Saying that an art book based on a horror themed video game is beautiful may 
seem like a contradiction but not in the case of the Art of Alien Isolation. Yes, the Art of Alien Isolation is gorgeous and it brings back memories of the original Alien from 1979.
Games based on movies (or movie franchises) have a tendency to be less than stellar but that isn’t the case with Alien Isolation. The game takes place 15 years after the events on the Nostromo and revolves around Warrant Officer Ripley’s daughter, Amanda. Weyland-Yutani enlists Amanda’s help retrieving the flight recorder from the ill-fated final voyage of the Nostromo. Even something as simple as recovering a flight recorder doesn’t go off without a hitch and soon Amanda is fighting pesky aliens like her mother.
Since the game is set only 15 years after the events of Alien, it appears to have drawn heavily from the look of that film. If you are a fan of the Alien franchise, of video games or you just love to look at concept art, Titan Books has published the perfect book for you. The Art of Alien Isolation gives fans an amazing look behind the scenes.
The Art of Alien Isolation is 176 glossy pages of ship, weapon and character designs in a gorgeous oversized book (9.3 x 0.8 x 12 inches). The book is broken down into six art sections that include:
- Characters
- Weapons and Equipment
- The Cold Vacuum of Space
- The Sevastapol Station
- The Xenomorph
- Story Boards
Video games and animation have come a long way in the last 25 years; making characters so life-like it is almost like watching a movie instead of playing a video game. In The Art of Alien Isolation you can see the painstaking detail that went into everything from designing the makeshift weapons to the patches on the characters’ flight suits. Some these minute details would never be seen during game play but this book is your backstage pass to the video game. Personally I enjoy looking at how something goes from concept to finished product. Just looking through the section of weapons and equipment gave some great ideas for building gear for cosplay. (Warning: do not attempt to make a homemade flame thrower)
Nearly every page has a blurb or two describing what the designers were trying accomplish, right down to the lighting. One of the coolest things in the game as well as in the book are the character designs for the original Nostromo crew. The designers didn’t want to miss any detail since even the smallest detail was an extension of the character’s personality. All of the likenesses were remarkable with Ripley being the best. (In all fairness I am partial to Sigourney Weaver and I have been since Alien was released).
Much like every other art book that Titan Books publishes, The Art of Alien: Isolation is a beautiful, high quality book that will appeal to gamers and non-gamers alike. I must admit that just based on the pictures in this book I am actually tempted to purchase the game. This large coffee table book retails for $34.95 and it would make a great gift for you or a loved one. Also check out the official Titan Books website to get a glimpse of what is in store for 2015.
