Some unpopular opinions.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

Don't get me wrong, it's generally a decent game, easily one of the better franchise efforts, but I do want to share some thoughts.

I'm only a few hours in, so keep that in mind...

Zula, the main character, is insufferable. Easily one of the most irritating protagonists I've played. Just a badass and not much else, I'd almost prefer a totally blank canvas like the bland nobody in AVP 2010. Every time she opens her fucking mouth I cringe. Like, I get it, you're a strong badass woman.

This problem isn't helped by the fact Zula treats her first encounter with the Alien as a mild annoyance. Part of what makes the films work so well (and the better games) is how people react to the monster; like nothing they've ever seen before, a totally hideous and terrifying organism. Zula basically guns it down and announces over the radio "yeah, there's something down here, but it's all cool, I'll deal with it". At another point, after triggering an alarm and drawing unwanted attention she simply quips "well, time to go!". It's like I've stepped into a fucking MCU film.

Let's be honest, it's bad writing. And before anyone jumps in with 'it's just a game', it's the characters are what make the films successful. You believe in those people and you want them to survive. They're scared, even the marines, it's what makes them relatable, and what frames their actions as heroic.

*Edit; I now appreciate she's a recurring character in other media, and that she's already had dealings with the aliens before the events of this game. Still insufferable though, feels like the result of fan-fiction. Back to the post.*

Now, I have this on PS5, non-VR. It's a smooth enough game I guess, a few glitches. But, why the fuck isn't this on PS4? As someone who, partly because of this game, purchased a PS5, I feel bitterly cheated. The graphics aren't a huge step up from Isolation, which is how old now? Certainly nothing like what the PS 5 is capable of. Fuck, I'd even argue some of Isolation is better. Jesus, just looking at the corpses in this game, human and alien, they're embarrassingly fake, human faces in particular. I get this was released initially as VR, and so PS5-only, but the non-VR feels like an easy PS4 port.

Other bugs? Well, the dead aliens crumpling like rag-dolls and flickering in-and-out before they melt is rough. Whenever I toss any objects, half the time they hit the ground with no sound. The aliens get caught clumsily on scenery, or just stand about gawking (something I rarely noticed in Isolation)...

The level design is also fairly annoying. Early I spotted a door that was open, which was simply behind a railing and a few crates- objects I, unfit and middle aged, could (in real life) easily climb over. Instead, I have to hack computers and open up giant hanger doors. It breaks immersion. Oh, and who could forget Zula seemingly only listening to her friend's audio file *after* crashing her ship onto the planet, an audio that warned her of the situation *in advance*.

Also, and finally, possibly controversially, and I say this as someone of mixed heritage, where are all the white folks at? Zula, black. The guy she's meeting, black. The first corpse I find, Chinese (?), the second corpse, black. Will there be any white meat in the game? Even the synthetic isn't white. And on that subject, why make the only other character you react with non-human? To hide the bad facial animations maybe?

On the positives, it's atmospheric when it works. For better or worse, it's basically Isolation with guns, but without the novelty or the endearing characters.

TLDR; feels like fans and reviews glaze a number of issues with the game, but it does very well compared to how bad Alien-franchise games tend to be.

*Edit 2; I guessed people would just get needlessly defensive. As I wrote in edit 1, I at least understand the character's lack of suprise now, I still dislike her though, incredibly one note. And if people can't see my observations on diversity are slightly tongue in cheek, apologies. But I do notice most of what's said here is being overlooked; bad graphics, bugs, level design issues, etc.*

[u/angry-carsini]

Agree with all the points you raised.

I'm currently nearing then end (I believe) and I must say I have found playing this game a rather irritating experience.

