Alien: Earth Just Gave Alien: Isolation 2 the Perfect Excuse for a More Capable Protagonist

by

The following contains mild spoilers for Alien: Earth.

Throughout the 46-year journey of the Alien franchise, various alien species and mechanical humans have emerged, including cyborgs, xenomorphs, neomorphs, facehuggers, Engineers, and the terrifying Offspring from Alien: Romulus. The sequels to Alien and Aliens often push the boundaries with extreme threats, often triggered by human ambition for immortality. Reuniting with the original xenomorph fear factor has proven effective, as seen in Creative Assembly’s Alien: Isolation from over a decade ago.

Occasionally, it’s more effective to step back into the past when the storyline and universe are less complex, even if it means missing out on the thrill of new discoveries. This is true for games like “Alien: Isolation”. Meanwhile, the Disney+ series “Alien: Earth”, set to air, takes place two years before the original “Alien”, while “Alien: Isolation” happens 15 years later. The character Wendy, from “Alien: Earth”, is distinct – at least until more hybrids appear as human minds transferred into synthetic bodies. With a sequel to “Alien: Isolation” underway, a comparable protagonist could revolutionize the survival horror genre.

Alien: Isolation 2 Could Hypothetically Upgrade Its Protagonist Character

Amanda Ripley is a Great Touch of Nostalgia, But She’s Only Human

In a more conversational and simplified style: Amanda Ripley was an excellent choice as the main character in the game Alien: Isolation, primarily because she is the daughter of Ellen Ripley from the original Alien series. Yet, it’s worth noting that if another character had been used instead, the gameplay wouldn’t have been significantly impacted at all.

In the game “Alien: Isolation,” the suspense was effectively heightened due to the fact that, as the player is chased by xenomorphs, androids, and facehuggers, it’s intensely exciting to run and hide rather than engage in a fight, especially since the player feels largely helpless and unsure of their ability to defend themselves effectively.

As an ardent fan, I’ve discovered multiple defensive tactics in the gameplay of Alien: Isolation that players can use, particularly the potency of a fully loaded flamethrower. However, the fundamental essence of stealth and evasion remains the backbone, intensifying the eerie paranoia each time we keep a watchful eye on the motion tracker’s radar signals.

A Human/Synthetic Hybrid in Alien: Isolation 2 Could Be Game-Changing

As for now, only a handful of “Alien: Earth” episodes are available. However, it’s worth noting that we’ve seen several remarkable skills displayed by the character named Wendy, which clearly show her transformation into a non-human being like Marcy.

  • No fall damage; able to land effortlessly from impossibly high drops.
  • Super speed; able to run incredibly fast.
  • Technopathy; able to hack surveillance cameras and manipulate artificial intelligence.
  • Super strength; able to wrangle and defeat a xenomorph, with the xenomorph potentially visibly assessing Wendy as an apex predator.

One issue that the game “Alien: Earth” faces is that one of its main characters is a pre-teen physically appearing as an adult and possessing advanced synthetic abilities, which adds intrigue to the Disney+ series but could be challenging to effectively portray in a game. Additionally, if it aims to create a deeply isolating atmosphere-a feat beautifully achieved in “Alien: Isolation”-the sequel “Alien: Isolation 2” would have to find a way to leave its hybrid protagonist stranded, whereas Wendy in “Alien: Earth” has always been accompanied by or communicating with other characters.

One key character from the movie “Alien: Earth,” named Wendy, stands out remarkably. With a new sequel to “Alien: Isolation” in production, a similarly distinctive character could potentially become a groundbreaking figure in the survival horror genre.

An exceptional human-like character might lessen the natural terror felt by an ordinary human character, whose intelligence and timing significantly influence their chances of survival. Instead, it could offer a more engaging gameplay experience than constantly moving through corridors and ventilation systems, hiding in various storage units. Although creatures like androids, xenomorphs, and facehuggers might not readily target or pose as significant a threat to a hybrid character as they would to a human one.

In the spirit of the action-packed tone of the movie “Alien: Earth“, a combined protagonist might thrive in an “Aliens“-inspired world filled with gunfights and battles. This character could be human-conscious, yet housed in a synthetic body, which would add intrigue. However, integrating such a character into the survival horror gameplay of “Alien: Isolation 2” would undeniably pose an interesting design dilemma.

Read More

2025-08-21 05:05