The Alien Cultists of Lethe: The Cassandra Project - Explained

In Aliens: Dark Descent, the planet Lethe is inhabited by a cult calling themselves The Darwin Era, preparing for an operation they refer to as The Cassandra Project. What does the cult have planned and how does it involve Xenomorph XX121?
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[@roberthiltz2741]

I generally don’t play Alien games because in my 40+ years I have been burned by disappointment many times, so I thank you for the synopsis

[@scottbrettell5130]

It's an awesome game would go as far as to say the joint best alien game along with isolation well worth a play through you won't be disappointed

[@cannonfutter2935]

You should try it. It's really good

[@chination1796]

​@scottbrettell5130 Aliens Fireteam Elite is good too

[@scottbrettell5130]

@chination1796 I didn't Diss like FTE but not in the same league as isolation and dark desent for me

[@chination1796]

@scottbrettell5130 It's more fun to blast Aliens to pieces in Fireteam Elite 😂

[@adrianobezerra2998]

Played it last year, it's amazing. The tension is constant, strategy is absolutely necessary and you have to think and make decisions very quickly, otherwise things go south in a moment. Sometimes they go regardless. Recommended for sure, it's underrated and deserves more atention. Nice video!

[@alxxz]

I also watched the entire play-through and all cut-scenes last year, awesome game indeed which pays more homage to the level design and atmosphere of the Alien Breed games on the AMIGA from the early 1990s. Also amazing and thrilling games, especially Alien Breed Special Edition '92 which was the best of the series!

[@sujimayne]

Hard mode is the way to go for the true Aliens experience. It's not particularly Hard, just requires you to take it slow.

[@alxxz]

@@sujimayne I have no doubt, I also choose hard mode in most games I play to experience them to their fullest, though my patience has ran thin over the years, so I resort to Normal mode from time to time.

[@Blitz_Zayne04]

Cassandra wasn't the one that was going through Xenosynthesis with the big alien that they were getting chased by. It was Harper that was going through xenosynthesis to prevent the big alien from eliminating cassandra and the main protagonist of the story.

[@EdmundLoh]

"A Glorious... DEATH!" "Do it for Marlow!" Been playing missions on Aliens: Dark Descent. It's a surprisingly fun game, and I wished they've made more missions and add some more customization options to the Marines.

[@therealmcgoy4968]

I begged the devs to come out with a dlc letting us play as weyland mercenaries during beginning of outbreak on Lethe.

[@stevenobrien557]

​@therealmcgoy4968 apparently the rights to make the game were vert limited and no allowance for DLC or extensions. A real shame.

[@TonyBMan]

​@@stevenobrien557 A typical corpo horror story. :-/

[@EnigmeStudios]

I sort of agree! What we have feels solid for the price point though. There are just enough missions and soldier options to complete story mode once without feeling too restrictive. If we get a sequel - which I hope we do - the team should definitely think about expanding customization options.

[@tunnel-stash]

The fact that game didnt even get nominated is shocking. Easily one of my favorite games of all time!

[@RedwolfDogrocket]

What platform was it on please?

[@arjusarauis9901]

Right? Got it like months ago and after a few painful lessons on my own and playthroughs with one even on Hard and No One Can Hear You Scream it is easily one of the best games of the year for me. All that sneakiness and firefight intensities as well evacuations here and there as well racing the Death Clock, just wow.

[@ferretchief]

How did this video go live just as I was searching for dark descent videos 🤯

[@AlienTheory]

You hear the call of the hive…

[@Crocy]

284k subs, one or two are bound to be searching at the time of upload.

[@christianjonker8181]

I got some dark descent gameplay videos recommended to me recently. You are not alone…

[@patmagh]

Welcome to the Matrix.

[@markosgeorgopoulos5823]

literally me too...

[@samsschool3639]

Man you and Kroft were born to narrate Alien Lore, the eerie voice and inflections along with unsettling music is just, chef's, kiss!

