Alien: Isolation trailer focuses on the horror

Like all the best horror tools, the motion detector is kind of useful but also massively ratchets up the tension.

Crikey, but this trailer makes Alien: Isolation look like Outlast in space. Which seems like one of the best ways to do an Alien game, if you ask me.

The newest Alien: Isolation trailer focuses on the game’s horror more than anything, with plenty of emphasis on running and hiding from both the xenomorph stalking the corridors, and some nasty humans. There are little snippets of things that I warily call “cinematic” and “game-y”, like using a flamer and coming face-to-pharyngeal-jaws with the xenomorph only for an explosion to knock it away, but for the most part the trailer is all about being very scared, hiding in cupboards, and sprinting down corridors. Which, as I said above, seems right to me.

I’m also pleased with the authenticity of the gadgets, insofar as this really does look and feel quite Alien. If there really is more of a focus on atmosphere than there is on gunplay, then Sega might be onto a genuinely scary winner.

Alien: Isolation is due out on 7 October.