Aliens: Dark Descent is a squad based tactical strategy game which sees players command a group of Colonial Marines as they engage an unknown alien threat after a catastrophic cargo disaster. Throughout the game, players will have to manage a variety of different facets to ensure their squad's survival, including Stress, Trauma and Fatigue. In addition to the various enemies players will encounter throughout the game's dark, sci-fi, semi-open world, these very human problems will torment the Marines and need to be addressed to ensure maximum combat effectiveness.
In Aliens: Dark Descent, Stress is indicated by a small heartbeat icon in the lower left of the Marine's display panel, next to their weaponry at the bottom of the screen during deployment. The amount of Stress a Marine is suffering is indicated by a percentage number, with Trauma developing whenever this reaches a critical level.
Shelter
One way to mitigate the effects of Stress and prevent Trauma Traits from developing is to construct Shelters while deployed. This will protect the squad from any outside threats while simultaneously giving them the opportunity to recover, thereby increasing their combat effectiveness and decreasing the likelihood of developing new negative traits.
Players can build an effective shelter in any room, provided it does not have Vents or a Hive from which Xenomorphs might be able to gain access, by welding shut all the access points. The squad will then be given the option to Rest, which will pass time and recover the squad's Stress and Fatigue levels.
Trauma
When Stress levels reach 100%, Marines will then gain a level of Trauma. Stress works in three stages: Anxious, Panicked and Terrified, and when the third stage has been reached, the afflicted Marine will develop negative traits which can have serious implications for combat. These negative traits are as follows:
- Depressive: The Marine starts every mission with additional Stress Damage.
- Pyrophobia: Each time the Incineration skill is used or an Oil Puddle is set on fire, the Marine takes Stress Damage.
- Borderline: The Stress Relieved by the Marine when using Naproleve or resting is increased, but all Stress Damage is also increased.
- Hypochondriac: If the squad has no Medical Supplies, the Marine will suffer Stress Damage every second.
- Claustrophobia: When Resting in a Shelter, the Marine's Stress no longer decreases.
- Paranoid: If the squad has more than 3 active Marines, the Marine takes Stress Damage.
- Hematophobia: The Marine takes Stress Damage each second whenever a member of the squad suffers a Hemorrhage.
- Anthrophobia: The Marine takes Stress Damage whenever they see a human enemy.
- Obsessive: Increases the time required to Reload.
- Robophobia: The Marine takes Stress Damage each second when seeing a Synthetic (ally or enemy).
- Xenomorphobia: The Marine takes Stress Damage each second when seeing a Xenomorph.
If a Marine is suffering negative Trauma traits, they can be treated at the Psychiatric Care Unit in the main base's Medical Bay aboard the Otago, which players will have to unlock as they progress through the game. It is wise to allow Marines the time to rest and recover fully in between missions, since stacking these negative traits will be detrimental to the Marine's survival.
Aliens: Dark Descent is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.