Coming soon: Leftfield

Review: Alien: Isolation was a survival horror game eleased in 2014 by Creative Assembly and published by Sega, matched with a deeply atmospheric soundtrack. Described as a "mid-quel" between the filmes Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), it borrows the original film's claustrophobic terror perfectly. The game's soundtrack, composed by Christian Henson alongside The Flight (Joe Henson and Alexis Smith), is a standout achievement, blending Jerry Goldsmith's haunting themes from Alien with original compositions and evoking a powerful sense of dread and nostalgia. Familiar motifs like the eerie 'Main Theme' and the otherworldly 'Alien Planet' theme resurface with reverence, while innovative use of echoplexed percussion and avant-garde techniques add modern intensity. The new material enhances the game's atmosphere with orchestral tension, electronic elements and haunting vocals, particularly in tracks like 'The Descent'. Themes for the character Amanda Ripley, the android 'Joes' and the menacing Xenomorph are weaved subtly through the score, occasionally overshadowed by ambient textures but undeniably effective within the game's context. It's released on cassette tape, too, adding even more retro charm.