[@joshuacox7926]

Very glad I managed to finish Dark Descent just a few week ago before this video came out and not have to worry about spoilers! I really enjoyed Dark Descent and was looking forward to your videos on it, I had a great time with the gameplay and the lore was fascinating and felt like a wonderful love letter to the older Alien comics and novels with the psychic humans/xenos and xenomorph worshippers. Not to mention that final mission with the Titan Xenomorph and the Space Jockey city, wonderfully unsettling and eerie! Maeko is definitely up there for great and resourceful heroes we've had in the franchise. Really hope we get a sequel continuing its themes and building on its gameplay!

[@kellvalar8573]

That game was such a surprise hit for "us", right? I thought it would be garbage. But damn, if this ain't one of the best Alien games ever. The atmosphere is so good, you can touch the tension. Did not really think a strategy game can be this terrifying.

[@bedfordshiremodeller4491]

Hopefully they,ll giv us apredator version 😉👽🤞

[@HazzardousEco]

The Titan Xenomorph certainly looks like a Hydralisk from Starcraft

[@CloneShockTrooper]

Reminds me of the Genstealer cultists from the Warhammer 40.000 This story would be an amazing Aliens movie.

[@alxxz]

Actually it pays more homage to the level design and atmosphere of the Alien Breed games on the AMIGA from the early 1990s. Amazing and thrilling games indeed, especially Special Edition '92!

[@TheWhills]

This story is almost exactly Prometheus. David is Marlow

[@alxxz]

@@TheWhills I didn't really feel any Prometheus vibes here really. Then again that film sucked anyway, so... The story and setting is more similar to the 2001 AVP2 games and the level design to Alien Breed from the AMIGA.

[@someotherperson5279]

I do not play video games. I am a bit of an Alien(s). I have read the comics and a couple of novels. This cult aspect is very interesting. I have seen it in those old comics. I think it could find its way into movies. Something new on the screen besides Marines, Weyland-Yutani and people running away screaming and dying. Thank you, once again, for this excellent content. Take care and be well.

[@rydoes1225]

If the movies introduces a cult-theme I would be so happy.

[@TheRogueSquid]

When you say you’re a bit of an alien, or even aliens, are you implying you are part alien? Or maybe that you are a part OF an alien? If so, what bit are you? Please elaborate.

[@OliverClozeoff]

​@@TheRogueSquidthats what im trying to figure out too

[@JeffreyEgan]

I just finished my play through of Dark Descent last week, this video could not have dropped at a better time!

[@herbjergens6350]

1:21 'gosh darn it!!! DON'T look atthe camera, you're gunna ruin the shot!!'.

[@codyreece7080]

Had a blast playing this game, although I do wish you got to fight the giant xeno at the end

[@tomj2303]

Dark Descent is a fantastic game. I've played it through three times now, so many cool moments. I'm not overly bothered about the cultist storyline. I like the nods to the comics, though

[@YenaD15]

Still haven't completed Dark Descent. So good but some parts are so hard for me. Great video

[@KB8Killa]

It was too hard for me lol

[@singaporeghostclub]

You can slow mo the battles so I think it might help.

[@scrappydoo7887]

Yea boy I've been waiting for a new narration

[@angelchayne]

Love the alien and predator videos! Keep up the great work

[@JohnDoe-xk1dv]

Was a pretty good game. I thought the basic story ideas were pretty good and intriguing even, although the execution was clunky in some areas. If story was tightened up a little, would make for a great film. The telekinesis bonds starting to be thought possible between aliens and some vulnerable humans; and the cult nature and attempt to integrate alien embryos into the human body in their religious indoctrination, were really interesting ideas.

[@idiot_city5444]

Telekinesis bonds...? That sounds absolutely stupid

[@JohnDoe-xk1dv]

@@idiot_city5444 not really. As far back as shortly after Aliens came out in 86, there was the idea of the Queen communicating telepathically with her drones, and perhaps even the facehuggers. There's then nothing really new to this, except that for certain humans vulnerable to it, could they tap into that? Dark Descent suggests so.

[@_KRUGR_]

I honestly think you’re one of the best narrators / creators on the site. Any chance of you doing a series covering the full marvel / alien run like you have with earth war?