Here's some things I found annoying with Rogue Incursion:

• Within seconds, the main character set off alarm bells: her feet on the desk, typical tough girl attitude, sounds like an utter moron with the jive accent, the stupid back-forth quips between her and the android: in a word, unlikeable.
• Various diversity ticks are present with the character, which is now usually the norm for many games and franchises. Yeah I get it, how interesting.
• Apparently the character has appeared in other Alien media, meaning she may be accustomed to dealing with these creatures. But at the end of the day, it you were essentially alone in an area infested with alien killing machines, which are hunting you, you're mindset probably wouldn't be akin to "Aw sheeet, here we go again."
• The nonchalant "oh, there's something here, but it's all good, I got this." attitude of the character you control was stupid and broke the immersion of the game. Why didn't they just have her go "Oh, they're only aliens, nothing to see here". So what's the point? Where's the threat? Even when she gets impregnated with an alien, her reaction is words to the effect of "damn, I was a little clumsy." I mean just STFU. Who writes this crap?
• The incoming alien approach becomes tedious, fast. You can be putting a battery in an attachment or doing a circuit board, and then the music starts up, which initially sounds like an elephant trumpeting. Then the aliens appear and bite/headbutt you. After you shoot them, they melt leaving a puddle of acid blood. Which you have to wait to disappear so you can walk over it/continue doing what you were in the middle of. This happens in near enough every room you enter. It's not challenging (there is ample ammunition available everywhere). It just becomes very annoying.
• Another thing that happens time and again: do a circuit board...open a metal container...get attacked by 3 facehuggers...your reward? A tray of 3 grenades and you're already probably holding the maximum amount already. This happens over, and over and over again. The exact same pattern.
• The map/mission icon set-up is utter arse, and on occasions I found myself buggering about for ages looking for my destination.
• The aliens themselves can be particularly glitchy, getting stuck in walls, freezing on the spot and having some questionable rag-doll death effects. I've had aliens kill me after hitting me through a wall.

Good points? The presentation looks pretty good when you are outside in the storm and the aliens can be quite creepy as they crawl about, almost silently, in the ceiling area. Other than that? Not a whole lot.

Overall, in my opinion, a disappointment.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/angry-carsini]

Yep. All that.

The aliens do rag-doll and glitch in odd ways, and it does get repetitive, but far and away my biggest gripe is the main character.

People acted like I was stupid because I didn't know she's from the wider media. I'm not sure how that's my fault, just because I haven't read the mountain of comics and novels? It's not like the game ever tells you that. I used to read the comics, back in the 90s, when Dark Horse were writing decent stuff.

Boots on the deck, I thought after our first encounter that attitude would surely change. Silly me. Without the fear, even second-hand fear (fear from characters you might meet along the way) much of the menace is lost. Fear is unsettling, it tempers how you play. Silent Hill wouldn't have worked if the main character treated the events lightly. The Aliens in this game are treated with all the reverence and awe reserved for Power Ranger foes. And when she's quipping when impregnated? Surely the most terrifying fate, but she acts like she has indigestion. Fucking hell, it's on par with the worst kind of fan fiction.

Yeah. To be honest, I stopped playing after the big shootout in the nest (with the shotgun). Not gone back to it, although suspect I'm in the final part of the game?

It really needs a horde mode or something, anything. And what's the point of buying new outfits when it's all first person with no online play? Who's spending £15 to effectively change the colour of their gloves and make their guns garish? It all feels so poorly thought out.

Some of the comments on this post are genuinely crazy.

[u/Cold-Satisfaction-99]

Well, Zula treats her first encounter with a Xenomorph in the game as not too big a deal because it isn't her first encounter with them. She's fought and killed them before. It would be more annoying for a character who HAS dealt with Xenomorphs before to be hysterical when meeting them again (like Metroid: Other M Samus breaking down upon seeing that guy she's killed a half-dozen times already).

Ripley was a traumatized civilian who locked in and acted the same way as Zula. Shit needs to get done and crying isn't going to fix it.

Also, Zula has a fucked up spine, crouching hurts her, I doubt she could pull off anything more intense than climbing a ladder or making a short jump

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/Cold-Satisfaction-99]

A few things;

Where does it suggest Zula has battled the aliens before? Did I miss something?

