Grave Gamer News & Views — xenomorph

Sega’s Next Alien Game to Star Ripley’s Daughter?

We’ve been aware of an Alien project being kicked around Creative Assembly’s offices for a decent while now.

The Sega owned studio is most renown for its long-standing RTS franchise Total War, but they have, on occasion, stepped outside their genre comfort zone on certain titles. If Kotaku’s report checks out, they’re leaping way outside of that zone. Enter the very recently trademarked Alien: Isolation, a first-person horror title for both current and next-gen that’s massively informed by games the likes of Bioshock and Dishonored.

Creative Assembly’s take on the mythos draws inspiration from Ridley Scott’s original Alien, placing a greater emphasis on stealth over direct combat. In fact, one studio insider says, besides a multitude of “clones and soldiers” to tackle, the majority of the game has you tangling with a single xenomorph.

Isolation is said to isolate your ass aboard a space station and, interestingly, has you assume the role of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley – the heroine at the forefront of every Alien film that doesn’t include a Predator or a Fassbender. Before you call shenanigans, yes, Amanda is a canonical character; though she’s only briefly mentioned in a scene found in the extended version of Aliens (the company file didn’t list off run-in’s with galactic space monsters, however)… Okay, fine, I’ll nerd out all over you: That means Isolation is set in the fifty-seven years between the events of Alien and Aliens, with Ellen Ripley still drifting through space in cryo-sleep.

Apparently, Isolation was intended for a public unveiling at E3, but Sega wished to give the team an extension for quality assurance. As in, they want to be assured the quality of the game is nowhere as cavernously low as Aliens: Colonial Marines (aka The Most Disappointed I’ve Ever Been in My Adult Life).

Aliens is my favorite film of all time. Video games are my favorite hobby. Why the two can’t get along is anyone’s guess. I’m loving CA’s direction for the game. Sprinkle on all the atmosphere you want, but mowing down a hundred aliens doesn’t quite land near “horror.” Yet… Colonial Marines left acid burns on my expectations. I want to love you, Isolation. I do. For now, let’s just keep it all business.

Aliens: Colonial Marines (PC/PS3/X360 - Feb. 12th, Wii U -TBA)

Even though I don’t agree with the concept of seeing things I can’t immediately have – it’s unfair and it’s fucked – but here’s a little bit more of Gearbox’s sci-fi horror magnum opus.  Randy Pitchford claims the very best looking version of the game can only be found on the Nintendo Wii U.  He must’ve forgot they’re putting it on the PC.

Gearbox Officially Debuts the Aliens: Colonial Marines Collector’s Set

This is old hat to internet sleuths and xenomorph fanatics alike, but Gearbox is dropping a collector’s edition of their formative Aliens film successor, Colonial Marines.  You can view the pants-tightening contents above – including the new addition of four playable characters ripped straight from Cameron’s film.

Either pre-ordering the game at Gamestop or simply shelling $99.99 for the collector’s set earns you Private Hudson, Corporal Hicks, Private Drake and Sergeant Apone for competitive multiplayer.  Yes, that means gamers will finally be able to control Bill Paxton’s likeness and get him killed as many times as you so desire.  What a beautiful day to be apart of the Corps!  Sadly, Ripley’s flamethrower is the only Weaver presence you’ll get through pre-order or the special edition (plus more marine customization options).

Crippling reminder: We still have to float in space for seventy years before we get our hands on Colonial Marines – the game won’t see release until February 12th of 2013.

Aliens: Colonial Marines (PC/PS3/Wii U/360 - Fall 2012)

And here’s where the rest of my free time will go to die.  Gearbox recently pulled back part of the curtain shrouding Colonial Marines’ competitive multiplayer which pits xenomorph against marines, players able to control both sides.  So far, the versus is familiar ground for fans that recall Aliens versus Predator for the PC.  If not, you need look no further than the fairly recent Left 4 Dead, which the developer admits to as choice inspiration for this game.

But these comparisons are just a way of feeling our way through the dark.  Colonial Marines will reveal its distinguishing assets the moment our trigger finger lays waste to Gearbox’s horrifically – and awesomely – realized monsters.  There’s still a lot of solid information lurking in the shadows when it comes to this game, especially regarding multiplayer modes beyond death match, so expect to hear more during the agonizing wait until Fall.

Gearbox hosted a promotional event where several seriously lucky members of the press were privileged to a hands-on helping of Aliens: Colonial Marines.  The event caused enough of a ruckus to stir the xenomorph queen herself.  There were no survivors.