Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

From the moment you stagger onto the deserted Atargis mining station, Xenomorph throws you into a tense, real-time first-person RPG experience. Movement unfolds in deliberate 10-foot steps with precise 90° turns, a mechanic fans of the Dungeon Master series will recognize and appreciate. There’s a visceral thrill in methodically mapping out each corridor, knowing that at any moment you may encounter hostile forces or environmental hazards lurking in the shadows.

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Your character’s two hands, belt slots, holster and broader inventory system combine to create a rewarding layer of tactical decision-making. Do you carry extra grenades or prioritize rations and water? Will you stash a motion detector for scouting ahead, or keep an environmental suit at the ready to brave toxic sections of the mines? Every item you pick up—from security passes to weapon attachments—feels meaningful, and mastering the flow between hands, belt and backpack is key to survival.

Combat in Xenomorph is both strategic and gut-wrenching. Standard firearms deliver satisfying feedback as you line up shots against alien threats, while grenades and mines allow for pre-emptive traps in narrow hallways. You’ll learn to juggle melee strikes with blaster fire, constantly scanning your surroundings for choke points and ambush spots. The real-time pacing means there’s little room for error; every encounter demands quick thinking, precise use of weapons and just as importantly, judicious resource conservation.

Exploration and puzzle-solving are woven seamlessly into the gameplay loop. Hidden doors require the right security pass, environmental suits grant access to flooded or irradiated tunnels, and data disks scattered across the station unlock deeper layers of the story. The station’s labyrinthine layout encourages backtracking with new tools in hand, rewarding meticulous players who keep detailed mental—or even physical—maps of each sector.

Graphics

Xenomorph’s visuals excel at conveying a stark, claustrophobic atmosphere. Corridors are lined with worn metallic textures, flickering warning lights cast harsh shadows, and distant machinery hums ominously. Even with its grid-based movement, the game creates a palpable sense of dread through clever use of lighting and environmental detail.

Character and item sprites are crisp and functional. Weapon models present clear distinctions between pistols, rifles, grenades and experimental arms, making inventory management smooth and intuitive. Environmental suits, hazard markers and motion detectors all have distinctive icons and animations, ensuring that you quickly recognize critical equipment in the heat of exploration or combat.

The user interface is clean and unobtrusive, blending seamlessly with the game world. Belt and holster slots appear directly on-screen, while the inventory grid expands in an overlay that never feels cumbersome. Quick-access controls for weapons and consumables reduce menu diving, letting you focus on what matters most—staying alive in a hostile station.

Performance remains rock-solid throughout, with consistent frame rates even when multiple effects—such as sparks from damaged machinery or particle effects in acidic spills—are on display. Load times are minimal, maintaining immersion as you transition between the station’s various decks and the sprawling mine networks below.

Story

Xenomorph opens with a chilling premise: your ship has crash-landed on the enigmatic Atargis mining station, and the entire crew of 200 personnel has inexplicably vanished. The platforms are silent save for your own footsteps, and every empty room echoes with unanswered radio calls. This setup immediately hooks you with questions: What befell the miners? Is there an alien presence stalking the station’s shafts?

Narrative discovery comes through data disks dispersed in locked terminals and hidden lockers. Each disk fills in fragments of the station’s history—from corporate memos hinting at covert experiments to personal logs detailing miners’ growing unease. As you piece together these accounts, the story reveals a conspiracy intertwined with environmental dangers, corporate greed and maybe something far more sinister lurking in the depths.

The game’s environmental storytelling is equally compelling. Abandoned workstations bear hastily scrawled warnings, pools of corrosive fluid leak into maintenance tunnels, and the flicker of a dying light can accompany a stuttering audio log that stops mid-message. This layering of written, visual and audio cues creates a rich tapestry that unfolds organically as you delve deeper into the station’s underbelly.

Pacing strikes a careful balance: early sections ease you into basic survival and exploration, while mid-game revelations ramp up tension with more aggressive encounters and story twists. By the time you acquire advanced security passes or specialized suits, you’ve become invested in uncovering the full truth—and racing against time to repair your ship before you become another missing record.

Overall Experience

Xenomorph delivers a masterfully woven blend of dungeon-crawl RPG mechanics and sci-fi horror atmosphere. Every corridor exploration feels fraught with tension, every encounter a test of your inventory-management and combat strategy. Resource scarcity—food, water, ammo—and the constant need to upgrade your gear keeps the stakes high from start to finish.

The game’s deliberate pace and grid-based movement may feel old-school to some, but for fans of classic first-person RPGs it’s a welcome throwback. The challenge curve is steep yet fair, rewarding careful planning, map-making and attentive reading of logs. Environmental hazards, trap placement and the need for specialized suits add layers of depth not often seen in modern titles.

Those who appreciate atmospheric storytelling will find Xenomorph’s narrative delivery top-tier. The deserted station’s ambiance, combined with intermittent audio logs and visual clues, immerses you in a mystery that unfolds at your own pace. There’s genuine satisfaction in assembling the full story of Atargis and unravelling the fate of its ill-fated crew.

In sum, Xenomorph stands out as a challenging, engrossing adventure that successfully marries real-time dungeon crawling with sci-fi horror. It’s a title that demands patience and strategic thinking, but rewards those who persevere with a deeply immersive world and a narrative that lingers long after you’ve repaired your ship and blasted off into the void.

Retro Replay Score

7.1/10