Alien Isolation (Mod edit: Possible spoilers).

Hard is the way the developers meant for it to be played.

It's awesomely nerve wracking but success is euphoric.

 

I can't imagine what hard would be like on your first go, on my second it's been much better as I known the game mechanics and how the Alien likes to play.

@Grey - That sounds just like my luck, you're so close to the baton though! It's either after you get the pass and head toward to med kit or just after the med kit, in any case the game makes you pick it up to progress! Until then it's just figuring out
those patterns. Keep at it though, I have to say that the medical section was where I got caught up for quite a while too and yes, any discharge from that gun and the Alien will come running in most sections, I stayed away from using guns until the game forced
me or I had something to deter the Alien.

@Az - In my opinion, they nailed the big finish in true Aliens style! Intense! Hope you enjoy it.

@Brand - I was exactly the same, pretty much crouched and sneaking everywhere! Towards the end of the game it feels like the Alien will hear you even just walking so crouching is a must! Those noises in the vents don't get any easier to predict either.

 

@Black

That's the one thing this game does great is avoid repetition. Just when you might start to get tired of say avoiding the alien for example, they shift gears on you. This happens through the whole game (of which I'm over 25 hours into and still not done
- playing on hard). I give it a 10 out of 10. Very well done. Avoid listening to IGN. Their opinions sucked. I watched their little pow wow about it. One guy says he doesn't want to avoid the alien for 20 hours straight just after the guy next to him said
he didn't like how they changed it up away from the alien after the first main encounter. They're only interested in hearing themselves speak.

 

I watched some of the gameplay videos and felt a bit stressed.

 

Nice one Assassin that sounds good, cracking on with the game today I needed a week off lol. My hair, well what is left of it could not take it lol. Pushing forward today so fingers crossed.

Nicely done getting through it at all on hard, I can't take the pressure on medium lol. You got through section 7 yet bud?.

 

^^ I'm not sure if you are asking me or not, but I am on chapter 10 now. It gets much easier once you acquire the flamethrower. One thing I noticed is it's easier to keep moving by crouching. The Alien doesn't come out nearly as much.

 

^You guys, I just have to say that on Hard mode, the Alien is just all over you and hardly gives you a break. I can confirm that on medium, he's much more forgiving where he drops and how often he drops, so no wonder you're having such a hard time on your
first playthrough!

There's sections I've had to do over and over because he just keeps dropping right on top of me or front of me or just randomly appears behind a door, it's crazy!

I've got the flame thrower now, so hopefully won't be reloading the save every 5 minutes! Though I am taking a break now, too intense, haha.

 

@Bran, yeah sorry bud that was aimed at you. Posted on my mobile, ain't really up to the job.

@Assassin I had a go on hard, not a sniff of it haha. I am happy with it on Medium really it is enough of a challenge for me whatever the dev's intended. It is still a challenge for me on medium and I do want to finish the game this year .

Looking forward to getting a hold of the flame thrower, if only coz it looks cool and I can melt some Joe's lol. I had a week off playing AC3, ready to try this again now, (I think lol). Going to be grabbing the cattle prod later today if I can get through
this section I was stuck on.

 

There was one particular time that was really cool with the flamethrower as the Alien and I had a stare down. It auto recorded too. It was tense to say the least.

 

That would be sweet recording your encounters , sounds wicked. Another reason I need to get an xbox one.

I know what you mean tho Bran one of my favourite bits in the game so far was a stare down in a vent with the Alien. It ended in my death but dang it was cool for 3 seconds. And yeah I jumped lol, my lass found it really amusing .

 

is there a demo of it on xbl i want to try before i buy

 

I don't think there is a demo.

 

Medium was a challenge for me too! I died so many times, but I couldn't understand why I finished it so quickly compared to others that started on hard and that's the reason. The Alien nearly makes it impossible in some sections, like he will always be there
and never go back up in the vent to give you a break.

Though, this game is great in the sense that I'm on a second playthrough and it in no way has become any less tense/scary. Games like Dead Space, after the first playthrough I was no longer worried about anything.

Also this game has provided different scares in the same sections for me, which makes it really quite dynamic. You just never know what's going to happen!

 

The rare time you do get a break from it on hard is such a relief.

 

I don't think I will be trying it on hard, heart can't take it .

Finally got through that section last night, got into the lift to head back with the medkit and boom, game crashes again. Absolutely gutted.

Really hoping it saves automatically at certain key points or I need to do it again .

@Shamgar. Definitely no demo but!.

If you like the Aliens universe as created by Ridley Scott, and you enjoy heavy stealth games it is for you. If taking your time and dying a lot is not your bag then I would maybe leave it until it is cheaper.

Personally though I die a lot and find it really frustrating sometimes, but I could not recommend this game enough.

Good to hear the second playthrough is just as jumpy . That's one thing this game excels at.