How to Manage Suspicion While Completing Roadside Research

Select Language:

As you set up your roadside research gas station and start earning Alien Points, you might be tempted to add many of the available extras. However, it’s important to proceed carefully. Some of these extras can raise suspicion, which you’ll want to keep in check to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

Your suspicion level is displayed in the top right corner of the screen, below your cash and Alien Points. When the suspicion bar is short and green, everything is fine, and there’s no immediate threat. But if it moves into the orange or red zones, you need to watch out for agents.

Your base suspicion is shown by a striped color on the bar, while any additional suspicion caused by your actions appears without stripes. When suspicion levels rise high enough, agents will arrive and begin their investigation. They start with a basic check, then may proceed to interrogation, sabotage, or even a full-blown hunt.

If suspicion remains high over time, agents will keep coming back, conducting interrogations that involve tricky mini-games. Failing these mini-games or having suspicion stay too high can lead agents to hunt you directly, without interrogation. In such cases, you might be “conked” and lose Alien Points, or you may have to defend yourself using a laser gun and neuralizer.

Many upgrades can increase suspicion, especially items purchased with Alien Points. For example:

– Wacky Inflated Entry Enforcer raises suspicion by 20%
– Photographic Posing Billboard adds 10%
– Auto Trashcan adds 10%
– Photobooth increases suspicion by 20%
– Price Propaganda Caster adds 20%
– CCTV adds 10%
– 360° Activity Recording System raises suspicion by 20%
– Automatic Posterior Investigator ups suspicion by 5%
– Auto-Prober increases suspicion by 5%

Some items also increase suspicion only when customers interact with them. These include:

– Hypnotic Image Projector, which makes customers suspicious of their own behavior
– Spy Plushies (Alien Toys), which increase suspicion when purchased

You can also raise suspicion simply by acting suspiciously while interacting with customers. This includes:

– Letting customers see you take photos of them or others
– Recording videos of customers or bystanders
– Failing probes or interrogations

Conversely, suspicion can be reduced by removing unnecessary items that cause suspicion or adding upgrades designed to lower suspicion. Available items for decreasing suspicion include:

– Brain Washer Barrier, which drops suspicion by 30%
– Auto-Brain Washer, which reduces suspicion by up to 50%

Balancing these items is key. Keep suspicious items to a minimum until you can afford more advanced upgrades like the Brain Washers. If agents keep showing up too often, consider removing items that raise suspicion until your upgrades are ready.