Xbox Game Passhas been continuing to pad its ever-changing library of games with the latest and greatest releases, but some of the best games can easily get left behind. With the addition ofSTALKER 2: Heart Of Chernobyl,Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and the upcomingIndiana Jones And The Great Circle,there’s a little something for everyone in the current Game Pass lineup. Given how many hours of content each of these games has to offer, it can be hard enough to keep track of everything the Game Pass has to offer, let alone play them all.
Aliens: Dark Descent Has Finally Landed On Game Pass
Capturing The Tension Filled Experience Of The Alien Franchise
As of November 27th,Aliens: Dark Descentis finally making its way onto Xbox Game Pass, giving new players a chance to experience the unique blend of horror and strategy that made it so popular.Published by the same studio that brought players the recent and belovedWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2,Aliens: Dark Descenthas a similar concept of squad-based Xenos destruction.
Compared to the hacking and slashing ofSpace Marine 2however, players will need to carefully plan their actions inDark Descentif they want their band of customizable characters to survive the overwhelming Xenomorph threat. While it seems similar to isometric games likeXCOMat first,Dark Descentrequires quick reactions and decision-making thanks to its real-time combat.
Players will need to carefully plan their actions inDark Descentif they want their band of customizable characters to survive.
Despite the added layer of difficulty involved in quick reactions,Dark Descentallows players to slow down time while making crucial decisions in combat, allowing them to more easily navigate any challenges they come across. Even with this helpful time management feature,Dark Descentcan be both incredibly punishing and rewarding at the same time, favoring players who can plan ahead of time while quickly adapting when these plans inevitably fall apart.
Combining Strategy And Horror To Great Effect
Putting Players At The Forefront Of A Grim New Narrative
Beginning with the classic storyline of players crash landing on an unknown planet,players will quickly discover the true terror of the Xenomorphs and other various factions encountered throughoutDark Descent’s entirely original narrative. While the strategy gameplay will be familiar to real-time strategy players at first,Dark Descenttakesinspiration from theAlienfranchise’s iconic horror elements to great effect by mixing them into its gameplay mechanics.
Throughout the story ofDark Descent,players will be faced with countless life-or-death scenarios, with their actions having long-lasting consequences for both their favorite squad members' survival and the profession of the overall storyline. The iconic films aren’t the only thingDark Descenttakes inspiration from either, as it utilizes technology that’s similar to thegroundbreaking AI ofAlien: Isolation’s player stalking Xenomorph.
Dark Descenttakes inspiration from theAlienfranchise’s iconic horror elements to great effect by mixing them into its gameplay mechanics.
While the AI isn’t quite as advanced as the one found in the dedicated survival horror experience,the Xenomorphs and other enemies encountered throughoutDark Descentwill begin to learn and adapt to different player styles, quickly becoming a deadly threat if left unchecked. Every mission inDark Descentoffers a new challenge for players thanks to this adaptive AI as well, making each run feel unique while providing different challenges every time.
What Makes Aliens: Dark Descent Stand Apart From The Competition
Providing A Unique Experience For Veterans Of The Genre
Aliens: Dark Descentalso makes use of advanced AI for the player-controlled squad members. This allows them to naturally react to orders and encounters rather than requiring players to fully control their every move. While this system might sound like a source of potential frustration for players, it greatly enhancesDark Descent’s sense of immersion and realism.
As players take control of a commander sending orders to a living and independently functioning team, they’ll have to watch in horror every time something goes wrong.They do this knowing that the outcome was ultimately up to their decision-making, rather than the AI’s abilities.
The Best Skills to Get First in Aliens: Dark Descent
In Aliens: Dark Descent the player controls a squad of Colonial Marines who will all need a few upgrades before they become an unstoppable force.
Another unique feature ofAliens: Dark Descentis its stress management mechanics, asplayers will not only need to maintain their squad’s supplies and physical health, but also their mental status. Squad members who succumb to the stressful dread of their missions will experience decreased combat performance while starting to behave strangely and even sabotaging their team on rare occasions.
Players who want to succeed in navigating throughAliens: Dark Descent’s hopeless environments will need to make use of thebest team compositionsand upgraded weaponry they can carry, helping them survive as they unravel the mysteries of the abandoned space station.
