Towards the beginning Perfect Organism: An Alien: Isolation Companionauthor Andy Kelly poses a question that might seem particularly relevant to an outsider: Why write an entire book about a game? However, anyone who has ever harbored a deep passion for a piece of pop culture, be it a movie, a book, or a game, has an innate understanding of it from the start. After all, who hasn’t felt a burning desire to spend hours talking about their favorite game to anyone who was willing to sit down and listen? It’s only natural that when we love something so much, we want to talk about it.
That’s ultimately what makes Perfect Organism such an enjoyable read; it could only have been written by someone who loves Alien: Isolation from head to toe. I’ve read far too many books about the world of video games that felt like they were written out of a reluctant obligation, but Andy Kelly’s take on Creative Assembly’s outstanding survival horror just oozes love and enthusiasm. As someone who has a similar passion for the game and the Alien franchise as a whole, it touched me deeply.
Whether you’ve played Alien: Isolation multiple times or are about to take your first terrifying foray through Sevastopol Station, Perfect Organism is a great look at the game itself, its origins and evolution, how Ridley Scott’s original film influenced it, and why it’s likely to continue to stand the test of time for decades to come. At just over 200 pages, it never feels overwhelmingly exhaustive, but there’s still plenty to sink your teeth into.
Kelly starts with a suitably effusive introductory section about why he felt the need to pursue such a project and what the game means to him, before diving into a brief but informative history of the Alien series of games up to this point. And Kelly leaves nothing out, even including post-Isolation titles like Aliens: Fireteam Elite and Aliens: Dark Descent.
After that, things get a little more detailed, as Kelly goes into detail. He explores how Creative Assembly won over both Fox and Sega with their exceptionally convincing pitch and tech demo, how the team got into the world of Ridley Scott’s Foreigner (including playing the first film on a continuous loop in the development office) and what technology was used to make the titular Xenomorph such a terrifying, powerful force.
The real meat of Perfect Organism is the Mission Manual section. I’ll admit to being a little skeptical at this point. As someone who has played through the game multiple times and knows the Sevastopol space station like the back of their hand, why would I need a detailed Mission Manual? Surely anyone who loves Alien: Isolation so much they would read an entire book about the game would be in the same boat?
In all honesty, however, the mission guide often reads more like a supplementary commentary; almost like something you’d expect to find inside the extras of a DVD. Yes, it is indeed a walkthrough for the game, but it’s written in a more colloquial style; a far cry from the SEO-friendly guides you might be used to online. It’s also full of interesting anecdotes, observations, and background information that allude to the development of certain scenes. I found that this section of the book is best experienced by playing through a chapter of the game and then reading the corresponding section in the mission guide. It works wonderfully as a handy companion piece, as you’d expect.
In fact, comparing Perfect Organism to a DVD extra might be the most apt description. If you’ve somehow managed not to play Alien: Isolation since its release in 2014, and don’t plan on trying it out any time soon, nothing I or anyone else can say will convince you to pick up Andy Kelly’s companion piece; it’s just not for you. But if you’re a fan and want to enrich your experience with a little extra reading material, Perfect Organism is a fascinating look into the game’s development and how it cemented its place as one of the greatest survival horrors of all time.
As for the book itself, I must note that it’s basically a novel in the most traditional sense. There are no images to speak of, and frankly I would have loved it if there had been a section of development photos in the middle; much like how history books often have sections devoted to images. Unfortunately, there’s nothing like that here, but if you’re craving some visual help, there are plenty of documentary features on YouTube that you can peruse at your leisure. Otherwise, it’s a solid product, and I particularly like the minimalist design of the dust jacket. The lack of any Xenomorph iconography was no doubt to avoid any potential legal issues, but it works without it.
