The Alien franchise has left a long and deep mark on the video game medium since the release of the first film in 1979. Whether you’re hiding in lockers in Alien Isolation, blasting waves of creatures in Aliens: Fireteam Elite, or leading a squad of marines to tactical victory in Aliens: Dark Descent, the series’ prosperous heritage has left plenty of room for artistic interpretation.
WITH Alien: Rogue RaidRenowned VR developer Survios is set to make another significant contribution to the legacy of Alien games. This high-budget, immersive experience on PlayStation VR2 will make players feel like they’re actually inhabiting the shadowy, brooding world of the films, from navigating shadowy corridors to wielding real Marine firepower against the titular threat.
Ahead of the game’s December release on PS VR2, we’ve got a hands-on preview of this single-player survival-horror adventure game. Here are some highlights of our experience.
An immersive VR alien fantasy
Survios tried to make players feel firmly grounded in the oppressive alien universe, so don’t expect it to be a piece of cake. Ammo and healing items are limited, xenomorphs can deliver one-hit fatal blows, and hissing steam vents keep you on the edge of your seat at all times. Rogue Incursion’s high-quality VR presentation is a stunning game, with a level of detail and visual refinement that puts it among the very best in VR titles. You’ll know what we mean when you look at the approaching alien in his dripping face and feel like he’s just a few inches away.
The perfect body
The xenomorphs behave as you would expect: sinister and unpredictable. Sometimes they will slip through the door, standing towering and imposing. Other times they drop to all fours and rush forward ominously. They are also very mobile and seem to take different routes depending on our position, climbing up walls and ceilings or descending from vents behind us. Knowing that these threats can hit from any angle will allow you to turn your head as you scan shadowy environments for threats, while keeping your M41 Pulse Rifle trained on suspicious shapes lurking in the shadows. Everything looks and feels incredibly faithful to the first two films.
Inventory on the body
The stakes are high, but Survios has you covered with sleek on-body gear powered by Sense PS VR2 controllers. Reach over your right shoulder to grab your Pulse Rifle, grab your Healing Stimulator from your left wrist, or pull your revolver from your hip holster. In just a few minutes, the intuitive inventory system became second nature, allowing us to focus on advancing enemies and staying alive for a while.
Something is moving and it’s not us
While there’s plenty of alien-destroying action, Rogue Incursion leaves plenty of room for peaceful, tense moments where we got past locked doors or reprogrammed security drives to advance. Fortunately, we were armed with the iconic Motion Tracker from the second film and quickly began to rely on it. Reaching into our right bicep, we have equipped a device that allows us to track enemy (and allied) movements as we prowl darkened corridors. This life-saving device can even be placed on the surface to act as an extra set of eyes while exploring or reloading weapons. Don’t go outside the world without it!
Welcome to the retro-future
The technological aesthetic of the Alien universe was established from the first moments we saw Nostromo’s CRT computer monitors, massive keyboards, and an assortment of analog hardware. Survios pays homage to this technology, so expect to be up close and personal with plenty of ’80s-style gadgets in Rogue Incursion. The tablet PDA is a perfect example. This handheld device, which can be accessed by tapping your right shoulder, can support you save your game and can be connected to your computer to download data. It also folds out awkwardly, revealing a enormous virtual map on the touchscreen that you can scroll through in-game with a clever tap of your finger.
Elevator action
Our hands-on session ended with a frantic fight against waves of aliens as we waited for the elevator to arrive. We used all our equipment and skills to hold the line. We blew up flammable barrels to ignite the xenomorphs, under the watchful eye of our strategically placed motion tracker. There were a lot of intense close calls, usually forcing us to run and heal or throw fresh rounds into our shotgun. Suddenly, a spiked tail pierced our chest, ending our game. But we weren’t afraid to restart because the aliens’ unpredictable actions made each up-to-date attempt feel fresh and compelling.
The devils are in the details
Survivos’ VR expertise was on full display during our gaming session. We were impressed by some of the tiny, thoughtful details that made the world feel complete, such as using your hand to wipe blood from your eyes or using your computer monitor. The physicality of the game is a huge advantage, and as we became accustomed to removing and replacing weapons and equipment from our bodies, muscle memory took over and a sense of reality crept in. Are you reloading your revolver? Press the circle button to extend the cylinder and shake out empty cases before reloading each individual round. Pulse Rifle Shooting? Be sure to stabilize the stock with your other hand, otherwise the 10mm explosive-tipped caseless rounds will shoot into the ceiling instead of the approaching alien.
Needless to say, we were impressed. Get ready to step into the shoes of space marine Zula Hendricks when Alien: Rogue Incursion arrives on PS VR2 on December 19.