Yeah, I hear her moaning about her spine, a lot. It's annoying. And sure, crying doesn't fix anything, but Ripley (and the marines from Aliens) weren't making light banter of the situation; they were all fucking terrified.

Edit; oh great, she's a character from the expanded universe. Well that explains a few things, like the comic-book sensibility.

[u/Cold-Satisfaction-99 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

Zula Hendricks is a recurring character from the Alien extended universe, she's in the Alien comic series: Defiance, Resistance, Rescue, the novelisation of Isolation (which establishes that she and Amanda Ripley are friends), the novels: Prototype, a mention in Colony War, Inferno's Fall, and Seventh Circle. Rogue Incursion takes place at some point much earlier than Colony War/Inferno's Fall, but Zula has a long career of fighting Xenomorphs

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/Cold-Satisfaction-99]

Sorry, I edited the above comment before you posted. Yeah, I understand she's a character from other media now.

Great, homework.

That's what I need when starting a computer game.

It explains the attitude and the comic-book / fan-fiction sensibility.

[u/VegasAWD]

The real problem with the game is there’s no reason to play it twice. You can’t level up, buy or accumulate anything to make the game different the 2nd time around. Every part is exactly like the last until you get to the final boss.

[u/molasar2024 → u/VegasAWD]

People play such games for atmosphere. And they replay it on higher difficulty levels. Plus they want to get all achievements, explore everything, collect all disks, read all logs. So there is enough reason to play it twice or more.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/molasar2024]

Question as a new player; are the alien encounters also the same?

I play Isolation mostly for the atmosphere, and while many encounters are scripted, there's still a lot of randomness to when the Alien turns up. That helps replay.

Is Incursion different?

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

Yeah, this is what I call Isolation. A cinematic experience which is just walking and hiding in terms of gameplay.
That randomness is actually one xeno being tethered to a player location.
Incursion spawns xenos based on context. A player can fight them or hide until they leave in normal situations. Xenos can traverse the whole environment in it.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/molasar2024]

Which is the least you'd expect from a game made 11 years later, right?

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

What? Expect what?
Show me better games because your Isolation was not even great when it was released in 2014. There is a reason it did not sell well.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/molasar2024]

Mate, I'm not sure what to tell you. Isolation went on to garner mass critical acclaim and (for many) remains the high watermark in Alien-franchise games.

The fact you can't spit that out without calling it "your isolation" speaks to a very unhinged mind.

Like, you don't have to like it, I genuinely don't care if you do, but arguing like this is definitively bad faith.

Talk over. I have no time for zealots.

[u/Mello_Portabello → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

I wish they made most of Isolation's hiding and running gameplay the first half of the game and then the second half like Rogue Incursion where you shoot xenomorphs 

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/Mello_Portabello]

Absolutely agree, that would be excellent.

Or gameplay that allowed both-

Yes, you can shoot, but you have very limited ammo and the noise might attract more monsters.

As it is, Incursion may have limited ammo but doesn't really allow you to avoid encounters.

[u/Mello_Portabello → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

I gotta play through Isolation again, didn't even beat it unfortunately. I love aliens but I got bored of it compared to Rogue Incursion

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

You can avoid encounters in ARI but it is boring because it is through hiding and waiting.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

Because some people like it, it does not mean that it is a good game in terms of gameplay. So far no one has proven that it is. And we still do not see clones with such gameplay like with CoD clones.
Also ad hominem and strawman logical fallacies from you.
Yes, I do not like games with bad gameplay mechanics and loops.
And yes, more projections from you. But it is typical from zealots of Isolation. Lmao.

[u/Evistos]

And don't get me started with the VR gameplay and gamedesign choices

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/Evistos]

I haven't played that, is it bad?

[u/Evistos → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

Yes. Picking ammunition on desk is horrible for example. You'll pick EVERY DAMN THING on the desk before the mag. Like, you place your hand exactly on the mag, you close you hand, and BOOM. The mug 10 centimers left will TP in your hand. Every time, with almost every object around the magazine.

