Perfect Organism – A must-see for Alien: Isolation fans

Towards the beginning of Perfect Creature: Alien: The Isolated CompanionAuthor Andy Kelly poses a question that, to the outsider, might seem particularly apt: why write an entire book about a game? However, for anyone who has ever had a deep passion for a piece of pop culture, be it a movie, a book, or a game, there is an innate sense of understanding right from the start. After all, who hasn’t felt the burning desire to talk about their favorite game for hours on end with anyone willing to sit down and listen? It’s only natural that when we love something so much, we want to talk about it.

Ultimately, this is what makes Perfect Organism such a pleasant read; it could only have been written by someone who loved Aliens: Isolation from top to bottom. I’ve read too many books based on video game worlds that feel like they were written out of some sense of obligation, but Andy Kelly’s exploration of Creative Assembly’s brilliant survival horror game is simply filled with love and enthusiasm. As someone with a similar passion for the game and the entire Alien franchise, it resonated deeply with me.

Whether you’ve played Alien: Isolation multiple times or are about to embark on your first terrifying adventure through Sevastopol Station, Perfect Organism is a fantastic in-depth look at the game itself, its origins and development, how Ridley Scott’s original film influenced it, and why it’s likely to stand the test of time in the decades to come. At just over 200 pages long, it never feels overwhelming, but there’s still plenty here to sink your teeth into.

Kelly starts with an emotional introduction about why he felt compelled to pursue such a project and what the game means to him, before moving into a brief but informative history of the Alien series up to this point. And Kelly doesn’t miss a beat, even including post-Isolation titles like Aliens: Elite Fire Force And Aliens: Dark Fall.

Then things get a little deeper as Kelly dives into the real details. He explores how Creative Assembly convinced both Fox and Sega with their incredibly convincing tech demo and presentation, how the team immersed themselves in Ridley Scott’s world. Alien (including replaying the first film repeatedly in the development office) and what technology was used to create the Xenomorph – such a terrifying and formidable force.

The real bulk of Perfect Organism lies in its ‘Mission Guide’ section. Now, I admit I felt a little skeptical at this stage. Why would I, someone who has played the game multiple times and knows the Sevastopol space station like the back of my hand, need a full mission guide? Surely anyone who loved Alien: Isolation enough to read an entire book about the game would be in the same boat?

The truth is, however, that the mission guide often reads like a bonus commentary; almost like something you’d expect in the core of a DVD’s special features. Yes, it’s essentially a walkthrough for the game, but written in a much more conversational style; a far cry from the SEO-friendly guides you might find online. It’s also filled with interesting anecdotes, observations, and background information that alludes to the development of specific scenes. I found the best way to experience this part of the book was to play through a chapter of the game and then read through the corresponding segment in the mission guide. It works great, as you’d expect, as a handy supplement.

In fact, comparing the entirety of Perfect Organism to a DVD extra is probably the most apt way to describe it. If you’ve somehow avoided playing Alien: Isolation since its 2014 release and have no plans to experience it any time soon, then nothing I or anyone else can say will convince you to pick up Andy Kelly’s extra; it’s not for you. But if you’re a fan and want to enhance your experience with a little extra reading, Perfect Organism is a fascinating dive into the game’s development and how it cemented its place as one of the greatest survival horror games of all time.

Speaking of the book itself, I should note that this is really a novel in the most traditional sense. There are no images to speak of, and honestly, I would have liked it if there had been a development photography section tucked in the middle; kind of like how history books often have sections dedicated to images. Alas, there’s nothing of the sort here, but if you’re looking for some visual aid, there are plenty of documentary-style features on YouTube to peruse at your leisure. Other than that, it’s a solid read, and I particularly like the minimalist design of the jacket. The lack of any Xenomorph symbols is probably to avoid any potential legal issues, but it works just fine without it.