Enhanced Gameplay, Simplified Graphics

When Alien: Rogue Incursion made its debut on PSVR 2 and PC VR headsets last December, it marked a significant milestone as the first VR-native addition to the iconic ‘Alien’ franchise. This exciting release from Survios recently extended its reach to Quest 3, building anticipation among VR gaming enthusiasts.

In our initial review, we delved into the game’s thrilling Xenomorph encounters. These interactions, notable for the creatures’ raptor-like hunting tactics, certainly kept our adrenaline pumping. However, the thrill was sometimes dampened by repetitive random encounters and a rather unforgiving save system, which weighed down the experience. Ultimately, we rated it a solid 7 out of 10 in our spoiler-free review.

Before launching on Quest 3, the game underwent several updates aimed at enhancing the player experience. It’s now available on the Horizon Store for $40. One of the most crucial updates came shortly before the Quest 3 release. Survios implemented crucial changes to balance Xenomorph spawning, refining their sensory capabilities to avoid overwhelming players with precision attacks. Another welcome improvement was in the save system, which now offers players more flexibility by allowing them to load from previous saves rather than being stuck with just one.

As of now, we haven’t had the chance to fully explore the Quest 3 version. Early reviews are mixed, though. For example, the YouTube channel ‘Gamertag VR’ offers insightful coverage of the game’s newest release on Quest, noting some graphical hiccups. They mention, “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 attached to the left side of your head, but for the first four to five hours, you’ll never need to turn it on because the game simply isn’t dark enough.”

Despite this, they acknowledge that the Xenomorph encounters now feel more organic, likely thanks to the recent patch.

For those interested in a head-to-head comparison, ‘The VR Grid’ on YouTube provides a side-by-side analysis of Quest 3 and PSVR 2 versions (on a base PS5). They highlight the compromises made to adapt the game to Quest 3’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor. The Quest version doesn’t feature dynamic lighting, loses some ambient effects like steam, and has a more restricted draw distance, although the in-game text is easier to read.

While we refer to it as Alien: Rogue Incursion, it’s technically only the first installment of a two-part narrative. In a statement from December, Survios explained this initial entry as a “standalone adventure which ends with a cliffhanger,” hinting that there’s much more to come. The studio is hard at work on ‘Part Two,’ which promises to further unfold Zula’s story, introducing her to even more formidable foes and tougher challenges.