I was expecting Alisa to be a modern take on Resident Evil, using modern accessibility but keeping the PS1 aesthetic. Instead, Alisa is a direct competitor to the 90s classics it takes it inspiration from. It's not looking to evolve the genre but just recapture what made the originals so good. With this philosophy, comes a lot of the 90s frustrations just for the sake of "keeping with tradition": A map that's not nearly as clear as anything post REmake, progression locked behind some egregious backtracking (if you miss one little detail), and some rough puzzle logic. However, when Alisa breaks the conventions and limitation of the genre at the time, the results are a mixed bag. The bosses are fantastic, but combat is not the greatest as to be expected. The currency system is a bit too strict in motivating combat over evasion, in a genre defined by its lacking combat. And the stealth section is a nightmare for a game crafted entirely of beautiful fixed camera stills. In other words. Alisa shines with its imitation of the Classics, but falls short in trying to truly distinguish itself mechanically. I really dig the doll house aesthetic, especially when they really lean into the weird and wacky ideas that comes from a "madhouse of fun".

If this game came out in 98', I think it would have given Capcom a run for its money. But in 2023, it's hard to overlook the problems deep rooted in a genre that has transformed tremendously over 25+ years. It's a fantastic period piece that truly delivers the old school survival horror, warts and all.

6.5/10