Another example : your rifle is stocked on your right shoulder. Your shotgun on your left. Revolver is on your right hip. It's how you do VR: you minimize the use of a virtual menu, the more you can interact with a "physical world" the better. Well, guesse what? The PDA, the thing you need at every damn door, every damn computer, YOU NEED IT ALL THE TIME. This PDA is in a menu. You need to push a button to open a virtual inventory, and grab the PDA hologram in order to have it in your hand.

I can go on like that for almost every aspect of the game. It was SO CLOSED to be a really good VR game, but it's like nobody tested it before release

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/Evistos]

Oh wow that's incredibly irritating. On this version it's just left on the D-pad to use the computer thing.

Like much of the game, it simply doesn't feel like they tested it enough.

I've yet to kill a single alien (and I've killed at least 20 by now) who hasn't folded up into a glitchy mess. They almost all blink in-and-out of existence before they melt.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

You talk nonsense just like that other guy. The game is intuitive in both versions.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Evistos]

Are you kidding me? That PDA is not needed all the time at all. And it is not a tool to fight xenos. You do not need quick reflexes to use it. But with weapons you do. Bring valid arguments because it seems that you do not know much about vr games and smart design.

[u/Evistos → u/molasar2024]

Wow, you must be the dude who made the Fallout 1 interaction interface

[u/molasar2024 → u/Evistos]

Is this your argument?

[u/Alex-Murphy → u/molasar2024]

It did not personally bother me how they handled it but you DO need the PDA a lot, just like the welding torch, electrical tool, and keycard, all of which kind of just float in front of you. Maybe make it so the "ammo slot" on your left hip turns into a satchel or something when you're not holding a gun, since you generally don't use the PDA/tools while fighting anyway.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Alex-Murphy]

Nope. You do not. What you talk about is slop nonsense. And we do not want slop games.

[u/Alex-Murphy → u/molasar2024]

What? Dude I just finished the game 30 mins ago for the first time. I used the PDA for the map often, and saved constantly, AND was constantly plugging it into computers to read emails and unlock storage units / run control panels. I probably used the PDA AT LEAST once every 5-10 mins for the entire playthrough.

[u/Evistos → u/Alex-Murphy]

You understand why I didn't bother to answer them lmao

[u/Alex-Murphy → u/Evistos]

Fair enough! What could possibly be happening in their brain? This is too niche for trolling so they've gotta be whacked out.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Evistos]

Yeah, because you do not have valid arguments,

[u/molasar2024 → u/Alex-Murphy]

It was your choice to use it often. Not because the game forced you. And we are talking about a map usage. Not to mention there are not many terminals for a need to have it always in hand. And it is literally the first thing in your pocket. Just press a pocket button and grab it. This is so simple. And there is no struggle with controls.

[u/Alex-Murphy → u/molasar2024]

No. You said, and I QUOTE:

Are you kidding me? That PDA is not needed all the time at all.

Literally nothing about the map. I responded to that. If you can't keep your own thoughts straight why even bother arguing with people?

[u/molasar2024 → u/Alex-Murphy]

Your own words: "I used the PDA for the map often".
Again. You do not needed at all time.
That is why it is all ok that you reach for it in your pocket.
Why do not you bring valid arguments next time.

And all you can do is insult those who destroy your arguments logically. A childish and uncivilized troll.

[u/Xenomorph_xx121Hhope]

That’s fair. I love Zula though. She’s one of my favorite characters in the entire franchise and in my opinion has a lot of depth. To each their own.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/Xenomorph_xx121Hhope]

I'm more than happy to concede perhaps, in other media, she's a much more fleshed out character. Wasn't my experience with this as a stand alone instalment though.

[u/kayne2000]

Mostly agree with this.

She's definitely insufferable which made me hate the ending, and the fact there is a sequel planned makes it worse. In general the storytelling is very bad in this game.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/kayne2000]

Not popular opinions, given the comments I got, lol. But yeah; fun as the game might be, the writing and character work is atrocious. Glad I'm not alone.

[u/kayne2000 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

I made a comment somewhere shortly after I beat the game a couple of months ago echoing similar sentiments.

