Epic Games Is Giving Away Alien: Isolation For Free
On the Epic Games Store, no one can hear you scream. In actuality, your neighbours and everyone down the street will probably be able to hear you scream if you decide to play Alien: Isolation. The Epic Games Store is officially giving away the 2014 survival horror for free. Safe to say, we're already quaking in our spacesuits.
While anyone who is anyone has heard of the Alien movies, far fewer have heard much from the expanded franchise of video games. Bursting from the chest of Ridley Scott's 1979 legend, the galaxy of Alien video games are usually subpar cash-ins on the movie franchise of the same name. From the Pac-Man rip-off of 1982's Alien to Gearbox Software being sued over 2013's Aliens: Colonial Marines, Xenomorphs haven't exactly conquered consoles and PC over the past 42 years.
Thankfully, the release of Alien: Isolation in 2014 marked the dawn of a new era. Creative Assembly went back to the claustrophobic confines of Scott's seminal outing and pitched a lone woman against those acid-bleeding b*astards. Instead of going in all guns blazing like James Cameron's Aliens, Isolation harked back to the simplistic approach of the original. It was a truly terrifying experience, and if you haven't already, check it out. Alien: Isolation usually ends with you ejecting the contents of your pants out into the abyss of space.
How can you get Alien: Isolation for free from Epic Games?
It's crazy that it's been seven years since Alien: Isolation first hit shelves. Not that it's celebrating any sort of special birthday, but as part of the Epic Games' free game giveaway, Alien: Isolation is available for the princely sum of zero pounds. You can grab Alien: Isolation for free until April 9 via the Epic Games Store. If you have a PC, you can get the base copy of the game, but be warned, the DLC content isn't part of the promotion.
If Alien: Isolation wasn't enough to sink your teeth into, the latest Epic Games giveaway also adds Defiant Development's Hand of Fate 2 to the mix. If you fancy yourself as a true horror hand, you could always try Isolation in VR. As one of the first AAA games to receive VR support, Alien: Isolation gives even Resident Evil 7 a run for its money in the scare stakes when played in VR. Even though Creative Assembly didn't officially VR support for Isolation's full release, there's a sneaky workaround that'll have you running from Xenos on your SteamVR headset in no time.
If you download the latest version of MotherVR mod and drop the file directly into the Isolation folder, you should be able to step into the shoes of Amanda Ripley for a pulse-pounding experience that'll have you dripping with sweat and calling out for mummy. Alien: Isolation was previously free on Epic Games four months ago as part of its Christmas game drop, but now, it's back. But just what is it that sets Alien: Isolation apart from the rest?
What is Alien: Isolation about?
As we previously said, Alien: Isolation doesn't go with the guns and glory of more recent outings. Here, you take on the role of Amanda Ripley - who just so happens to be the daughter of Sigourney Weaver's legendary Ellen Ripley. Despite the destruction of the Nostromo during the events of the first movie, things go awry when Amanda goes in search of the ship's black box on an orbiting space station.
It doesn't take long for a rogue Xenomorph to wreak havoc on the station and hunt Amanda through the various vents and corridors. In terms of mechanics, Alien: Isolation sets itself apart thanks to its stealth elements. Although human and android enemies can be taken out by your limited arsenal, revolvers, stun batons, and flamethrowers are useless against the titular alien. When playing as Amanda, you'll have to avoid detection as this salivating space monster tracks your slightest breath. We're really not selling just how tense this one is.
Once you've wrapped Amanda Ripley's story and have a taste for blood, why not stump up for the DLCs? After all, you got the main game for free. The first two DLCs (called Crew Expendable and Last Survivor) came alongside the game's release and relived iconic scenes and characters from Alien. Another five packs were released over the next year, with new maps, characters, and campaigns forcing you to face those slippery suckers all over again.
Either way, Alien: Isolation coming to the Epic Games Store for free is one of the promotion's biggest selling points. If you haven't got it in your download queue already, suit up and get ready for some carnage. Game over man, game over!
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