[@CantankerousDave]

Uh... this is clearly an AI generated voice. Probably because the writer isn't native English speaker, based on the grammar mistakes and weird word choices.

[@georgewojcik2546]

I would like to see an Alien game where you would control the hive and take over a planet. Even an Alien RPG would be great. Further note, I would like to see a game just the Colonial Marines in it, no xenomorph. A good example would be the Linna 349 campaign

[@idiot_city5444]

Avp Extinction

[@juanf5391]

I took care of my soldiers and did side missions during the game for additional resources and personnel. I got to the last mission with two days to spare and I couldn't finish the game as the deadline had been reached. "Game Over man!"

[@ayuvir]

Aliens Dark Descent was an amazing experience in my opinion. I've been a fan of Tindalos since their release of the game version of Mordheim. They did a stellar job with the Aliens IP and I hope to see more from them soon.

[@shainewhite2781]

Nice! More ALIEN Content.

[@babalonkie]

Dark Decent... perfect except the whole telepathy thing.

[@filmbuff2777]

Agreed. I thought that was silly, but otherwise I loved the game. As silly as the telepathy thing was, its frankly not as bad as the nonsense from Ridley Scott's prequels.

[@brecibros2469]

They just did it wierd , in the comics there was allways a degree of the xenomorph hive mothers being able to telepathically torment humans during the xenomorph infestation of earth.

[@Ajidam]

You guys are gay af

[@Feetism]

​@@filmbuff2777"nonsense" yeah because exploring the creation of humanity, ambiguous origins of the Xenomorph (because i feel David made a copy), and generally saying "yeah god ain't real bro" is soooo "nonsense".

[@gravelpit5680]

​@@filmbuff2777 those are good movies though, ""filmbuff""

[@herbjergens6350]

The thumbnail character reminds me of the character from Raid on Bungling Bays' cover art. It creeped me out when I first saw it...just something, sinister, about that cover art character.

[@solidg3legend868]

I just realized the extra easter egg from the comics. Not only having the Marlow was right being a nod to Darwin was right but the developers may have named the cult after Darwin, since they are known as the Darwin Era.

[@Mad-Slick]

Haven't played Dark Descent yet but I assumed the cultists were mindless. It is more terrifying that they still have their own consciousness in tact.

[@davidthomas9190]

I want more Earth wars content please 🙏

[@handledhandlehandlinghandler]

I thought Earth Wars was over.

[@italbadboy4382]

And also some Aliens Colonial Marines comic series

[@davidthomas9190]

@@italbadboy4382 absolutely 💯

[@TheJMBon]

Earth Wars is over. Watch the Ryushi videos. THATS the AVP we should have gotten, not the trash movies.

[@bedfordshiremodeller4491]

​@@TheJMBon Both films we,re good i enjoyed them

[@davidlasby4702]

Fantastic game. And yes, I’d love to see the idea of cultists explored in a film or the tv show. It would be fresh territory and add to the lore.

[@MarisFreeborn]

I loved the idea of the Darwin Era. They fit really well with the Millenarian Doomsayers, the Immaculate Incubation, and the Holy Immolation: Another way of the human psyche dealing (poorly) with absolute cosmic horror and strangeness. "Look long into the abyss," etc. I think my only gripe would be the actual physiology behind the chest portals; bodies don't QUITE work like that . . . Overall, Dark Descent was actually one of the most fun and in-depth portrayals of the ALIEN universe IMO. I wish it had gone even deeper, but it perfectly captured the atmosphere of the films in a way that few games have.

[@metalheadrevolution2650]

This reminds me of the genestealer cults from 40k

[@privaterose5021]

I was wondering when you'd cover this. Always found the story of this game interesting.

[@Tasomo]

This game was great and had good replayability. The gameplay nailed the feeling of Aliens with the tension and story. I highly recommend it.

[@singaporeghostclub]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS GAME! It filled the void that was left by Isolation.

[@idiot_city5444]

This is literally child's play compared to Isolation.

