One thing that makes Alien: Isolation such a uniquely tense experience is that it feels so personal thanks to its protagonist, Amanda Ripley, being the daughter of Ellen Ripley, the beloved hero of the original Alien movies. Her desperate search for her mom grounds the story in reality and makes you connect with Amanda and sympathize for her predicament even more.
That said, Alien: Isolation writer Dion Lay wasn't originally on board with Amanda as protagonist and wasn't sold until he realized how much "weight and heart" she adds to the story.
