There's still only two good Alien movies, but this is one of the better bad ones. For the most part Romulus plays it safe, hitting all the beats of a standard Alien movie without trying to change the universe. That was the problem with Prometheus and Covenant - Ridley Scott wanted to reclaim his franchise and expand on the lore, but we already had mountains of lore in the comics and video games, and his additions simply weren't as good.
Some people complained that Romulus had too many easter eggs, but I thought it was just the right amount. A few of the refrences stood out like a sore thumb (like the "Rook" android, or Ripley's most famous line), but some of the so-called "easter eggs" were just to establish that it takes place in the same universe. Do you complain when the new Star Wars movie has lightsabers in it?
Much like Alien: Isolation, I felt Romulus did a great job making it feel like the Alien universe, with classic sound effects and set design. That was another problem I had with Prometheus - it was supposed to be a prequel, but it felt more futuristic.
The "final boss" could have used some work, but at least they kept it in the dark. Most of the special effects were great, and I loved the cinematography - all the sweeping shots and dynamic camerawork really made it exciting to watch.
Overall, Romulus isn't great, but it's a fun ride.