[@leonpeters-malone3054]

The moment Maeko Hayes comes out in Marine kit? That was stunning. Great game, very underrated. It needs more coverage. What I will say about the story? I feel it was compressed. It really needed another mission or two. I felt some of the story beats needed more time to develop. There's a bit of a rush at the end. The scope of the story worked for me and worked very well apart from that fact.

[@Sk1663r]

I did finish the game not long ago and could not really put it down ones I started, not only was the gameplay really fun but also the story that really did kick off dragged me in so I just wanted to know what happened next. As also you said I do draw inspiration from many of the old Dark Horse comics, like Earth Wars and The Destroying Angels. Great game, if you are a Alien fan it is almost a must play.

[@siarnne]

reminds me of a Darkhorse comic. They took the human susceptibility to greed and carismatic figures and tied it in the with aliens to make a society that was the worst of all worlds....that most people didn't know about.

[@protosonic17]

Hoping they make a sequel exploring more. I was hooked on this one for awhile. Will go back to my 2nd file when i knock a few more out of my backlog

[@babarian34]

The game is great. The storyline is… let‘s just say it starts out cool, but turns a bit silly at the end. Honestly, I wasn‘t a fan of the cult angle.

[@project_swift]

I loved Dark Descent =D ALMOST a perfect game for me.

[@aa.design.excellence]

*Fun Fact:* Bentonville, Arkansas is the location of Walmart’s headquarters, and displayed on all of their trucks. I just wonder if some developer used that as their inspiration.

[@joshDammmit]

This game is so badass. I’m like 90% done with it… really need to get back on it

[@CloneScavengerVulpin8389]

I had a great time with this game and getting to know the characters especially hayes and harper.I even did a second playthrough in preparation for aliens: romulus. Also their are cultists that appeared in avp: extinction.

[@quintenmomberg1440]

Id say the main Big Alien is almost a direct design of the Snake Alien/Xenomorph Toy Line🤯😁Awesome👍👍👍Thank you @AlienTheory❤❤❤

[@joshXnovak1]

YEEEEEESSSSS finally another Aliens: Dark Descent lore video!

[@MetastaticMaladies]

Need more alien games, but like AvP where you could play as the alien, from facehugger to chestburster and xenomorph.

[@mandroid-rb4uy]

hello Alientheory "you are such a talented Story Teller and Alien Lore scholar I really keep on enjoying your content and mellifluous voice keeping the Alien rich universe alive and sharing your Passion Keep going

[@_oriTech_]

hooooly crap, i would love to see something like this in a limited series. this is amazing

[@EricLinstone]

I really enjoyed DD. Took a lot of it's game play mechanics from the Alien RPG. Which is also a lot of fun. The ending left a LOT of unanswered questions though. Not sure if they were hoping for an expansion or sequel or something but I felt it kinda left me hanging. But hey, same with Covenant.

[@Pers0n97]

This game has been a great surprise when it comes to the Alien franchise. it perfectly nail the style of the franchise and is a great addition to its lore (I especially liked the last boss, from a concept standpoint).

[@Scarhandpainting]

The game was a blast. An Aliens continuation we all deserved. 10/10 for me.

[@Declineable]

This game was to the Aliens movie, what Alien Isolation was to Alien. Absolutely loved Dark Descent.

[@batzgameguru]

This game actually surprised me, I didn't think itd be good since it's RTS but I got addicted

[@butteredchefcheeks928]

Interesting breakdown. Some food for thought. Thanks

[@zephyrken4390]

Dark descent really surprised me it was such good game, also plz make more videos like these i love them

[@Streetrocker28]

Aliens Dark Descent is a must play game , its’s a love letter to Aliens

[@ryanf7441]

I hated this game for the first few hours but so glad I pushed through. It’s so unforgivingly difficult even on medium but eventually you start to figure things out and I will say it makes the aliens scary unlike other games where you can easily blast them to pieces. You genuinely have to figure out ways to avoid them or use a tool to distract them if you want your squad to survive

[@LithNeo]

I was wondering when we could see some Dark Decent lore vids. I loved this game so much. It had all the beats of an Alien movie, though I really wanted it to be longer I was mostly happy with how it went down except for the ending. It felt like the devs wrote themselves into a corner with the last level because with the hardware I was packing, there was no way that thing at the end would have lasted sixty seconds with plasma guns and RPGs. Overall though, this game was a delight to play and I really hope that the studio gets to make a sequel because everything worked here and it is one of the best Alien games Ive played.

