A whole ten years after it came out, Alien: Isolation still shines brightly in the world of video games.
This game is a brilliant adaptation, heavily inspired by Ridley Scott’s 1979 movie, Alien. The team at Creative Assembly, filled with fans of the original film, focused on capturing every detail of that iconic setting. They crafted a horror experience where the alien’s unpredictable behavior made it a truly terrifying foe, unlike anything seen before in gaming.
Unlike other games in the Alien series that lean more towards action, focusing on James Cameron’s sequel with its Marines and big guns, Creative Assembly stayed true to the horror roots. They wanted players to feel like they were facing a single, unstoppable alien menace, not a bunch of creatures to easily mow down.
Director Al Hope shared, “The goal was to transport you back to that time and place, that 1970s view of the future, the kind of lo-fi sci-fi aesthetic of that first movie, allowing you to encounter and try and survive against that original alien–where just one alien could be terrifying, which is really different in terms of video games.” It’s amazing that even today, people can play and feel that intense fear and excitement.
As the years have gone by, Alien: Isolation hasn’t been forgotten. Instead, it’s become even more popular, with streamers and content creators discovering it anew. It’s been released on new platforms like the Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android, and even got a special collector’s edition for the Switch, long after its initial release.
There’s a growing crowd of fans who love Alien: Isolation, and their enthusiasm has sparked the announcement of a sequel. Al Hope is back at the helm, promising more spine-chilling adventures.
Fans just love when a game keeps getting more exciting over time.
Hope expressed his amazement at how the game has continued to be talked about as one of the scariest and best Alien games. He finds it rewarding that new players are still discovering it and having a fantastic time, even though it’s considered an old game now.
The alien in the game is designed with a clever AI, making it react to what players do. It uses its senses to hunt players, making every encounter nerve-wracking. An underlying AI director sometimes nudges the alien towards players who’ve had a quiet spell or away if things have been too intense.
Sound design plays a huge role in cranking up the fear. As the alien closes in, the music intensifies, making players’ hearts race. Hope explained, “It was interesting for us because we had this idea that the creature wasn’t going to be choreographed and scripted, which is what typically occurs in this kind of game.” The dynamic nature of the game meant the music had to be just as unpredictable, constantly adapting to the unfolding drama.
We kept getting, ‘We need more deaths. Everyone’s dying all the time. We need more deaths.’ Like 90 different death cues.”
In sync with its rising popularity, Alien: Isolation’s soundtrack was released for its 10th anniversary. You can find it on streaming services, with vinyl and cassette editions available for preorder on iam8bit.
Composers Joe Henson and Alexis Smith, known as The Flight, found creating the game’s music both challenging and rewarding. Having worked on other titles before, they were eager to leave their mark on Alien: Isolation, embracing the low-fi, 70s-inspired vibe.
Writing music that fits dynamically with the game’s ever-changing atmosphere wasn’t easy, but The Flight managed by crafting different layers of tracks for various scenarios. They created music for calm exploration, tense moments when the alien was near, and the nail-biting “you’re about to die” situations.
“What I remember mostly is making this third layer, which was the ‘you’re about to die’ layer,” Henson explained. They wanted each piece to be unique, matching the game’s unpredictable nature, even though it was exhausting.
Smith added humorously, “We kept getting, ‘We need more deaths. Everyone’s dying all the time. We need more deaths.’ Like 90 different death cues.”
The music in Alien: Isolation is a key element that connects the game to the original movie, using Jerry Goldsmith’s score while also incorporating new sounds with synthesizers and electronic elements. Henson and Smith treated these sounds like samples, integrating them seamlessly to maintain the Alien vibe.
We never thought about trying to compromise.”
Releasing the soundtrack wasn’t easy, with many hurdles like copyrights and contracts. But as interest in game soundtracks grew, the path cleared. For The Flight, this release is significant, as Alien: Isolation is the game they’re most frequently asked about.
“We’ve got a 1 million sales thing here [for Alien: Isolation],” Henson noted. Though it might not have reached the sales figures of other games, the fan adoration and respect it garnered make it stand out.
Smith reminisced, “The big thing about this game is, this kind of launched us.” Sharing the game with friends and seeing their reactions, he continues to feel the impact it has on new audiences.
“I finally played the game with my eldest son last year, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t,” Henson shared. “He plays games all the time. He wouldn’t play it on his own. He refused to play on his own when it was dark, because I turn out all the lights. He was shit scared. I feel like there are a lot of people like that.”
Playing Alien: Isolation today, it still delivers the same heart-pounding terror it did in 2014. While its release saw mixed reviews, with scores ranging from high praise to criticisms of its difficulty, Creative Assembly stayed true to their vision.
Hope’s reflection on whether they’d change anything was simple: “Ultimately, on balance, no.”
I finally played the game with my eldest son last year, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. He was shit scared. I feel like there are a lot of people like that.”
Hope emphasized, “I think we knew, by its nature, we weren’t trying to please everybody, you know?” Their goal was to create a challenging Alien experience, not to compromise for broader appeal.
This dedication paid off, as Alien: Isolation left a lasting impact on both the Alien universe and the horror game genre. Even the newest Alien movie, Alien: Romulus, drew inspiration from the game, with its director including Easter eggs from Isolation.
Other horror games have adopted Creative Assembly’s approach, introducing unpredictable foes that keep players on edge. The demand for Alien: Isolation, evident in its re-releases and soundtrack, continues to grow, with fans eagerly anticipating the sequel.
Hope and the team are proud of their work, grateful for the connection players have made with the game.
“The team did what we set out to achieve, which was to create that authentic experience that felt like it had never been available before–and we were just desperate to experience that and play it ourselves,” he said. “Ten years later, people are still picking up, for the first time, having an amazing experience and talking about wanting more. So, you know, we’re really fortunate for the people out there. They’ve really connected with what we did.”
