Alien: Rogue Incursion Review – Screaming for Joy & Frustration

Alien: Rogue Incursion on PS VR2

Delivering a good video game usually depends on the subject matter, and for the Alien franchise, the very notion of going up against nature’s perfect predator is something that many can get behind. Unfortunately, the concept has not always lived up to expectations, and in Alien: Rogue Incursion, that negative track record remains largely intact, even if it brings us closer to the fear thanks to virtual reality.

Coming from developers Survios, the folks who have already given some fun times like in Creed: Rise to Glory, this was the perfect opportunity to show off their chops with a more recognisable IP. And it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that they have done their best to recreate the atmosphere and feel of things in the Alien universe. The sci-fi setup, the dark corridors, the flickering lights, and the Xenomorphs are presented in loving detail.

Players step into the boots of colonial marine Zula Hendricks, making her way to investigate a facility that has gone dark. She is accompanied by Davis 01, an android companion, which should make fans feel right at home and apprehensive at the same time. This setup seems to position Alien: Rogue Incursion as a perfect horror title just like Alien: Isolation, but alas, it is not to be.

This is undeniably an action-heavy title, leaning on the fact that you would love shooting Xenomorphs in their faces until the acid blood splatters everywhere. This certainly works, especially when you encounter one for the very first time. Not knowing what to expect pumped up the intensity instantly, and when you are living through the lenses of your VR headset, the fear is palpable. Yet, once you start hearing that familiar music and hissing for the umpteenth time, all of that tension is lost.

It would have been great if the game chose to let the Xenomorphs loose at specific points in the story, but it seems like the monsters are keen to spawn every few minutes to disrupt your progress. This makes exploration more a chore than a true enjoyment, since you know that you are going to get interrupted no matter what you are doing. That need to be terrified is sadly denied because of the way Alien: Rogue Incursion is set up, and that’s a huge disappointment.

The fact that the Xenomorphs also essentially arrive and attack the same ways removes any unpredictability out of the equation. I never thought I would be bored by using my Pulse Rifle and Revolver to pump holes in an extraterrestrial invader, but such is the fate of players diving into the game.

That annoyance is further aggravated by the lack of meaningful checkpoints in Alien: Rogue Incursion. There is definitely a point to making players work for their progress and having save points scattered around the environment, but they are not exactly well-spaced out. And anytime you die, you will be dropped back to when you last saved, occasionally costing you a significant amount of effort and time put into getting where you are at.

It is a major bummer, as exploration is something that the game does really well, rewarding players for their curiosity amid the danger. There are many logs and intel pieces to find, and finding new interactions with the environment is quite enjoyable. The way you equip items and weapons are intuitive, and that’s not all that you can do. Donning a construction worker’s hat while killing Xenomorphs is quirky fun, and so is solving environmental puzzles to get to more resources behind locked doors and containers. I just wished the Xenomorphs would give me more time, and that the price to pay for dying isn’t that punishing.

The in-game map also doesn’t help much in this aspect, as it can be difficult to read, and with no helpful labels, you might be better off just not exploring, which makes the game less fun. Alien: Rogue Incursion also becomes more insistent on backtracking as you progress further, which exacerbates the problem as you get lost and constantly have to deal with monsters trying to eat your face.

Nevertheless, fans will find it hard not to push through to the end, but Alien: Rogue Incursion is far from the conclusion you might expect. Without going into spoilers, the game is setting up for more stuff to happen down the line, and while there are entertaining sections that liven things up once in a while, the payoff really isn’t there.

Technical issues also plagued the experience on the PlayStation VR2, and it’s not just wonky physics or visuals. Sometimes, events don’t happen as they should, which can restrict progress. Forcing a reset can be a quick fix, but knowing that you could lose progress can double the pain you would feel, much like a fatal stab from the Xenomorph’s tail.

As an experience into the fabled IP’s universe, Alien: Rogue Incursion does a really good job in delivering the atmosphere and visuals. However, the biggest threat to its longevity is the repetitive gameplay that gets in the way of what should be its star attractions. The Xenomorph is to be fear, not overused, but there is still something inherently enjoyable about this ill-fated romp in space. What it needs is more time gestating in its cocoon and not sprouting out like an off-putting hybrid not ready for the limelight.

Alien: Rogue Incursion will be released on PlayStation 5 and PC this December 20.