Total movie moments happen all the time in Alien: Isolation. Most are unscripted. It's what makes the game so goddamn good.
Let me share one specific, unexpected moment.
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Creeping around a corner, I notice three humans down the hallway. Preferring not to confront them, I back peddle, ducking under a desk to remain hidden. On Sevastopol, you never know what to expect from people.
After a bit of waiting, they pass. I'm going to wait a little longer, just to be safe. But before that happens, my girlfriend interjects.
She likes to play devil's advocate in situations. Seeing my character sitting still for a longer period of time, she messes with the controller. This moves my character halfway out of cover.
So here I am, crouching half under a desk with a flashlight on full blast.
"Who the fuck are you?... We don't want any trouble."
Shit, one of them noticed. I grab the controller back and do the only thinkable thing. This game is over, let's spend these last living moments praying under the desk. So I return to full cover.
"This is my last warning."
BAM! Gunfire ricochets at my feet. Something rattles. Nobody seems to notice.
BAM! Second shot. I figure my life is over. Waiting for a third shot, something happens.
A deep rattle of sheet metal. The alien drops down from the ventilation shaft. It takes no time ripping apart all things living. Three humans murdered right before my eyes. I've already assumed the role of frightened kid hiding underneath covers.
The Alien sniffs around, but having tasted the blood of three, does not notice me. Once the coast is clear, I move on to my objective.
I managed to kill no one, yet three are dead at my feet. It does nothing to quell my fear of being hunted myself.
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These moments are common in Alien: Isolation. This is one instance I thought demonstrated the stunning power of the game's Alien AI.