LONDON: It has been over 40 years since “Alien” was released in cinemas — terrifying audiences with its simple-yet-eerie warning: “In space, nobody can hear you scream.” For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle Since then, the franchise has seen sequel after sequel and a host of games that have attempted to recreate the bleak futuristic world of humanity and its encounter with the deadly Xenomorph alien. The latest iteration, “Aliens: Dark Descent,” follows in the footsteps of the 2014 critically acclaimed “Alien: Isolation” in staying true to the ethos and atmosphere of the films that fans will recognize. The story is the classic one of unsuspecting humans coming across the Alien and steadily understanding its lethality. Those familiar with the franchise will recognize the distinct bleep of motion trackers warning of incoming threats, the metallic chatter of Pulse Rifle fire and the high-pitched squeals of the Aliens themselves as they attack. Right from the start the squad-based tactical-action setup comes with a warning that it is a “difficult game with unique gameplay.” The 12-mission campaign is a blend of genres with squads being set up and improved at the base of the crashed USCM vessel USS Otago. Here you will manage research, medical facilities, training, equipment, and even a therapy clinic for treating long-term psychological harms. Choosing your team of four is important, with each specialism bringing added value if used strategically. The missions themselves are atmospheric with the layout and sounds of the colony buildings excellently recreated. Most important of all is how you choose to tackle the Aliens themselves. The game rewards stealth considering how dangerous the Aliens are. Marines are not fast enough to outrun the Aliens and often sealing yourself in rooms is the only way to have time to reload and dish out med kits. Factoring this in creates a very complicated central screen with numerous elements to micromanage, with the added pressure of intense combat. During these phases you can slow down time to choose to spend “command points” on grenades or flamethrowers. When combined with map manipulation and trying to figure out the intelligence of the Aliens you can understand why the game has difficulty warnings, but if you persevere, you are rewarded with a satisfying arc of progress.