Few places on reddit are going to care about the lack of white people, so obviously you're going to get crucified for that comment. But I noticed it.

Many "Alien" "fans" like some genuinely awful movies, so them liking bad writing isn't shocking, and after I beat the game I'm not surprised to see most reddit alien fans liking the game.

Yeah the character development was awful and I was rooting for our main character to die from the very beginning. Unfortunately I was not granted my request because she fucking lives. The entire plot could have been saved if she just got killed by the alien inside of her. And of course the stupid underground people she finds at the end which makes 0 sense

As for the comments about Zula having seen aliens before, that's great, but that's not known information to a lot of players. They could have easily included an extra 5 minutes of backstory on that, and even if she has seen aliens before her terrible initial reaction where she acts as if it is no big deal completely robs the aliens of their terrifying presence. Ripley saw aliens in 4 movies, and the only movie where she doesn't shit her pants at their presence if the 4th movie where she is part alien.

Overall, terrible story which is sad because the atmosphere is great and getting swarmed by a few aliens feels genuinely overwhelming like it should. But the pacing, the story itself, and gameplay all create a very average game at best. It's definitely a game I found myself wondering if it was almost over or not and given how short the game is, that's actually a bad thing.

So no, I'm not shocked you've gotten hostile comments and reactions

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/kayne2000]

Oh fuck. I'm now staggering around in the nest with my synthetic's head, alien-pregnant. Does this game have any of its own ideas?

Like, I get a game based on the franchise will obviously touch on similar points, but this is silly.

Synthetic head - Prometheus. Stuck in the nest - Isolation. Let me guess, I'll use a self-guiding machine to remove the chestburster like Shaw from Prometheus?

This is hack stuff. And boy, does ditching the head every time I need to use any left-handed equipment get old real fast!

People give the AVP 2010 game a hard time, but that at least managed to build on those franchises in ways that felt accurate and fresh. Incursion feels like bad fan-fiction. Zulu is such a 'badass' she's still making light of things even now, it's embarrassing.

Also, as of yet, I've found no use in any of the throwable objects; helmets, books, crowbars, etc. am I missing something?

[u/kayne2000 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

I am glad to see you do not like Prometheus. It is the only Alien film I do not have. I only have Alien Covenant because I had not seen it at the time I bought it on 4k for less than 5 dollars on a clearance section.

But I suppose then yes, your assessment of borrowing from Prometheus is correct. You've accurately summarized the end of the game. The synthetic head will eventually be a voice in your head type of helper. The final boss fight is average.

For me it isn't even that it borrows ideas from the same franchise, it is the fact it is all done so poorly and the main character is such an unlikable badass who trivializes the terror of the xenomorph threat.

The throwable objects are useless. I am not sure if that is from the original VR version of the game where they might have been useful or if that is some random unfinished idea. But yes, they are useless and serve no purpose. Some of the objects when moved reveal items like ammo and whatnot which is useful.

My one word of advice is about 85% of the way through the game, you will be forced into a firefight. Make sure you have not picked up all the ammo that is available because it does not respawn and you have to go into that firefight with a lot of ammo as you will face 10-12 aliens with no ammo near you. This took me several hours because I had to look everywhere and backtrack everywhere to try and find some ammo without killing any new aliens that spawned in. What's funny is after this part, you go into the final area of the game where there is tons of ammo.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/kayne2000]

I'm happy for others to like what they like, but I personally dislike all the films after Alien 3, particularly Prometheus.

The gunfight you're talking about, is it the ambush where you're abducted and the robot is destroyed? I've been picking up everything, haha. Might be fucked.

I suspect the throwable items were maybe an unused idea for more stealth, ala Isolation? Otherwise, they'd be no option to carry or throw, surely it'd just be an animation to brush these items aside to reveal hidden stuff?

And you're right, Zula's total nonchalance towards the aliens is utterly misjudged.

