For some motive, even though I fairly just like the Alien movie franchise and completely bloody love the squad-based ways finest exemplified by XCOM, Aliens: Darkish Descent wasn’t actually on my radar. After a hands-off demo of the sport, nonetheless, it’s rocketed into my most-anticipated listing.
I’m unsure why I wasn’t on board earlier than. It might need been as a result of the Alien franchise has a reasonably checkered historical past in video games, and just lately additionally in movie – although after all, it additionally gave us Alien Isolation, so I shouldn’t write the franchise off with out due diligence. Possibly, although, it’s as a result of XCOM is simply so rattling good that each time I see an XCOM-alike, I’m wondering why I’d play it over the technique style perfection put out by Firaxis within the type of XCOM 2.
However like I mentioned, seeing this demo of Aliens: Darkish Descent instantly drives house why I ought to shelve that angle and provides this recreation some love. There’s two key causes – first is solely that it simply appears actually good. The second, nonetheless, is simply as vital: this recreation is way more than an XCOM clone with a film license.
The connection to the Firaxis technique reboot is plain, clearly. A look on the construction of the sport, the place you come to a hub base to handle troopers with mild RPG development parts, or the pre-mission launch display screen, makes it particularly clear. It appears very comparable. However, dig past that, significantly into the stream of fight and exploration within the technique eventualities – and all of a sudden you see how Darkish Descent is placing a distinctly completely different twist on the concept of a squad-based ways recreation the place you fend off highly effective extraterrestrial creatures.
Most completely different is motion, which is each real-time and free-form, that means you don’t have time to consider decision-making in the identical method. This ramps up the stress as your marines push by cramped corridors, making use of movement trackers (that is the Alien universe, in any case) to maintain observe of the place aliens are stalking. Movement trackers are used to nice impact, the truth is, each as a generic radar as a UI aspect that represents the realm instantly round your marines, and likewise deployable gadgets that may make it easier to maintain observe of the aliens on a extra macro degree – till they’re discovered and destroyed, that’s.
Holding observe of the map is vital, too, since you’re not simply on non permanent ‘battle field’ maps that exist just for firefights. You’re exploring a wider space, a base that you simply’ll step by step uncover. It’s nearly a bit like how a planet would possibly work in a Metroid recreation, although it is a fully completely different type of recreation – and also you’ll even be capable to uncover shortcuts throughout the planet to that finish. Perspective-wise, the map, real-time motion and digital camera perspective nearly makes it seem like a spacebound Diablo, a minimum of for a second.
The primary second the map was opened was one of many large eureka moments for me on this presentation: it actually showcases how this title differs from its inspiration.
With a lot of movement trackers positioned, you may see dots representing the lethal aliens darting about, up and down corridors, patrolling rooms, and actively trying to find your squad. There’s full-blown alert states – so when the enemy is aware of the place you might be, reinforcements will attempt to chase you down till you may lose them. Your social gathering of marines must do issues like weld shut airlock doorways so as to block off aliens – however that’ll additionally change your personal path by the bottom.
The cool aspect in regards to the map is that there’s a way of permanence. Even if you return to your hub, belongings you’ve positioned like movement trackers stay. Aliens nonetheless patrol. And, sure, the poor marines you lose in everlasting loss of life stay there, their corpses a testomony to your tactical failures.
There’s a variety of ways to handle, too. You’ve received a squad of 4 that may be any of six completely different courses, every with skills, weapons, and abilities to contemplate. The 2 key stats to handle are well being and stress – the previous acquainted and the latter a illustration of the sanity of your marines. The extra harassed they’re, the more severe their efficiency will probably be – topping out in outright panic, the place a Marine is rendered virtually ineffective.
Fight is actual time, however you may gradual issues to a crawl, permitting orders to be issued. This additionally has the bonus of wanting extraordinarily cool. In the event you arrange an ambush in a doorway, watching a hail of bullets slow-mo slam right into a Xenomorph is extraordinarily satisfying.
Arms-off demos are clearly not as helpful as attending to play it, however at first blush from a half hour of gameplay. Aliens: Darkish Descent appears nice. It’s additionally a special type of Alien-based expertise – much less the creeping horror of the primary film and extra the extreme motion of the second. Xenomorphs are powerful, however you’re nonetheless taking them down in comparatively giant numbers – the truth is, you’re arguably most apprehensive about being overrun.
With XCOM 3 most likely some time off, there’s an open marketplace for that type of recreation – however I’m thrilled that Darkish Descent can be clearly one thing fairly completely different; a refined twist on a construction that labored brilliantly. I stay up for really enjoying it quickly.