Now available for the Xbox 360 and Playstation
Zombies Ate My Neighbors! Splatterhouse. Ghouls ‘N Ghosts. Altered Beast. These are the games that sapped hours of my time. Tested my patience and problem-solving skills as I clocked the undead, skewered monsters, crushed werewolves and toppled giant toddlers. As a kid growing up in Connecticut, the Sega Genesis was the ultimate babysitter much to my parents’ chagrin. Games were expensive, but those I did own I played until my fingers bled.
I retired my “gamer” status until something came along called Resident Evil which promised to capture what I loved about horror movies and amplify that experience by dropping me into a zombie massacre. My flirtation with games came and went. A new Playstation hit the scene, as did Xbox, but I couldn’t bring myself to buying either. That is, until I met my girlfriend. Beautiful. Sassy. And a video game nerd at heart, who knew? So now I live in an Xbox household where she burns hours on Bioshock 2 and I get frustrated reacquainting myself with the gaming world. Am I good? She says I suck. She’s probably right.
Nevertheless, I try. Furthermore, I enjoy the spate of horror games that give me a wicked good headache while I splash brains across pixelized pavement and dismember limbs from mutated scientists. And – holy shit – I can do it online with friends? Technology. Amazing.
Welcome to Game On, a place where I spew thoughts – from the perspective of a gamer out of retirement – to talk about the latest titles that cross my path.
The last time I sat at the controls of a game centered around the Predator or Alien franchises was this…
And thisâ¦
I was a comic book junkie as a kid, craving all that Dark Horse had to publish, and at the time they were expanding both universes until they ultimately created Aliens vs. Predator. The Sega Genesis’ Alien 3 and Predator 2 games sated my fan boy craving, even though controlling a bite-sized Danny Glover was weak sauce. When Rebellion hit the scene with Aliens vs. Predator for the PC in â99, I missed the boat but thankfully Rebellion and my ol’ pal Sega revisited the title after countless Dark Horse comic book spin-offs and two misguided films.
My, how the Alien/Predator games have evolved.
The Weyland-Yutani Corporation is up to no good. Xenomorphs are running rampant. The humans are uncovering ancient artifacts and technology. And a young Predator is scrambling to honor his race by eliminating anything in his path and ensuring the humans don’t get their dirty mitts on Predator weaponry.
Three perspectives. Similar environments. Different game play.
Aliens vs. Predator allows you to embark on three different campaigns. Now, you can do them in a linear fashion or break them up, jumping from a mission with the Predator to a mission with a Colonial Marine or a Xenomorph. Being partial to the Predator, myself, I played through this bad boy’s mission wiping out marines and Xenomorphs alike in the jungle and through the ancient ruins of my forefathers. Like the films, you can alternate your faceplate’s filter from regular vision to infrared to a special green-tinted filter that weeds out the Xenomorphs (especially helpful when they’re stalking you in the dark). While you’re on the hunt, you can collect special bones and med needles which heal you. Leaping from low points to high points (and vice versa) is a breeze thanks to a special targeting trigger which also works when you start to accrue special weapons like the Predator’s disc and harpoon (the former is the best, in my opinion). Unfortunately, you get a case of blue balls using the hunter’s famous shoulder blaster because just as soon as you use it you’re energy is depleted. This leaves you, if you’re completely weapon-less, to tussle with your foes in melee combat. So flip open that wrist mechanism of yours and go invisible which actually doesn’t work as well as you’d hope, especially when the marines spot you moving about. Be sure to watch for specific commands so you can execute some bloody finishing moves on your prey. Out of the three missions, the Predator game play was the most satisfying.
Next, it’s on to the Xenomorph campaign. Here, you play Number 6, an Alien who breaks out of his lab and runs amok. Depending on how motion sick you can get, I have to say this mission made me nauseous as you swiftly run along the floor to the wall to the ceiling (where everything is turned upside down). The controls are a bit wonky – your combat skills include whipping your tail about and using your claws along with – like the Predator – some finishing moves. I’ll admit to pangs of fun as I crept up on unsuspecting marines (who sound like broken records, spouting the same shit over and over), but occasionally my fingers fumbled with the controls and I’d be doing a âhardâ execution attack while crawling upside down andâ¦I don’t know. It’d get a tad confusing. And where were the Predators? Not nearly enough here to fight.
Last but not least, the Colonial Marine campaign emulates the best of the Alien films as you creep through dark corridors, lighting flares and blasting away at Xenomorphs, face huggers and more. You’re guided by a tough lil’ number named Tequila, who talks to your through your headset while you keep an eye on your motion tracker. As a first person shooter, this campaign is fine and satisfies. But I’m a monster man and I loved taking control of the titular creatures.
Of course, you can also play online in multiplayer rounds.
My biggest complaint is that the endings for each campaign are anticlimactic, furthermore, the campaigns feel short and repetitive, especially when you’re traversing similar ground. But, I dig the graphics, the sound design and the overall immersive feel. It’s also great to hear Lance Henriksen reprising his role as a “Bishop.” As far as Aliens vs. Predator games go, you can certainly improve on the controls, nevertheless a moderately satisfying ride.
