Alien Deathstorm isn’t what I expected.
I assumed that the latest from Rebellion was a linear sci-fi shooter that had you blasting aliens in a cool setting. That’s partly true, I suppose, but as I start playing my brief 20-minute demo during Gamescom, I am surprised to find that this is a much less directed experience – and a lot scarier too.
I make my way towards a dilapidated station which is currently being torn apart by a massive storm. Parts of the pathways crumble before me as lights, pipes, and tarps are violently shaken by the winds. Visually, it’s quite impressive.
My directive is to repair a reactor, but other than a vague marker on my compass, I’m left to explore. It actually takes me a second to acclimatise to the hands-off approach of Alien Deathstorm, which I’m later told is inspired by a previous Rebellion title, Atomfall.
However, I don’t have too much time to think as the Aliens-like scanner informs me that something is heading towards me. A handful of spider-like creatures attack me, and I start spraying and praying with my SMG.
I manage to take down two, but a third explodes some form of excrement across my visor, rendering me blind. I continue to spray hopelessly until a tap of the D-Pad wipes the goo from my visor. I manage to finish the job with a swipe of my melee weapon.
I’m a little on edge at this point as I make my way inside, with the sounds of the storm becoming muted as I close the door behind me. Unceremoniously, though, I’m assaulted by a massive nine-foot alien, delivering one of the first proper jump scares of my demo. What’s even better is that it isn’t scripted. In fact, it’s claimed that 90% of your interactions with the aliens are dynamic, based upon how much attention you are drawing to yourself.
I make my way into the Reactor Core and hear over the speaker system that engineers should report to the Control Room. Once you’re inside the building you need to visit, the HUD marker disappears, so I really enjoy this not-so-subtle yet in-game way of telling me where to go.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.pushsquare.com/previews/alien-deathstorm-is-not-the-sci-fi-horror-i-expected