[@justinrice5405]

Did not expect to like the game as much as I did. It was as difficult as it needed to be. Plus, I like them exploring xeno cults.

[@ronrobertson4327]

Wiuld love to see more media content like this; as well as an Earth War movie or TV series

[@snesfan8935]

Love these extended universe stuff.

[@samael7768]

While I didn't love the cultist angle, finding it all just a bit hokey compared to the classic anti-corporation beats, I did really dig the guardian design with the chestburster suspended in them. Dark Descent was super fun and I thoroughly enjoyed the Lt. Gorman roleplay experience it provided, even if it was surprisingly difficult. Honestly I'd love to see another strategy/tactics Alien game. Maybe commanding a Weyland-Yutani commando unit, or perhaps the USCM 'Midnighters' mentioned in Into Charybidis.

[@eldritchmorgasm4018]

Playing it right now for the 1st time. Not sure what's more stressing, the Xenomorph bugs or the technical bugs. Good game though, hope there will be more updates & DLC, story Add-Ons. A digital comic just for the game would be nice, like a prequel.

[@Zeithri]

" _Mah-RINES!_ " I watched a playthrough of this game, that cultist cracks me up. But I was disappointed that the cultists just... didn't do much.. and the culmination of the story... very lackluster. Spoilers below.. I was also disappointed by the Marlow reveal, and disappointed with the Weyland-Yutani scientist being as expected. I much more prefer when they don't play it straight. It'd been so much more interesting if he was just a really dedicated scientist hellbent on studying them for it's wide-range applications instead of " _Mmmmmoney..._ " . Also when I hear Marlow, can't help but to think of AvP3 from 2010, the Marine ship in that game was called the Marlow. And for ya'll who haven't studied Mythology, in Greek Mythology when you died you found yourself in the underworld where you'd be made to drink from the River Lethe as all souls do to forget your Earthly life. Not malicius, just the cycle of all. So the question here is; Why is this planet called Lethe? Is it a hint towards Marlow or other characters?

[@cruxnajii2056]

I quite enjoyed the game and it's story. It was a very welcome change to the run and gun style of the first person shooters.

[@SweetLuups]

Such a good game. Great video!

[@BerryNiceToMeetYou]

I actually have a lot to thank 2 Alien games for when it comes to gaming. Isolation got me into 1st person perspective games. Dark descent opened me up to strategy games. I would have missed out on so many games I loved if it wasn't for those 2.

[@FrescaLife]

Criminally underrated game imo. Must play if you're a fan of the franchise.

[@ottooctavius9552]

Dark decent was a very good game

[@TheXenomorphwarrior]

I loved this game it’s so damn good, I really hope they’re able to make a dlc or sequel to this game. Any chance you’ll make a video covering the weyland yutani super commandos in this game?

[@MrEW1985]

All while we impatientlty wait on Alient Romules.

[@gorvarhadgarson5227]

Great game, highly enjoyed it. Haven't had this much fun since Isolation. My only request is that we do more with Phalanx, now THAT would make a great video game

[@Enderm00]

I really enjoyed Aliens: Dark Descent. In fact, I just finished a second playthrough and New Game+ campaign mode which was a lot of fun for me!

[@brianevans6423]

Yes a new video!! Thank you Alien Theory!!

[@comentedonakeyboard]

Human-Xenomorph-Cooperation How wonderful 😂

[@LauraaFinn]

I really like these deep dives into games in the Alien universe. Dark Descent was one of my favourite games last year. Have you thought of diving into the Alien RPG material? The recent book 'Building Better Worlds' was great, and I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on the things 'explored' in that book.

[@darrancoyle8394]

Loved watching the playthtough and cutscenes of this game.

