The Alien franchise has left a deep and lasting acid burn on the video game medium since the release of the first film in 1979. Whether hiding in a locker in Alien Isolation, blasting waves of creatures in Aliens: Fireteam Elite or guiding a team of Marines to tactical victory in Aliens: Dark Descent, the series’ rich legacy has left plenty of room for creative interpretation.
With Alien: Rogue InvasionAcclaimed VR developer Survios is aiming to make another major contribution to the Alien gaming legacy. This immersive, big-budget PlayStation VR2 experience promises to make players feel like they’re truly living in the dark, gloomy world of the movies, from navigating dark hallways to using Use the true firepower of the Marine Corps against a genuine threat.
Ahead of the game’s launch on PS VR2 this December, we’ve been working on a pre-release build of this single-player survival-horror adventure. Here are some highlights of our experience.
An immersive VR Alien fantasy
Survios sets out to make players feel grounded in the oppressive Alien universe, so don’t expect a fun romp. Ammo and healing items are scarce, xenomorphs can deal one-hit critical hits, and hissing vents keep you on your toes. Rogue Incursion’s high-fidelity VR presentation is an excellent product, with a level of visual detail and polish that makes it one of the most premium VR titles around. You’ll know what we mean when you stare at a trespassing alien in its dripping face and it feels like it’s just inches away.
Perfect body
Xenomorphs behave as you would expect: they are ominous and unpredictable. Sometimes they will sneak across the threshold, standing straight and majestic. At other times, they will crouch on all fours, charging forward viciously. They are also highly mobile and seem to follow different routes depending on our location, climbing along walls and ceilings or falling from vents behind us. Knowing these threats can strike from any angle will keep your head on a swivel as you scan murky environments for threats, keeping your M41 pulse rifle trained to detect these shapes. Suspicious forms lurk in the shadows. It all looks and feels extremely faithful to the first two films.
Inventory on the body
The stakes are high, but the Survios will give you an inventory of items on a sleek body powered by the PS VR2’s Sense controller. Reach over your right shoulder to grab a pulse rifle, grab a healing stimulator from your left wrist, or pull a revolver from your hip holster. In just a few minutes, the intuitive inventory system became second nature, allowing us to focus our attention on invading enemies and survive a little longer.
Something is moving and it’s not us
While there’s plenty of alien attack action, Rogue Incursion leaves plenty of room for quiet, tense moments as we get past locked doors or reprogrammed security disks to advance. further. Luckily, we were equipped with the iconic Motion Tracker from the second film, and it’s something we quickly relied on. With our right hand, the device was equipped, allowing us to track the movements of enemies (and allies) as we strolled the dark corridors. This life-saving device can even be placed on a surface to act as an extra pair of eyes when you explore or reload your weapon. Don’t leave the world without it!
Welcome to the retro future
The technological aesthetic of the Alien universe is solidified from the first moments we see the Nostromo’s CRT computer screen, chunky keyboard, and assorted analog equipment. Survios pays deep tribute to this technology, so expect to get up close and personal with plenty of ’80s-style gadgets in the Rogue Incursion. PDA tablets are a perfect example. Obtained by tapping your right arm, this handheld device can help you save your games and can be put into your computer to download the data. It also opens clumsily to reveal a large virtual touchscreen map, which with a smart tap you can scroll through with your finger in-game.
elevator action
Our practice session culminated in a frantic fight against waves of aliens as we waited for the elevator to arrive. We mobilized all our equipment and skills to hold the line. We detonated flammable barrels to ignite the xenomorph under the close supervision of our strategically placed Motion Trackers. There was a lot of intense melee combat, often forcing us to run away and heal or fumble for fresh rounds into our shotgun. Suddenly, a sharp tail pierced our chest, ending our game. But we’re not afraid of a reboot because the unpredictable actions of the aliens make each new try feel fresh and exciting.
The devil is in the details
Survivos’ VR expertise was on full display during our play session. We marvel at some of the small, thoughtful details that make the world feel complete, like wiping blood from your eyes with your hands or turning off your computer screen. The game’s physics are a huge asset and as we get used to removing and replacing weapons and equipment from our bodies, muscle memory takes over and a sense of reality creeps in. . Reloading a revolver? Press the Circle button to eject the cylinder and shake the empty shells before reloading each round. Shooting a pulse rifle? Remember to steady the gun’s grip with your other hand, otherwise the 10mm non-explosive bullet will launch into the ceiling instead of aiming at the approaching alien.
Needless to say, we were impressed. Get ready to step into the shoes of marine Zula Hendricks when Alien: Rogue Incursion hits PS VR2 on December 19.