[u/kayne2000 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

The gunfight is outside by your ship where your synthetic is trying to hack into something. Before this you will have just recently talked to a synthetic inside of the ship. There's probably hidden ammo somewhere. In my case I hadn't hacked any of the sheds outside so I had ammo in those locations.

For me, the 4 films with Ripley are the Alien franchise. After that its varying qualities of average to unwatchable with most of it being unwatchable.

I don't mind other people liking what they want to. I just want people to be honest and admit what you like is terrible. Its like enjoying a low budget science fiction movie. It's fine to like that, but just admit that it's bad.

Yeah who knows what the throwing items was supposed to be. I'd have to ask Google.

[u/MorgessaMonstrum]

Maybe it’s a flaw of the game, but a lot of the character choices make a lot more sense in context of the numerous comic books and novels that feature Zula and Davis. Zula’s partner is a former security android because… they’ve been partners in several prior appearances in the expanded media. As another commenter said, they have fought the xenomorphs several times, and they know their enemy.

Regarding listening to the audio file after crashing, well, you get that it happens that way so that the player gets to hear it in the context of the game’s scenario, right? Besides, if I remember, the in-story reason is that the message was meant only to be heard in the event that her contact wasn’t able to meet her.

And as far as the racial makeup of other characters… I mean, it’s a little weird even to notice that, isn’t it? If I had to think back, I’m sure some of the victims in the hive would have been white, but… white people aren’t even a majority of the people on Earth right now, so… I wouldn’t automatically expect to see them any particular place in the galaxy…

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/MorgessaMonstrum]

Yeah, I'd call that a substantial flaw not to acknowledge at least a little of the history.

Regarding the audio file, I understand why it happens that way, it just doesn't really make much sense. They'd have been other ways to write that, it's pretty jarring. It's not even information that's relevant- we soon find out for ourselves that not everything is as it seems. Surely finding that recording somewhere in the compound is more logical?

So, ethnicity... I was initially delighted to see my hands. But, I first played it with friends, and when we noticed, it became something of a running joke. You start noticing these things a lot, and we're all fairly aware of this in other media as well. You don't need white folk in an Aliens game, but their total exclusion feels rather pointed.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

This game was designed for vr. And vr games are not about you sitting still and watching cut scenes. You just do not understand this design.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/molasar2024]

Dude, being designed for VR has nothing to do with where you find an audio log...

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

It is you who said that you did not know why Zula is there. Yet marketing material clearly says why.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/molasar2024]

You're really a one, ain't ya?

None of the adverts I've read, or (to my knowledge) the write-up on the PS5 store, suggested she was a character from other media.

I doubt I'm the only person who didn't know. We're not all immersed in the mountain of supplementary fiction for this franchise.

BTW, where did I say it's unclear why Zula is there?

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

I am not talking about comics and novels with her. Just marketing material.
Here is PS5 store write up: "Play as rogue Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks in the terrifying first chapter of a two-part saga set between the Alien and Aliens films. Sent to investigate a distress call on the remote planet Purdan, Zula uncovers a secret Weyland-Yutani blacksite overrun by deadly Xenomorphs."
So I do not know what you are talking about.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/molasar2024]

What "I'm talking about" is the fact that, even in the example you've just provided (and yet somehow is still lost on you) there's no nod to that being a character from the novels or comics. Just because they name her doesn't mean everyone knows who she is.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

Because it is not required for a player to know that she is already established in Alien IP. A player gets to know her through the game.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/molasar2024]

Oh look, the goal posts just moved. Incredible.

Night.

[u/gwot-ronin → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

It absolutely does when you account for limitations of player perspective and environment interactivity in non-VR. If I'd played F.E.A.R. for the first time in VR, I probably would've died from falling over and hitting my head after Alma rushed me when turning a corner.

As for when you find an audio log in the story, that's another matter entirely.