[@georgehouliaras7239]

I wonder if we ever see an Alien King. Not Rogue, an actual Alien King. He has a toy and his backstory is great. Imagine him leading Praetorians to battle. Badass.

[@lostfound8112]

Those glowing zombies are freaky.

[@marble_orchard_spectre4363]

One could argue the entire alien franchise is Weyland yutani being telepathically manipulated by Xenomorph masterminds

[@asstech665god8]

Especially considering the dreams prior to the earth war.

[@leszekhalama1173]

Seeing these cultists made me think of Alien 3 and Golic.

[@soundwave1479]

I loved playing through Aliens Dark Descent I would like a sequel just to see a continuation of Haye's story but I guess we will see.

[@mrbubbles8743]

Dark descent was excellent. I had low hopes for it, but ended up loving jt and playing to completion 3 times.

[@bladerunner3314]

Back in the day I designed a xeno cult for Prodos' AvP. But those used pheromones to not get maimed by the swarm.

[@ReiCow]

This is the first AT vid that I have stopped halfway through, because I wanted to go play the game and see the resolution of a the telepathic daughter plotline for myself. (I am particularly thinking about one of the books in regards to this). Moo

[@PatrickOMulligan]

I really appreciate you not just calling the Aliens, xenomorphs, and using the full designation. That one misunderstood line in Aliens has led so many to think xenomorph is the species name annoys me to no ends.

[@onemancinema4642]

This is some cool detailed back story to a very hard game!!! Lol.

[@shainewhite2781]

Thanks for the video!! See you later!! Stay safe.😊

[@obsidianspectre4281]

Great piece of lore for the Alien universe.

[@rangda_prime]

There's more than a little bit of Alien: The Destroying Angels in this one. TDA is one of the best EU comics out there, made before Aliens was filmed. To me it was always the better path to take the universe rather than the angry space hornets Aliens turned the Xenomorph into. To see people in the modern age trying re-infuse the setting with the more cosmic horror elements from TDA and Earth War is nothing but a positive development. Because unless there's something more to the Xenomorphs than them just being a particularly inefficient zombie plague, there's really no threat from them for humanity as a whole. Earth War did a wonderful job of being utterly nihilistic about the state of human society and psychology and TDA made the Xenomorphs part of a sort of deistic dark force of the ultimate Fermian filter. Both of these are so much better than the endless schlock of military romance pulp fiction most of the games and stories serve up.

[@bedfordshiremodeller4491]

Last week i pre ordered my copy of Aliens extended i opted for the £119package i can,t wait to receive my Blu-ray copy along with the bonus feature bundles included

[@CountingHouse]

I would like to see Hayes commissioned as a Marine Lieutenant Colonel in a sequel.

[@bigsarge2085]

Alien-worshipping cultists is definitely an interesting and plausible take on human nature.

[@KAISERaw17]

Big fan of the story and game. I think execution of a story like this could be better in the future! But it’s a scary twist, the sway of aliens on humans beyond just money and science.

[@Howdy606]

Those cultists with the creepy eyes look suspiciously similar to Benthic "Two Tubes," from Star Wars Rogue One.

[@duo60692]

i always saw that form of the Titan as incomplete. it looks like it would be the same as half way between the chestburster and full grown xeno, my guess is Titan would have finished its metamorphosis into a queen mother or something similar or wholly different.

[@danielshemwell2662]

Good Intel as always good sir, but odd question is that the correct pronunciation of Lethe? I've actually never heard another person say it ouloud I've only read it and assumed it was Lethy is it supposed to be Leethy?😅

[@AmericanMephistopheles]

We can totally control Xenomorph aggression this time, super swear.

[@goldendoomslayer6301]

Interesting that in the marvel comics they made the lore that species that came acrossnthe alien would inevitably try to hybridize themselves with th alien inevitably leading to a tipping point where the species would lose themselves to the alien hivemind if we blend that with this it would seem this is humanities first step in that process. Love the idea of this honestly it brings the cosmic horror back to what many have tried to dumb down to big bee hive.