Alien: Rogue Incursion Preview

After playing Alien: Rogue Incursion hands-on, it's safe to say the game is a great showcase for what VR can do with the horror/sci-fi franchise. The VR space has been an interesting place of experimentation in recent years, with many developers testing the limits of the technology. Established franchises have proven to be a good place for this kind of unique approach to gameplay and storytelling, with titles like Batman: Arkham Shadow giving players the chance to live out their superhero power fantasies. Game developer Survios takes a different approach with its first-person VR title, Alien: Rogue Incursion.

The game drags players into the depths of a crashed spaceship quickly overloaded with Xenomorphs. The Alien franchise is a natural fit for the VR space, with previous first-person survival games like Alien: Isolation highlighting the franchise's applicability to gaming. VR proves to be a great tool for Alien: Rogue Incursion, and the game uses the immersive approach to the fullness of its ability for an intense and immersive effect. ScreenRant got the chance to try out Alien: Rogue Incursion at a preview event, and the naturally intense tension of the Alien universe proves perfect for VR.

Alien: Rogue Incursion Puts Players Into The Path Of Xenomorphs

Prepare To Be Hunted In The Depths Of Space

Alien: Rogue Incursion is a well-constructed survival horror game that uses the horrifying nature of the Alien franchise and modern VR advances to frighteningly impressive effect. Alien: Rogue Incursion puts players into the role of Zula Hendricks, a former Marine who travels the galaxy between the events of Alien and Aliens. When Zula's ship crash lands on the planet of Purdan, she and her android companion Davis find themselves contending with an infestation of Xenomorphs.

The interface is quick to adapt to, with players given a certain amount of guns, tools, and resources with which they can overcome the terrors awaiting around every corner. The Alien setting lends itself well to the game's naturally tense aura of exploration, especially when players can use a classic motion tracker to try and stay ahead of any incoming creatures. The gun mechanics are responsive, a necessity given how the tension can ratchet up instantly. Swarms of Xenomorphs are quick to fill the player's vision, requiring an effective use of rifles and pistols if they want to stay alive.

In VR, No Once Can Hear You Scream

Immersive VR & Tight Controls Lend Themselves Well To Survival Horror

Alien Rogue Incursion VR screenshot of combat against a Xenomorph

The first-person perspective benefits the experience immensely, forcing the player to feel like they're the ones peeking around any corner instead of Zula. The VR experience is fluid and responsive, especially in fire fights. This is crucial, as the portion of the game played available at the Alien: Rogue Incursion preview event highlighted how quickly combat can break out. Players explore the spaceship, lookin for ways to advance forwards, but there's always a feeling that Xenomorphs can (and will) suddenly appear.

Even the developers on-hand at the preview event were surprised by the sheer number of Xenomorphs that could suddenly enter a scene. At one point, a "safe space" to find reloads for guns was quickly invaded by the creatures, setting off a harrowing and ultimately doomed attempt to escape. Alien: Rogue Incursion does a great job of immersing the player in the sci-fi horror setting, which is the ideal example of what VR gaming can do with the franchise even compared to the similarly horrifying (and fantastic) Alien: Isolation.

Alien: Rogue Incursion Proves How Scary The Franchise Can Be In VR

VR Makes Every Hallway A Nightmare In Alien: Rogue Incursion

Alien: Rogue Incursion is a perfect showcase for what horror games can do in the VR space, especially with established properties. There's something inherently engrossing about moving through the halls of an abandoned space station, trying to hold back on wasting bullets until you know for sure whether that thing in the distance is just a shadow or something far worse. VR is a natural space for the dread that is inherent to the Alien franchise, with the ability to shift into a more action-oriented firefight with a second's notice.

Alien: Rogue Incursion "Part One" is now available for Playstation 5 and Windows, and comes to Meta Quest 3 on February 13.

The result is a game that runs smoothly through the VR, where the biggest mistakes are caused by the nerves of the player getting the better of them. The controls are tight and the visuals impressive, without being needlessly overcomplicated. There are some minor restrictions to gameplay that are typical across VR titles, but the flexible system settings allow the player to tailor their Alien experience to their ideal state, or close to.

More than anything, it's the sense of atmosphere that elevates the title against other VR games. The tense fear that a Xenomorph is coming up behind you at any given moment of merely walking down a hallway matches the full horrifying scope of entire other games. From my time with the game, Alien: Rogue Incursion is shaping up to be a great showcase of what VR can do with the Alien series.