Alien: Rogue Incursion Review: In VR, everyone can hear you scream

Alien: Rebel Raid Review

The Alien franchise has instilled fear in audiences since its inception in 1979, mixing horror and science fiction and delving into the pop culture subconscious. Born from the minds of creative visionaries, the series became iconic due to its claustrophobic atmosphere, unforgettable characters and chilling settings. With its combination of suspenseful tension and high-octane action, Alien has consistently petrified audiences across a variety of media. Alien: Rogue Incursion ventures into the virtual realm, but will it take advantage of the platform's immersive and tactile possibilities to elevate the franchise's signature terror?

You play as Zula Hendricks, an intrepid former colonial marine tasked with investigating a mysterious SOS signal emanating from the planet Purdan. However, after an unexpected loss of control, their spaceship crashes into the planet's surface. Stranded, you and your trusty synth companion, Davis 01, navigate the barren, broken remains of the Exoplanet Solutions research facility. As you delve deeper, you must evade the deadly xenomorphs while searching for survivors. Although the story relies on familiar tropes, Survios offers a well-paced experience that masterfully combines the intense action reminiscent of Cameron's vision with the suffocating dread of Scott's original. The result is an intense, immersive adventure that honors the franchise's legacy and anchors you firmly in its biomechanical world.

It doesn't look like an SOS… It looks like a warning

Every moment carries a foreboding sense of dread. Narrow, enclosed hallways contrast with open areas, ensuring that every confrontation with the menacing xenomorphs is a thrilling thrill. Unlike Alien: Isolation, Incursion gives you weapons to take on these imposing aliens head-on. However, stealth is still a viable strategy; Staying out of sight often proves advantageous as cunning creatures work together to exploit your weaknesses.

While you have the tools to defend yourself, you'll often have to turn your back on large areas to defeat a module or complete a small puzzle. This puts you in a vulnerable position and can often lead to situations where you have to drop everything and fight for your life. Audio signals lead to the whereabouts of the aliens. Clawing claws in the vents above and non-diegetic sounds signal their arrival, creating a soundscape that keeps you constantly on edge. Each element combines to create an intoxicating experience, generating a deep-seated fear that leaves you fighting for survival.

There is a sublime level of interaction that permeates the adventure. In addition to opening lockers and containers for resources, Survios adds additional tactile elements that immerse you even further in the experience. From cleaning blood from soaked monitors to injecting yourself with a boost to restore health, each interaction binds you to the world. This is further implemented through their tools. Using a portable device, you can access the map and search for the area with the tip of your finger. Each item and weapon is also intuitively located on different parts of your body, allowing you to jump from item to item quickly. This adds a frenetic physical aspect to the adventure, heightening the horror as you try to overcome the paralyzing fear of the xenomorphs.

No one can hear you scream

Your pulse rifle isn't just a weapon: it's your lifeline. Conveniently located over your shoulder, it is your main survival tool. Closing one eye to aim through the reticle adds a satisfying layer of precision as you follow the aliens scaling walls and ceilings. However, holding the trigger causes significant recoil, which throws your aim off. Because of this, you must master short, controlled bursts to defeat enemies efficiently. Reloading the rifle feels tactile and immersive. Ejecting the magazine, grabbing a new one, slamming it into place, and cocking the gun is a sequence that never gets old.

Panic rooms are scattered throughout, allowing you to take a breather and save your progress. With no autosave or checkpoints, you'll revisit these rooms regularly so you don't lose any progress. While this adds tension to the experience, it can also be frustrating having to redo parts of the game after being impaled by a xenomorph. With limited resources, a good level of challenge is offered with the ability to adjust the difficulty according to your preferences.

Accessibility options are vital in VR games due to the variety of factors that can affect your experience. Survios recognizes this and offers a variety of options to help you customize your adventure. From customizable spin settings to adjustable visor effects, there are multiple ways to tailor the game to your needs. While this won't stop motion sickness for those who are prone to it, it certainly gives you a variety of options to quell it.

Game over, man

The game manages to capture the aesthetic synonymous with the franchise. From narrow, metallic hallways to snow-filled open areas, every place you visit feels like it was ripped from the big screen. Shadows remain in every corner, hiding secrets that invite you to investigate. The scenes offer exciting moments that will stay in your psyche long after the credits roll. Along with the haunting music, the overall presentation conveys the essence of the series to deliver an authentic adventure that will resonate with fans of the franchise.

Alien: Rogue Incursion is a faithful adaptation of the iconic series, capturing the panic-inducing terror and relentless action synonymous with the films. Every step through the dark, metallic hallways is nerve-wracking, thanks to a suspenseful score and meticulous attention to detail. While it has more action than Alien: Isolation, the game's heavy touch weapons enhance immersion and provide a visceral and satisfying experience. The balance between tension and combat makes Rogue Incursion an essential addition to any VR library.

***The publisher provided a PSVR 2 code***