienfranchise’s beginnings. This feeling alone invokes a great deal of enjoyment.
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Aliens: Fireteam Elitealso works to includevarious easter eggsthroughout the campaign. Everything from the Power Loader to the Space Jockey can be found by perceptive players. WhileAlien: Isolationincludes various nostalgia-inspiring moments and easter eggs, it is nothing compared toAliens: Fireteam Elite.
2Atmosphere - Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolationfeatures an atmosphere akin to that of the films. From beginning to end, players cannot help but feel an overwhelming sense of fear and hopelessness.This dreadful atmosphereis much like that of the originalAlienfilms which have horrified countless fans.
The fact thatAlien: Isolationwas able to capture the frightening ambiance of the films alone is impressive. However, it is far more terrifying than theAlienmovies for the sole reason that it pits players face-to-face with a Xenomorph. WhileAliens: Fireteam Elitedoes the same, players have the gear necessary to counteract the Xenomorph threat, unlikeAlien: Isolation.
1The Better Alien Game - Alien: Isolation
While both games are compelling additions to the franchise,Alien: Isolationis the far betterAliengame. It boasts much of whatAliens: Fireteam Elitehas to offer but it capitalizes on the strengths of theAlienfranchise. From beginning to end players know thatAlien: Isolationis anAliengame first and asurvival horror gamesecond.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite, however, sacrifices many important elements of theAlienfranchise in favor of being a fun action shooter. Moreover,Alien: Isolationworks to include itself in the overarching story and theme of theAlienfranchise, which it does extraordinarily well. Overall,Alien: Isolationis the betterAliengame and maybe even the bestAliengame of all time.
