Minor spoilers for Isolation!
So there I was, hiding behind a desk that I figured out the Xeno never checks. Why do I know that because after playing games for so long i'm an expert at finding the "weak" spot for AIs and NPCs. I exploit the games weakness to feel safe, that's just the way it is. Here's the thing though as I found out when I accidently hit my hammer into the desk, the Alien do check because seconds later I hear the loud "thumps" from his feets as he corners the desk and just attacks me instantly and kills me. I swear my heart stopped for a second!
Another moment is the vents you can hide in, I never ever saw him crawl in or chase me so after an hours gameplay I felt safe in the vents, found another safehaven so to speak. I crawled in to hide from him in the dark and seconds later I hear a noise and the fucker crawls after me in THE VENTS and attacks me! Seriously, i'm not very sensitive to horror but that fucking got me, my body just froze entirely!
One of the best AI/NPC scripts i've seen in a game.
About Alien: Isolation, i recently finished it up on hard difficulty and i'd say, the most scary part of the game for me was, actually, everything before encountering the Xenomorph for the first time (which is a scripted event). Before it happens, we don't have a clue when the thing gonna shows up and, while it didn't appear for me, i read some comments saying that he can show up before it's "official introduction", just as i suspected.
For example, after the cutscene where he kills that bald guy with his tail, you reach a dark place where you have to call a "tram". While you wait for it, the music just gets creepier and you just have to wait for the damn tram while praying. After it comes, if you take too long to push the button to go, i've heard people saying that he comes and kills you. I'm glad that i hit the button fast
After i got familiar with the Xenomorph, the game did lost the scariness factor imo. Also, the alien isn't that annoying after you
get the flamethrower.
In fact, the most annoying enemy for me was these Working Joes.
That said, i thought it was a pretty good game. Anyone interested in the movie or survival horror should try it.