Enhanced Gameplay, Simplified Graphics

Alien: Rogue Incursion made its grand entrance on PSVR 2 and PC VR headsets last December, marking a new chapter for the venerable ‘Alien’ series by embracing virtual reality. Since then, fans have eagerly anticipated its release on Quest 3, and developer Survios has finally delivered.

When we first delved into the game on launch day, what stood out were the intense Xenomorph encounters. Their cunning, reminiscent of raptor-like hunters, certainly got the adrenaline pumping. However, the excitement was somewhat dulled by a repetitive cycle of random confrontations, and the unforgiving save system added salt to the wound. Back then, our spoiler-free review rated it at a modest 7 out of 10.

Since that review, the game has seen some significant updates before it made its way to the Quest 3, where it’s available for $40 on the Horizon Store. The pivotal update was released just days ago, aimed at recalibrating the Xenomorph’s behavior. Adjustments to their auditory and visual senses mean players no longer face relentless hordes with uncanny tracking abilities. Additionally, the save system has become more forgiving, allowing players to load previous saves, not just the most recent one.

Though we haven’t yet immersed ourselves in the Quest 3 version, early feedback offers a mixed bag. The YouTube channel ‘Gamertag VR’ provides an insightful overview of this latest launch, pointing out some quirks in the graphics. They remarked, “Unfortunately, on the Quest, [the dark atmosphere] is ruined because the first half of the game actually isn’t dark at all. You have a flashlight, but for the initial hours, it’s redundant as the game is surprisingly well-lit.”

Despite this, Gamertag VR observed that the Xenomorph encounters now unfold more naturally, likely thanks to the recent patch before the Quest 3 debut.

For those who love a good comparison, ‘The VR Grid’ on YouTube offers a side-by-side evaluation of the game on Quest 3 and PSVR 2, using the standard PS5 for reference. This comparison highlights the concessions made to accommodate Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor. While Quest 3 sacrifices some dynamic lighting and atmospheric effects like steam, it compensates with clearer in-game text.

Technically, we’re discussing Alien: Rogue Incursion as ‘Part One’ of a planned two-part saga. Survios made it clear back in late December that this installment provides a self-contained adventure ending on a cliffhanger, signaling more to come.

The second installment is already in the works and promises to continue Zula’s story, pushing her up against even fiercer enemies and tougher challenges. The anticipation for part two is building, and fans eagerly await its release.