Alien: Rogue Incursion – Review

Ever since I first encountered the Alien universe , there’s been one thing that has always fascinated me: the perfect blend of horror and science fiction. The tension of facing a Xenomorph in tight corridors, the metallic vibrations of desolate environments, and the constant feeling of danger are elements that always seemed tailor-made for virtual reality. When Alien: Rogue Incursion was announced, my expectations were high. Finally, I would be able to dive headfirst into this terrifying world, with the promise of a cinematic and immersive experience.

After hours of intense gameplay on the PlayStation VR2, I can say that the journey was memorable, but not without its setbacks. From precise weapon control to moments of frustration with bugs and design decisions, this game is a mix of innovation and limitations. Let’s dive into each aspect of this experience to understand whether Alien: Rogue Incursion is the triumphant entry that Alien fans were hoping for or just another failed attempt.

Mechanics and Gameplay

Gameplay in Alien: Rogue Incursion is one of the core elements of the experience, mixing moments of absolute tension with frenetic action. From the beginning, you take on the role of Zula Hendricks, a former Colonial Marine accompanied by her synthetic partner Davis. The game quickly introduces its core elements: weapons, tools, and exploration mechanics that take full advantage of the capabilities of virtual reality.

Reloading weapons in VR is an immersive experience. To reload your pulse rifle, for example, you have to manually remove the empty magazine, grab a new one from your belt, and then load it into place. This interaction adds a level of immersion that you rarely see in other games. However, when you’re in the middle of a Xenomorph attack, this mechanic can get a little frustrating, especially if your weapon isn’t responding as expected.

Additionally, there’s a constant sense of urgency when using tools like the plasma torch to open doors or the motion tracker to identify threats. However, the choice of assigning different functions to different areas of the body (shoulder weapons, waist ammo, wrist items) can be a bit confusing in the heat of the moment. On a few occasions, I found myself reaching for a weapon and ending up with the navigation tablet in my hand, which certainly didn’t help with a fast-approaching Xenomorph.

Combat, while initially exciting, becomes repetitive as time goes on. Enemy AI is basic and predictable: they emerge from the same vents, attack in repeated patterns, and often “pose” for the player before attacking. This reduces the tension and turns encounters that should be terrifying into rote chores.

Graphics

Visually, Alien: Rogue Incursion is impressive in some ways and mediocre in others. The environment design perfectly captures the aesthetics of the films, with metallic hallways, flashing lights, and atmospheric effects like smoke and steam. Certain areas, like the abandoned labs and Xenomorph nests, are visually creepy and immersive.

The Xenomorph models are detailed, especially when you encounter them up close. The shiny texture of their black skin and their agile movements are frighteningly realistic. However, there are graphical inconsistencies that break the immersion, such as textures that take a long time to load or areas that look less polished.

Lighting is one of the highlights. The shadows cast by the hallways, the low light from the motion tracker, and the flashes of gunfire create a perfect atmosphere. Unfortunately, at times the game suffers from drops in dynamic resolution, making the visuals blurrier, especially during more hectic scenes.

Sound

Sound is undoubtedly one of Alien: Rogue Incursion ’s greatest triumphs . Every footstep echoing in the hallways, every noise in the ducts above you, and every “ping” from the motion tracker are all perfect for keeping the tension high. The sound design faithfully recreates the effects from the films, from the pulse rifle blasts to the terrifying screams of the Xenomorphs.

Dynamic soundtracks enhance immersion, but can become predictable. When the Xenomorphs appear, the music swells dramatically, eliminating any element of surprise. Moments of silence, when used, are much more effective in creating a genuinely scary atmosphere.

The voice acting is solid, with convincing performances, especially from Andia Winslow as Zula and Robbie Daymond as Davis. The interplay between the two characters adds emotional layers to the narrative, even if the script itself isn’t particularly groundbreaking.

Fun

While Alien: Rogue Incursion offers moments of pure adrenaline, the fun is hampered by design issues and repetitiveness. The initial exploration is exciting, with the player searching every corner of the environment, but the constant encounters with enemies, combined with a truncated narrative, diminish the excitement.

The most fun moments involve large-scale combat and interacting with the environment. Playing in VR adds an extra level of intensity, but the lack of variety in the challenges can make the experience tiresome.

Performance and Optimization

Unfortunately, Alien: Rogue Incursion suffers from technical issues that affect the experience. During my time playing, I encountered crashes, physics glitches (like objects disappearing or characters getting stuck), and performance drops in busier areas.

The lack of automatic checkpoints is another negative. The need to manually save in specific rooms adds an unnecessary layer of frustration, especially when bugs force the player to repeat long stretches of gameplay.

Conclusion

Alien: Rogue Incursion is a game that shines in its atmosphere and use of virtual reality, but stumbles in its execution. While fans of the franchise will find plenty to explore, design issues, repetitive combat, and a lack of technical polish prevent it from reaching its full potential.

I recommend Alien: Rogue Incursion to hardcore Alien fans and VR enthusiasts willing to put up with its flaws to experience the immersion of being inside this iconic universe. For other gamers, it might be best to wait for updates or a good sale.

---

Positive Points:

• Atmosphere faithful to the films.
• High immersion thanks to VR mechanics.
• Exceptional sound design.

Negative Points:

• Repetitive combat and predictable AI.
• Frequent technical problems.
• Truncated narrative with no satisfactory conclusion.

Rating:
Graphics: 8.0
Fun: 6.5
Gameplay: 7.0
Sound: 9.0
Performance and Optimization: 5.5
FINAL GRADE: 7.2 / 10.0