Video Game Mini Review: Alisa Developer’s Cut

With AAA horror games like Resident Evil and Alan Wake taking the limelight (and rightfully so), it can be easy to forget the fundamentals of what makes a horror game scary. Yes, HD monsters will do the tricks, but classic horror games don’t need them, and sometimes good horror relies on tension and pacing. Alisa Developer’s Cut utilizes what makes the PS1 era of horror so special, and successfully modernizes the formula, all while staying scary.

Alisa is set in the 1920s, as Alisa, an Elite Royal Agent, finds herself trapped in a mansion filled with mechanical monstrosities. Unfortunately, most of those monstrosities are creepy dolls. Like the games that inspire Alisa, players must try to survive and escape the mansion.

The game excels in delivering a genuine survival horror experience, complete with perplexing puzzles and a never-ending sense of dread. Combat, while reminiscent of its predecessors, could use some refinement and will be hit or miss based on the player’s preference. Aiming at enemies doesn’t always feel great, especially because they have some wonky hitboxes. Still, this is made up for by the variety of weapons available to the player. Combat can be frustrating, but it never feels stale.

Alisa‘s level design is excellent, offering a full mansion to explore with hidden secrets and challenging puzzles. The Resident Evil influence is clear and Alisa makes the most of this influence with a location that is actually interesting to explore.

Alisa‘s visuals and sound design transport players back to the late ’90s successfully and none of the presentation feels gimmicky. The pre-rendered backgrounds are beautifully eerie, and the character models, while intentionally blocky, are well-designed and look great. The sound design complements the visuals perfectly, with a soundtrack that ranges from eerily quiet to outright panic-inducing.