Summary
Upcoming releaseAlisa: Developer’s Cutlooks to be a nostalgic reminder of PS1 horror gamesSilent HillandResident Evil. Many games from the PS1-era popularized a lot of familiar tropes, such asResident Evil’s tank controls, pre-rendered backgrounds, pre-set camera angles, and even darker lighting. While these were mostly a product of system limitations at the time, they added to the additional scare factor that horror games from that time were trying to achieve, making the experience more memorable.
While somemodern games such asOutbreakhave tried to emulate the feel and look of the aforementioned PS1 classics, not all the games which follow these mechanics seem to have hit the sweet spot. However, those that have had their own success look to be extending their reach to more platforms. Such is the case withAlisa: Developer’s Cut.
In a trailer released on YouTube,Alisa: Developer’s Cuthas confirmed that it will be releasing on Xbox, Switch, PS4, and PS5 on June 01, 2025. The game’s premise is that Alisa, the titular character, is whisked away to a Victorian-style mansion populated by mechanized monstrosities and creepy dolls. The trailer shows several scenes which seem to be a fusion of PS1’sResident Evilgames' location, setting, and feel, with the lead character clearly reminiscent of Alice fromAlice in Wonderland. Even some of the visual backgrounds are similar toRE1’s mansion and corridors, which should take players on a highly familiar yet new experience. The last shot in the trailer even emulatesRE1’s first zombie encounter.
While it was reported in 2020 thatAlisawas originally in development for Switch, the game was first released on PC in 2021. That version of the game has got very positive reviews due to how many consider the premise interesting, and the nostalgia level high. However, this new Developer’s Cut release for multiple platforms is reported to include all previously released new content, as well as introduce quality-of-life improvements that are intended to make gameplay smoother and better.
With the jump to multiple consoles,Alisa: Developer’s Cuthas a new audience to pursue. While games similar to it can be hit or miss, the clamor for classic and nostalgic horror games is high. Its positive PC reception may be a good determinant of whether Alisa will join the ranks ofFatal FrameandEternal Darknessas cult classichorror games, but the trailer alone warrants enough attention for many players to check out this hidden gem coming soon.
