When it comes to horror and suspense, the Alien movies have set the bar pretty high. That is why it comes as no surprise that it has spawned quite a few games that deliver the same thrilling experience. Alien: Blackout is the latest game to be released that is based on the films. This survival horror game puts you in the shoes of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of the iconic Ellen Ripley. The game’s story follows Amanda’s investigation of the Xenomorph attack on her mother’s ship. This leads her aboard a crippled space station along with her crew and several hungry aliens.
Your job is to guide the crew members using the station’s faltering systems and find a way to survive. Sacrifices may need to be made, and every decision can affect the story’s outcome. If you need help making all the right decisions, then make sure to read our Alien: Blackout beginner’s guide for some useful tips, cheats and strategies!
1. Keep Emergency Power Supplies
Power is used for a lot of things in the game, and that is understandable since you are aboard a space station. Unfortunately, you won’t have an unlimited supply on hand. Even though you want to get things done as quickly as possible, it is also important for you to anticipate emergency situations. Always keep at least one power slot just in case you encounter a Xenomorph and need to quickly activate a door or turn on a Motion Tracker Zone. Remember, you want to keep as many of your crew members alive as much as possible. That one power slot could mean the difference between life and death for your people.
2. Play It Safe
The game’s name is based on the Blackout that occurs on the ship. When it happens, you won’t be able to see the Xenomorph wandering around. If you have been trying to determine the Xenomorph’s location and the Blackout is approaching, it is best to just play it safe and instruct your crew member to stop and hide. Even if you don’t see any clues that the alien is nearby, it is better not to risk a crew member’s life. The same goes for when you hear the alien make a sound. Just because you don’t see it does not mean it is not close enough to devour your crew.
3. Motion Tracking Saves Lives
Motion tracking can be activated in several locations throughout the ship. If you see that the motion sensor in one area has been tripped, that means the Xenomorph is hanging out there. Make sure you steer clear of that area and any of the adjacent rooms. One good thing about this is it also means everywhere else on the ship is safe. You will be able to quickly instruct your crew to go to the safe areas before the Xenomorph moves on to the next zone.
4. Watch Your Crew’s Back
If your crew member makes it safely to his destination, he will start working on his task. Doing so will attract the Xenomorph regardless of whether or not it is in the vicinity. Make sure you keep an eye on the cameras and the Motion Tracker Zones. As soon as you see the Xenomorph appear, quickly tell your crew to hide. Again, it is imperative that you do not risk any of your crew members’ lives if you want to successfully complete the story.
5. If They Get Caught
Don’t give up just yet if the Xenomorph spots your crew member. Even if the alien is nearby, sometimes even in the same room, there is still a chance to save your crew. Whenever your people enter a location, you should already be checking possible escape routes for them. This is to ensure that you will be able to give them quick instructions on how to survive if the Xenomorph sees them. Of course, part of this would be to operate the different parts of the ship, so you better have that extra power slot ready.
6. Confusing The Alien
Even though the Xenomorph walks around in the halls, it can also travel through the air vents. That means you will not be able to completely imprison it, you can only delay it for a few seconds. If you need to buy more time for your crew members to escape, you can try to confuse the Xenomorph. To do so, just close the door to the room where the alien is. It will take a few seconds to look for a vent to go through. Just before it finds an alternate exit, just open the door again to make it return to the door. Shut the door before it can get through. Repeat this a few times in order to stall the Xenomorph. Just keep in mind that it won’t work forever, so don’t forget to instruct your crew member to run away while your playing with the door.
7. Stay Alert After Commands
Whenever you give a command to your crew, the Xenomorph will hear you. Make sure you quickly zip back to Amanda’s location to check the different cameras on board. Watch out for the alien as it may be lurking nearby, and your command would alert it to activities on the ship. You should also listen for any possible sound that the Xenomorph could make while making its way to you. Earphones would be handy in this situation since you want to be able to focus on the audio.
There are a couple of hatches near Amanda during the game. You will need to quickly close the correct hatch if the Xenomorph starts going after you. This is why earphones are absolutely necessary. Your only clue is the sound coming from the hatches. You have to be able to tell whether the sound is coming from the left or right. If you fail to close the right hatch on your first try, Amanda is as good as dead, and you will have to try again.
Surviving on a damaged space station with an alien predator is easier said than done. Just remember everything that you learned from our Alien: Blackout beginner’s guide if you want to make it out alive! If you happen to know additional tips or tricks for the game, feel free to drop us a line!