Aliens Dark Descent: Is there an active pause? Aliens Dark Descent guide, walkthrough
Active pause can be helpful in Aliens Dark Descent in giving orders in response to sudden threats. This tutorial page explains how to enable pausing gameplay instead of slowing down the passage of time by default.
Last update: 17 July 2023
In Aliens Dark Descent, the time lapse slows down when you select and activate skills. However, while fighting fast enemies, this may not be enough. In our guide, we suggest how to enable the active pause, which can completely stop the game and allow for making decisions without time pressure.
Slowing down the game in the skill menu
On the default settings, the game is not paused when the skill menu is activated (SPACE on the keyboard), from which the main attacks are selected. The only way to completely stop the game is to bring up the pause menu (pressing the ESC key or the Options button on the controller), but then for obvious reasons, you will lose the overview of the battlefield and won't be able to give commands.
Playing without active pause, only with time slowdown can be a problem because you have to rush with:
- selecting the right skill from the list;
- choosing which marine should use a skill;
- skill action setup, e.g. selecting which area should be subjected to suppressive fire.
At the same time, xenomorphs or other enemies may have time to catch your soldiers.
How to enable the pause for issuing commands?
In the game, you can force the use of an active pause. The good news is that it's not related to difficulty levels, so it will not be blocked on higher settings.
In the options menu, go to the Gameplay tab. At the top of the list you'll the option Pause game and turn it on. From this moment on, activating the skill menu will pause the game. This will allow you to calmly choose the abilities and precisely choose where and how they should be used. You can use this facility as many times as you want.