Alien: Resurrection

Description

Alien: Resurrection, released for PlayStation in 2000, is one of those titles that carries a whiff of the past in both its mechanics and overall gameplay experience. Based on the cult film Resurrection, itself one of the more controversial installments in the Alien franchise, this game strives to offer players an authentic alien combat experience. But how well does it actually succeed?

Graphically, the game certainly doesn't stand out even in its time. It feeds on the fringes of the PlayStation technology available at the time, which means angular models and low-resolution textures. While the lighting and atmosphere have charm and an authentic horror vibe, it often wallows in excessive darkness that frustrates more than it scares. The level design follows the theme of claustrophobic corridors and industrial spaces, which is true to the film's premise, but often contributes to confusion and unclear objectives.

The gameplay mechanics are a little problematic. Alien: Resurrection is one of the first games to attempt to make full use of the two analogue sticks on the PlayStation, which is commendable in the context of today, but the execution feels somewhat clumsy. The controls are garishly cumbersome and imprecise, which combined with the speed and aggression of the invaders regularly leads to frustration. Aiming and shooting, key elements of survival horror, don't flow as smoothly as a player might expect from the genre.

The sound is one of the best aspects of the game. John Frizzell's original cinematic score is unmistakably excellent in its constant pursuit of suspense. The sounds of aliens, rustling, and various screams add to the authenticity of the atmosphere and can at times induce chills. Thanks to these elements, we can forgive the game some of its gameplay shortcomings.

The story sticks solidly to the movie script, which means fans of the film will feel right at home. However, despite its faithfulness to the original, the game doesn't offer enough scripted innovation, meaning the experience can feel predictable and lacking in any truly powerful moments. The characters, including Ripley, remain flat and their interactions fail to evoke deeper emotions.

In conclusion, Alien: Resurrection is a product of its time that offers some interesting moments and a thrilling atmosphere, but suffers from a significant number of technical limitations and design flaws. For fans of the Alien franchise, the game may be an interesting addition to the collection, but as a standalone gaming experience, it is a rather average to below average work that fails to live up to its full potential.