![]() ![]() It didn’t appear in a cutscene, but I suppose it may have been dormant right up until the moment the squad arrived in the vicinity. Using all of the gear available and determining ways to escape prowling aliens (or even turning the tables on them) never gets old, and I’m grateful these moments exist, because Dark Descent does its level best to end players at every opportunity.Īliens can detect a squad more quickly than I can detect them, often to an unfair degree, especially as the aliens can spawn at any of their tunnels, or when triggered by a squad’s presence.įor instance, when introducing Praetorian-class aliens, the first one simply appeared after my squad passed a specific map location, and there was no warning from the motion tracker before its arrival. Commanding every move for individual marines would rob Dark Descent of the tension that is its stock-in-trade, and this hybrid system is smart.Įnhancing the combat is that marines make use of diverse weapons and equipment - things like the iconic motion trackers which double as luring beacons for aliens when destroyed, or the famous auto-turrets which can turn a dead end hallway into a killbox for charging xenos. That said, aside from those instances where troops act goofy for a moment or two, it’s an effective squad management system that manages to immerse players in the world while simultaneously removing the need to micromanage. This can lead to some frustration when a team sniper doesn’t take up the correct firing position to attempt the long-range shots required of them, or when a gunner is unable to properly launch a grenade into a room because their aim has been affected by terror and/or injury. Individual marines act on those orders independently (there is no direct command of individual troops) to the best of their abilities based on their skills and their mental state. Gameplay happens from an overhead, isometric viewpoint where the player provides commands at the squad level. It may not be the most gripping sci-fi yarn ever told, but it offers decent thrills, some inspired twists, and is faithful to the franchise that spawned it. As such, their panic feels natural - they make rash decisions with dire consequences, and loyalties are tested from the most surprising directions. The story skillfully navigates the reality that while the players most have a good idea of what to expect, the characters do not. ![]() After a series of events in the opening, the Colonial Marines crash-land on an infested planet deep in space, and must not only fend off the xenomorphs for survival, but also get their ship, the Otago, spaceworthy before the planet is overrun. In fact, Aliens: Dark Descent went from a surefire pick for one of my games of the year to me simply hoping against hope that patches can save it from as many glitches as xenomorphs, including a showstopping error in a late-game mission that completely blocks a player’s ability to complete the campaign at all.ĭark Descent almost serves as a reboot of the entire franchise. Beyond that, technical bugs began creeping in, causing lockups and crashes, or sometimes preventing me from executing commands for no discernible reason. Unfortunately, by doing so, I realized that many of the encounters I’d thrilled to were far less organic than I’d originally thought, and Dark Descent often forced me into situations I should have been able to avoid. With my newfound knowledge, I decided to start again and play more carefully. It was exhilarating.Īfter hours of play, I had squandered my precious resources and basically led my marines to an untenable, nigh-unwinnable scenario. Every doorway could hold a full party wipe, and every success felt hard-won. They faced off against stronger, faster, and potentially smarter foes. My squad of heavily-armed (yet still squishy) Colonial Marines trudged through dark corridors with only the sound of their footsteps and the incessant beeping of a motion tracker to guide them. ![]() When I first started playing Aliens: Dark Descent, I was overwhelmed by a tremendous feeling of tension. WTF How do Face Huggers see my squad SO QUICKLY if they’re in eggs? Luring enemies into a killbox is so satisfying!
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