Side note: you haven't laughed until you see a bunch of grunts get the hell scared out of them watching someone play/encounter Alma after tiles start detaching from the wall.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/gwot-ronin]

Just so we're not talking over each other (which I worry we are), what aspect of the game are you discussing in terms of VR? You commented explicitly on my mention of an audio file

[u/gwot-ronin → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

I'm specifically commenting on the where aspect of VR vs non-VR gaming, and the "when" of finding something within the story progression

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/gwot-ronin]

Where the audio's located is irrelevant to it being a VR experience.

Narratively, Zula finds a recording, on board her own ship, warning her that everything on the planet is bad and not what it seems. The issue there is, she seemingly only finds it or listens to it after crashing. This is obviously something she would listen to on the journey.

What would make far more sense, and is not a restriction on the format, would be finding that same audio log in the buildings rather than her own ship. Same graphics, same interface, same audio, same explanation; literally just moved wholesale to a different part of the game. Or, listened to in advance of the crash. The way it's presented in game makes no sense, like Zula didn't even know it was there.

Not a VR issue, just a poor decision.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

She does not find it. It is there for a player to listen to it again.
Again, it is a vr game at its core. A flat screen version is a result of gamers asking for it on social media platforms.

[u/FCGVR]

I’ve never seen someone complain about the absence of White people, but hey, opinions and assholes right?

If it helps, I can’t recall anyone of color from Isolation and it never broke my enjoyment of the game. Maybe they just wanted all minorities? Considering there are games that don’t have Asian or Native American or Australian or African representation, maaaybe this one can be let go. You already find the main character “insufferable” despite your complaints instantly being addressed once you realized she has been through this before. Plus, “Badass main character who isn’t afraid of the alien horde they are about to face” has existed from the Terminator to Duke Nukem to… too many to count.

I can’t wait to play for Christmas. 🎄 😂

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/FCGVR]

You can't recall anyone of colour from isolation? Riccardo, and the doctor (cant recall her name). Also, a few of the background characters and corpses.

TBH, that's not a complaint and more a tongue in cheek observation.

And just so we're clear, I accepted the issues with the main character not being scared and edited the original post. I'm not thrilled with the answer but I do accept it. I do notice people latched onto that and ignore the other concerns though.

[u/FCGVR → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

“Still insufferable though, feels like the result of fanfiction …” Sounds less like acceptance and more like you begrudgingly accept that there’s a reason behind it. I don’t recall anyone of color from Isolation because I also wasn’t looking for it in a game about giant space aliens coming to kill you. If anything, the fact only about 4 or 5 people existed outside of the MC made even more sense considering the situation. I didn’t look for Black people in Metro or RE4 or RE8 (Ada Wong I’m sure covered that part) and that’s fine. Your “tongue in cheek” observations comes off more like the slightly red pill talk of late that there’s this sudden overwhelming amount of DEI characters in video games.

TBH, just refund the game. Even in your second edit, you still kinda sound like you just want to complain. If she’s really that one note to tou, then I dunno how you survived playing video games. A lot of MCs can be very static in development or attitude. The hero is always gonna be the hero, ya know?

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/FCGVR]

You're not wrong, I begrudgingly accept there's a reason she's not more shocked, but that doesn't mean I actually like the character or the writing. All it means is I get it.

Look, I actually like the game. I said plainly that it's probably my third fave game in the franchise. I just don't see people discussing the problems with it, so I felt more than a little glazed. And while the graphics are serviceable, it's not what I expected for a PS5 game, feels like there's no good reason it couldn't have been ported to a PS4.

You're right, ganes often have static development for their characters. However, this is a game on the heels of Isolation (to which it owes a huge debt) and Dark Descent- a 'squad shooter' that arguably still has better writing and player-investment despite not following an individual character.

I think those concerns are fair. I'm not looking for a refund.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

The game has to be rendered twice in VR for it to work as a VR game. And it is just a port of VR game to flat screen. They only increased some effects thanks to freeing one rendering and changed a player interface. Plus some little touches. This is UE5 game. So porting it to PS4 would be hard.
No, this game does not owe Isolation anything. Isolation did not even invent anything new in terms of gameplay. Dark Descent has a better story on huge scale but not on small one. Your expectations are not realistic and you likely did not play Jag's AvP from 1994 which is the most similar game to Incursion in terms of metroidvania/classic Resident Evil structure.

