Dark Descent combines horror and strategy to create a bone-chilling tactical thriller – PlayStation.Blog
Hi, I’m Romain Clavier, Game Director at Tindalos Interactive, the studio that developed Aliens: Dark Descent, a strategic real-time squad-based tactical action game with a rich management system and twisted horror. On June 20, you’ll be able to witness Xenomorphs stalking their prey in a contemporary strategy game. But before you dive into the dark, I wanted to use this blog post to shed some light on how our development team combined terror and tactics for the intense lo-fi world of Aliens: Dark Descent .
First, let’s take a look at the horror elements of Aliens: Dark Descent. As the title suggests, the game is set in the Alien Universe, more specifically the action-oriented James Cameron in Aliens (1986), where the player assumes the role of a group of soldiers. Colonial marines are trying to escape from a colony ravaged by the title. alien. From the very beginning, we worked hard to establish an atmosphere of tension and omen; there were confusingly dark hallways, flickering fluorescent lights, and the constant threat of a Xenomorph attack, but what really changed Aliens: Dark Descent for the better was when we implemented the mechanics. its unique fog war where areas of the map are hidden to create fear and let the player’s imagination run wild. This means that you must carefully plan your routes and moves at every turn, taking into account the risk of hitting Xenomorphs or other unknown hazards.
Developing Xenomorphs was one of the most rewarding challenges, as we wanted them to reach the same level of ruthlessness as they are famous for in the movies. Our goal is to immerse players in the tension of the potential for violent ambushes by a swarm of cunning Xenomorphs. That said, we wanted to avoid having a swarm of Xenomorphs in a way that would detract from their personal meaning, so we chose to give the game’s enemies cunning strategic impulses to ascend. plan to maneuver on the fly, flank teams and quickly retreat to gather more numbers.
Sound design is also important in evoking that primal fear; We’ve made sure to add the subtle hum of tattered technology and the eerie squeals of the critters and creaks of creatures as you lead your crew on a variety of mission-critical missions. .
But Aliens: Dark Descent is more than just suspense and dismay – it also requires strategic thinking and planning to succeed. Players must manage their resources carefully, gather supplies and weapons, and avoid detection by Aliens and other enemies.
While the constant threat of a Xenomorph attack creates a sense of urgency and danger, strategic gameplay elements add depth and complexity to how players must react. Our stress mechanism is a ticking time bomb that acts as a constant reminder of how badly things can go if distraught Marines are left unattended during the day. this hostile environment. Permadeath would be the unfortunate reality for the least fortunate of Marines, making each mistake have a lasting impact; and the more the marines advance, the more painful their loss will be. Players must constantly adapt and change their tactics to stay one step ahead of the Aliens, making each playthrough personal and enjoyable. My personal favorite feature is the slow mechanic, as it forces players into inevitable situations where they have to react in a split second while the meter ticks.
With Aliens: Dark Descent, I can confidently say that we created an atmosphere of persistent horror while still allowing people to uncover Lethe’s secrets; so we’ve added a lot of accessibility options, a lower difficulty level for players who want to focus on the story, and the option to switch the slow mode to a full pause so you can reach Aliens: Dark Descent his way.
As a longtime fan of the Alien universe, it was a pleasure and an honor to work on this game alongside the rest of the team at Tindalos Interactive, Focus Entertainment and 20lame pants Game of the century. We pushed ourselves and overcame challenges to make Aliens: Dark Descent an unforgettable blend of suspense and strategy. I’m excited to see how our stressful world keeps players on their toes.
Aliens: Dark Descent will be available on PS5 and PS4 on June 20.
