Alien Isolation 2 Preview: Perfectly Capturing The Sound of Horror

Crouched beneath a window, peeking over the top looking for the terrifying creature stalking me, with my heart race pacing, was when I realised the greatest strength of Alien Isolation 2.

After first terrorizing players 12 years ago, Creative Assembly is back once again with Alien Isolation 2, and my experience with the title at Gamescom was perfectly captured by a simple, two-word note I jotted down, one of which I cannot write, but I’m sure you get the idea.

Working with a franchise like Alien, with a creature that fans have become well accustomed to, how do you still ensure you make it scary? Well, the answer, is the sound.

Fear Factor

Everything from the music to my character’s heavy breathing turned up the heat, and I was left frozen in fear whenever I started to hear the Xenomorph stumbling around, which was perhaps not the greatest idea, as it left me open to attack.

But that’s where the challenge of the game truly is. The Xenomorph has exceptional hearing, and Creative Assembly has made it difficult for you with the environment, filled with small objects to stumble into and puddles of water. Staying quiet is, in fact, near impossible.

I couldn’t work out how to keep myself hidden, as even when I thought I was safe in a vent, the Xenomorph soon found me. Time and time again, I was caught, and the only comfort was this was a videogame, so I didn’t have to worry about it’s offspring bursting out of my chest.

Again though, it’s not the Xenomorph itself I found terrifying, but rather the environment I was left isolated in and the sounds that accompanied it. Each step felt like a huge risk and, in most situations, it proved to be my downfall.

Making a Difference

One big thing the preview didn’t answer, however, was just how different the title is from it’s predecessor, and whether there’s enough to set it apart.

The original Alien Isolation was critically acclaimed, which was deserved, and a sequel, economically, makes a lot of sense, but is there enough to truly deserve it’s own title.

The biggest reason may be the environment, as after 12 years, technology has improved, and the environments I saw during the opening cutscenes were stunning. From swaying fauna to the hammering rain, it felt incredibly intense, setting the scene for the horrors that were to follow.

Will Alien Isolation 2 be different enough from it’s predecessor? I don’t know, but honestly, I don’t care, as my time with the game was a blast and I can’t wait for more.

Check out the Alien Isolation 2 trailer below.

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For more from Insider Gaming at Gamescom, check out the preview of Once Human’s Isles of the Abyss expansion, and don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter.