Alien not scary (spoilers maybe)

[IceStar100]

Ok first off never seen the movies. So maybe that did it but I never feel that fear even from the jump scares. I have even started over mid point going from normal to hard to see if that did it. Just nothing Kill the humans cyborgs if I can otherwise avoid. Same with the Alien just avoid. Most of the time it just pisses me off. I'm more bored then anything. Just wanted to see how other felt.

 

[small]

first of all im gathering you are playing alien isolation?

Well not everyone will be effected the same way by the same game nor to certain types of fear.

i would say not having seen the movie alien might of contributed to your reaction, you seem to be viewing it purely as a video came character as such rather than as the perfect predator hunting people, that can appear anywhere like in the first movie.

as someone who has seen the movie, well its the best game based on the franchise ive seen ever.

i can however see how you can get annoyed and frustrated. i play it 30-40 minutes here and there once the alien starts appearing because you can run into that sod anywhere despite having a motion tracker and its always around

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Not everybody experiences scares the same way. Even in a Silent Hill 2 discussion there's always someone going "Well I'm 11 years old and this game didn't scare me".

 

[Sniper Team 4]

you seem to be viewing it purely as a video came character as such rather than as the perfect predator hunting people, that can appear anywhere like in the first movie.

That's what it sounds like to me to. It sounds like you are viewing the entire thing as just a game, not an experience that you can lose yourself in. It seems like the game is probably not going to be to your taste.

Even in a Silent Hill 2 discussion there's always someone going "Well I'm 11 years old and this game didn't scare me".

Well, that game scared me enough that I was never able to beat it. Once it switched over to night and the nurses were outside, I was done. My brain couldn't handle the constant fear and dread anymore.

 

[Evonisia]

Not everybody experiences scares the same way. Even in a Silent Hill 2 discussion there's always someone going "Well I'm 11 years old and this game didn't scare me".

I've never actually seen scary as a necessary requirement for something to be worthwhile. Yes I know basic logic demands that a horror should be horrifying, but I still consider all of the main eight Silent Hill games (besides Homecoming, obviously) to be at the very least good and solid despite not being scary to me. Ditto some films like The Conjuring.

 

[CitizenLame]

Even within the series, aliens range from being horrifying (Alien) to scary (Aliens) to non-scary (Alien 3) to did-they-really-just-try-to-make-a-Xenomorph-cute?! (that other Alien movie).

Xenomorphs were never scary on their own, it was always the way they were presented.

Alien was scary because you had no idea what the thing was until the end (classic monster movie trick), Aliens was scary because they were like a hoarde of super-violent killers (like in zombie movies). I'm trying to put my finger on exactly why Alien 3 wasn't as scary, but I'm all out of my RedLetterMedia juice.

I've never heard of Alien Isolation, though, I'mma go check it out.

 

[white_wolf]

Seen the movies and it can scary when its stalking you or if its found you and you need to run even if you try to get people in the way of you and it the xeno will still kill you. As for the cyborgs its easier to run from them then try to kill them but you can kill them.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I watched Alien when I was relatively young, and let me tell you that Isolation encapsulates everything that terrified me as a child.

It's not the alien that scares me, it's the alien not being there that scares me, it's the always looking over my shoulder, it's the noises, the tricks your mind plays on you, the feeling of utter helplessness.

Then the alien is there, and it's an immediate threat, you can't run, because it can hear you and it's quicker, so you have to move ridiculously slow, so slow that you're terrified you won't make it across a goddamn corridor in time.

 

[Itdoesthatsometimes]

I have seen the movie, I have not and probably never will play the game. I do not have anything against it, it just has not pushed me over that hump to make me want to bother.

As of what OP said, if I may summarize, They forgot to make it fun. I hope I am not overstepping my bounds summarizing. Coming into the conversation without playing the game. Feeling as though you feel the same, when playing the game without seeing the movie.

To my brain you are saying it is not a fun game without watching the movie as reference. Scary maybe part of the fun that you are lacking, but the real problem being that it is not fun to you.

If I may summarize the response to that, You should watch the movie/s to get fully immersed.

I agree watch the movie, then play the game. Then watch part two then play the game.

I imagine you spent a lot of money on the game (I would download it right now if it were free). I take it you do not like the game. How about spending a little more time with it and the source material. To discuss the way the game appeals (or does not appeal) to you before and then after your introduction to the source material.

Homework for everybody else:

Go watch Prometheus, and imagine that The Creators are all Ridley Scott.

Was that Ridley Scott's head blowing up, or yours?

I bet you want to watch Prometheus 2 now, huh?

 

[lacktheknack]

Not everybody experiences scares the same way. Even in a Silent Hill 2 discussion there's always someone going "Well I'm 11 years old and this game didn't scare me".

That would be me.

But yeah, gamers never seem to wrap their brains around the idea that some people just don't scare the same way. I'm pretty much immune to spoooooky atmosphere, but send invincible monsters after me and I start panicking instantly.

 

[Drago-Morph]

Ok first off never seen the movies.

Stop right there. Stop playing Alien: Isolation or whatever it is you're playing, and IMMEDIATELY WATCH ALIEN AND ALIEN 2.

*Aliens. And Alien 3! It's a fantastic film!

Even within the series, aliens range from being horrifying (Alien) to scary (Aliens) to non-scary (Alien 3) to did-they-really-just-try-to-make-a-Xenomorph-cute?! (that other Alien movie).

Xenomorphs were never scary on their own, it was always the way they were presented.

Alien was scary because you had no idea what the thing was until the end (classic monster movie trick), Aliens was scary because they were like a hoarde of super-violent killers (like in zombie movies). I'm trying to put my finger on exactly why Alien 3 wasn't as scary, but I'm all out of my RedLetterMedia juice.

Alien 3 wasn't really scary, it was just depressing. I'd argue the Alien is a scary creature because of how it always seemed to represent some sort of greater cosmic evil. This really only applies to the original series, where they were found in the big fossilized spaceship of some unknown race. All very creepy.

 

[Fox12]

Ok first off never seen the movies. So maybe that did it but I never feel that fear even from the jump scares. I have even started over mid point going from normal to hard to see if that did it. Just nothing Kill the humans cyborgs if I can otherwise avoid. Same with the Alien just avoid. Most of the time it just pisses me off. I'm more bored then anything. Just wanted to see how other felt.

The thing is, the Alien was never supposed to be scary itself. Heck, they basically get neutered in the James Cameron sequel. What WAS scary was the implication that, frankly, the human race is expendable. They find a stash of eggs on a crashed alien space craft at a time where human thought they were alone in the universe. There are mysterious pyramids built in honor of the creature, giing it an almost cult like background. Then the characters are stuck on a giant floating haunted house with no way to escape. No one is coming to help them. They're alone in the infinite black. And then, even if they survive, or kill the Alien, there's still an alien ship filled with hundreds of the buggers. Presumably there are more elsewhere. To make matters worse, even the humans can't be trusted. There are all these shady organizations that seem to know more than the audience or the crew, leading to a sense of paranoia. The monster wasn't scary, the ideas behind it were.

Furthermore, the original Alien was basically a walking phalic symbol. The entire film was basically a rape allegory. The architecture of the buildings and planets were supposed to resemble penises and vagineas. It was just subtle enough to be disturbing without being overbearing. Every aspect of the film was indicative of rape, and of peoples discomfort with sexuality. In many cases people felt disturbed without understanding why. It was quite brilliant, and legitimately scary in a psychological way.

I have no idea if the game captures any of this, but the sequels did not. They just turned the creature into a space velociraptor, which misses the point entirely. That's why James camerons film is not scary at all, despite having hundreds of the creatures.

 

[Muspelheim]

If it isn't scary, is it at least a fun experience to you?

The silly flappyfaces from Amnesia didn't really scare me, but it was still exciting and fun hiding and avoiding them. Horror is very subjective, and even if it isn't scaring you, it can be a stimulating experience.

I haven't played Isolation myself, but I've had a look. I do agree, it's not particularly scary on the face of it, not in the freeze-and-panic way, at the very least. But it does look like great fun sneaking about trying not to get eaten. Like a big space-mouse with a revolver.

In brief, a survival horror game can be fun even if the scare factor doesn't quite check out. If Isolation isn't, then I'm afraid you've just had bad luck. It happens, sometimes a game just doesn't 'click'. But it's always worth a go.

 

[AceTrilby]

I would chime in but Daystar basically nailed it.

It's not the alien that scares me, it's the alien not being there that scares me, it's the always looking over my shoulder, it's the noises, the tricks your mind plays on you, the feeling of utter helplessness.

Then the alien is there, and it's an immediate threat, you can't run, because it can hear you and it's quicker, so you have to move ridiculously slow, so slow that you're terrified you won't make it across a goddamn corridor in time.

I went into Alien: Isolation not expecting to be scared. Outlast didn't scare me, neither did Amnesia. A cool, accurate-to-the-movie experience? Sure. Scary? Nah.

One hour in, and I was sweating. Then I realized the Alien wasn't even a palpable threat yet. And then it became one.

Obviously I can't say it's an objectively scary game, but it terrified me very quickly. This is a 20 hour game. I have made it roughly 2. And in that short time span, I became twitchy, paranoid and filled with dread.

If that ain't good horror, I don't know what is.

 

[Evonisia]

Not everybody experiences scares the same way. Even in a Silent Hill 2 discussion there's always someone going "Well I'm 11 years old and this game didn't scare me".

That would be me.

But yeah, gamers never seem to wrap their brains around the idea that some people just don't scare the same way. I'm pretty much immune to spoooooky atmosphere, but send invincible monsters after me and I start panicking instantly.

So Silent Hill 3?

Well, some of the monsters in Silent Hill 3 had ridiculous health because you were supposed to avoid them.

 

[lacktheknack]

Not everybody experiences scares the same way. Even in a Silent Hill 2 discussion there's always someone going "Well I'm 11 years old and this game didn't scare me".

That would be me.

But yeah, gamers never seem to wrap their brains around the idea that some people just don't scare the same way. I'm pretty much immune to spoooooky atmosphere, but send invincible monsters after me and I start panicking instantly.

So Silent Hill 3?

Well, some of the monsters in Silent Hill 3 had ridiculous health because you were supposed to avoid them.

Yes, actually! Silent Hill 3 was the scariest in the series (SH4 comes close), in part because most monster encounters were of a WHY WON'T YOU DIIIIIE type.

 

[Evonisia]

Snip Snap, who gives a crap?

I remember actually having to restart the whole game because all I had to fight Leonard was the mace, I was genuinely feeling tense as I desperately tried to use the mace without him stabbing me.

Then when I had bullets I used all of them on him and I wus like wut!

Edit: But I will now stop derailing as I've already expressed my opinion on the thread's subject matter.

 

[lacktheknack]

Snip Snap, who gives a crap?

I remember actually having to restart the whole game because all I had to fight Leonard was the mace, I was genuinely feeling tense as I desperately tried to use the mace without him stabbing me.

Then when I had bullets I used all of them on him and I wus like wut!

tfw final boss, katana, no bullets

True fear, right there. True fear.

Also, Silent Hill 4 had the invincible enemy thing down pat. Ghosts, a serial killer, and a room with twenty twins in it? QQ

 

[small]

I watched Alien when I was relatively young, and let me tell you that Isolation encapsulates everything that terrified me as a child.

It's not the alien that scares me, it's the alien not being there that scares me, it's the always looking over my shoulder, it's the noises, the tricks your mind plays on you, the feeling of utter helplessness.

Then the alien is there, and it's an immediate threat, you can't run, because it can hear you and it's quicker, so you have to move ridiculously slow, so slow that you're terrified you won't make it across a goddamn corridor in time.

i think you have it right there. when you can see the alien and it hasnt seen you at least you know where the damn thing is. but most of the time you dont.. its in the air ducts, in the ceiling some where, you feel extremely vulnerable when you enter an area without proper cover to hide behind or under.

hell i thought i was completely clear once, started to climb into an air duct, heard a hiss behind me and it dragged me out by the feet and killed me.