HOW IT WORKED

Ways to increase your chances of surviving the encounter

As in the film, fire is the best defence against the Thing. Over the course of the game you get access to various incendiary weapons, from blowtorches and flame grenades to powerful and deadly flamethrowers. The Computer Artworks team used autopsy photos for reference when creating the various monstrosities the player encounters.

You often encounter NPCs who join Blake’s team – providing they trust him enough, that is. Friendly NPCs are divided into three classes: soldiers, who are good to have by your side in a firefight; medics, who can heal Blake and other squad members; and Engineers, who can repair mission-critical fuse boxes (which control save point access, among other things).

Working out who to trust is a large part of the experience of The Thing. Not everyone you meet is human, and NPCs can often get infected by other Thing creatures, leading to some nasty surprises. You need to watch your back and keep a flamethrower handy when you’re surrounded by allies, lest one of them should unexpectedly turn.