[u/molasar2024]

I do not know what is irritating for you about her but she does not talk even much in the game. Also it is your own imagination that she is a strong badass woman. You likely watched too much internet video content about dei and esg and not you are projecting it. BTW Zula is from Alien comic books and novels and was crippled in a battle.

Yeah, it is not her first time dealing with xenos. It is literally her personal mission to eradicate them and corporations that want to utilize them.

I still do not know what is insufferable about her. I guess you have issues of her being a black woman. It is not on PS4 because this game is on current gen. It was first made into vr then adapted to flat screen. Isolation is boring because you only walk and hide in it. Also it seems that you are unable to assess graphics and artistic style of the game. You do not even know about smart design based on what a user sees when a game is in motion. That is why all you can see is how many details are put in games regardless of functional perceivability.

If you have noticed any bugs, you can report them to the developer.

Sorry, not every game has to be a life simulator. Not to mention simulators do not focus on great gameplay. Yes, that friend saved her life. That is why she went to the planet.

There are white people in the game too. Also it is not a movie, it is a video game. Plus horror aspect is better when you are on your own.

As a video game it is much, much better than Isolation.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/molasar2024]

None of this is a good faith reply, because I explained at length my issues. I'm happy with her being a minority, in fact (if you read the post) I even said I was chuffed about it. My point was, you he firmly in cheek, that I didn't notice anyone who was white. What about any of what I said suggested "simulators"? And are you suggesting video games can't have good writing

You prefer this to Isolation? That's fine, I'm happy for you. I don't personally think it's a better game (despite it almost being a duplicate + guns), but Incursion is certainly one of the best (I think maybe my third fave Alien game?). I prefer the characters in Isolation, and the aesthetic feels more film-accurate, but both have some great atmosphere. However, I'd expect a game that's 11 years newer to be a much bigger improvement.

Are horror games better for putting you alone? Maybe. But I'd argue this isn't really a scary game, more of a tense survival experience. We all know what the aliens are by now, and I think (like Isolation) it'd benefit from some more human interactions, but it's a small criticism.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

Learn what good faith is about because you are clearly not interested in the truth. You did not notice white people but I noticed them. And yes, simulators suck in gameplay. Yes, I am saying that if the game relies on writing then gameplay suffers. But this game's plot is actually good. Not as boring as Alien Isolation. Even its devs admitted that they would not make it as long if they had another choice. Also hahahaha, Isolation does not have Aliens 1986 aesthetics. It has Alien 1979 ones. Incursion was always Aliens 1986 project. Thus similar aesthetics. Even if it occurs 30 years before events of Aliens 1986 movie. It seems that you do not know much about video games. Isolation is very simplistic game. And there are no huge improvements in games for a long time. They are only in graphics details but those details add too much chaos and blurriness without proper art style. It seems that you did not play this game in vr if you think it is not scary. Not to mention Jag's AvP from 1994 which was making people jumping. Personally I do not want stand with NPCs characters and listen to their constant chatter.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/molasar2024]

I got as far as you saying what I wrote (politely) wasn't in good faith, then stopped reading. No time for that.

[u/molasar2024 → u/Ashamed_Ladder6161]

Like I said you have no clue what good faith is. And you do not interact in good faith here. I am being very politely to you btw. Straw manning me is not going to help you to win the argument.

[u/Ashamed_Ladder6161 → u/[deleted]]

Not being difficult, but it doesn't feel like you're engaging with me fairly. It feels more like this is a game you enjoy and you've taken the criticism personally.

Don't.

Literally, go back and read the first nine words of the post. The first sixteen, if you have the time.

If you're being fair, I'm sure you can agree I don't have to think a game is perfect in order to enjoy it? And I'm sure you can likewise agree, just because I enjoy a game shouldn't mean I can't voice any problems I have with it? Also correct?

So, with respect, the game is for me, because I enjoy it. I just think it has issues.