Developer: Rebellion Developments.
Publisher: SEGA.
Platform(s): Xbox 360 (reviewed) PC & PS3.
Release Date(s): Feb 16th 2010 (US), Feb 19th 2010 (Europe).
Reviewer: Graham.
[Note: Pre-reading apologies for length of the review – there’s just so much stuff to try and fit in!]
It's been over ten years since Rebellion last sent gamers into the magical world of Aliens vs Predator. Their previous two games were critically acclaimed and pretty much deemed to be among the best FPS titles around at the time.
But it's 2010 now, the gaming world is flooded with FPS games; some great and some very poor. Now that the FPS genre seems to have found a steady foothold in the market, where will the new AvP lie?
Different day, same old sh...
If you don't know, AvP's single player features three seperate campaigns with their own interweaving storylines. If you've seen the AvP movie, or in fact either an Aliens or a Predator movie, you will pretty much know the rough story of AvP:
Humans are experimenting on Xenomorphs (Aliens), Xenomorphs escape and start taking over compounds, trying to free their queen, so military is sent in. Meanwhile a Predator lands on the planet to find fallen comrades and prevent the humans from gaining any of their technology, while also hunting their greatest foe - the Xenomorphs.
It's not going to win any Oscars, but in the case of the game and franchise it does the job and it will keep you pushing forward through the campaigns.
Three different sides of the coin:
Even though the game is technically split into three campaigns, really it is more like one Marine campaign with half a Predator and half an Alien campaign. The Marine's story lasts a good few hours, I think I clocked up about 6-7 on it (I did die a lot at one point though), which is fairly respectable even by today's standards. Then the Predator clocks in about 4 hours (again depending on how good you are), while the Alien campaign is about 3 hours long.
For me it was almost a perfect fit (almost). The Marine's story is the best told by far, mainly because we can actually understand them - it allowed Rebellion to have more cutscenes and conversations explaining everything. The Predator and Alien campaigns just aren’t as in depth as the Marine’s, with fewer cut scenes and less ‘mystery’ behind what is happening. Essentially it meant that the Predator and Alien campaigns didn’t drag on too long and become unwelcome. Perhaps if they were better told, or the story was phenomenally well written, then it would have been a bigger issue.
It's in the ceiling:
The main thing that really does separate the different species is the control systems. The Marines play very much like any generic FPS shooter; but “if it 'aint broke why fix it,” eh?
The Predator uses a mix of ranged and melee fighting skills and is relatively similar to that of a normal FPS. But the key difference is the jumping. Rather than just tapping jump to get from platform to platform, the Predator has a lock-on feature that tells you where he can jump to; this is because the Predator can jump higher and further than the other species.
The idea of locking on before jumping might seem strange and feels a little slow at first, but there are times, when running from dangerous opponents, where you can string together some very fast platform leaping - leaving your foe far behind you, giving you a chance to re-arm yourself. The lock-on also avoids any frustration of trying to manually jump distances in a first person view.
The Xenomorphs (arguably my favourite character to play as - in all modes) is the one that takes most getting used to. Firstly the Alien has no long range weapon, so it is all melee combat. You also move much faster than the Human and Predators - this coupled with the fact that you can climb on literally any surface and mean that you get lost/confused very easily; especially in tight corridors.
However, once you learn to control the Alien effectively - you will find it to be a genuinely deadly killing machine. The key to winning in fights is to use stealth and time your strikes right. Once you get close enough to an enemy, you will usually come off best in a fight. But if you run up directly from a distance, you will usually get cut down by even the most hapless Marine.
If it bleeds, we can kill it:
There are some things, however that just don't sit right when playing AvP and leave the game with a slightly 'unfinished feel' to it.
My main gripe has got to be the AI of opponents, especially the Marines. No matter what species you play as, you always hear the same one or two lines spouted out by the Marines as they walk through a level. The main one that got to me was "Keep it together Marines." I heard this said by three different AI Marines in a row - about 2 seconds after each other.
As I mentioned in my preview, it's not exactly hard to have someone sit in a room, grunt out about ten different sayings in different accents; that might not be perfect, but it would be better than what is in the game.
Also it gets to me just how useless the Marines can be. Ok there are quite a few times when, as an Alien or Predator, the Marines completely d*cked me in a fight. But Rebellion made it too easy to distract Marines and pick them off one by one.
This feels good on the first few levels, where you expect things to be easy, but towards the end of the game it definitely starts to drag a bit and you need more of a challenge.
Again, as mentioned in our preview, another gripe is the pathetic torch the Marines use. Yes I know it would be pointless if the torch lit up the entire room, but the light doesn't seem to spread out properly - it all just focuses on a central circle area. Basically it looks like crap and Rebellion should have been able to fix something like this quite easily.
Alien vision mode:
Another thing that feels weird is the visuals. Looking at them you know there have been better looking games around, but at the same time you cannot help but appreciate some of the effort gone into the AvP's aesthetics.
Corridors might seem dead and lifeless, but actually they are full of clutter, wiring, pipes etc... that does bring some life the world, even if that 'life' is completely motionless. The same goes for the more open environments, you have swampy and jungle areas, with rocks, plants, grass and trees; as you walk over the plants and grass, they do actually get pushed down as you step on them. That's not totally new to a game, but it’s a really nice touch.
The Human character models, while looking half decent, definitely aren't as good as in other games - but there is no way you can fault the Predator and different Xenomorph models used; they look exactly like they do in the movies, which can be quite creepy at times, especially when you see Xenomorphs uncurling themselves from their walls spots...
Hunter, Survivor, Prey:
Maybe AvP doesn't have the best storyline ever, but one thing that it did right was put you in the mind-set of each of the different species.
Hunter: The Predator felt like a giant killing machine, able to leap from tree to tree, undetected by Marines. It’s exhilarating standing cloaked above a group of Marines and then plotting the best way to dispatch them all.
Survivor: The Alien (“Number 6”) is essentially a survivor on the run from the Marines, trying to escape their compounds. Later on the tides turn and you are the one hunting them. But for most of the game you are alone and need to avoid direct visual contact with the Marines; in case they alert their friends, who's weapons can far outmatch even your phenomenal speed.
Prey: Even though the Marine is fully armed to the teeth for most of the game, there are very few moments where you genuinely feel safe. A couple of Aliens are no problems for you, but there are times where the Xenomorphs just keep on coming and you really do start to feel like you are in an Aliens movie, trying to survive the best way you can.
Aliens vs Predator... vs Marine:
I've taken so long trying to explain the single player modes of the game, that I haven't even scratched the multiplayer. Which is a shame because AvP is some of the best multiplayer games I have ever played.
This is another area of the game that different journalists have reviewed very differently. I guess if you can't handle the different species properly, then the multiplayer becomes a mass slaughter and wouldn't be much fun. But, if you can handle your different aliens (face it - they are all technically 'aliens'), then the multiplayer becomes one of the most enjoyable online experiences in ages.
Forget some of the modern FPS death-matches, like MW2 or Battlefield where you need to unlock weapons and use perks to beat your enemies. In AvP you don't upgrade weapons, you don't get to choose perks and you don't get to choose a special weapon set.
Instead Rebellion has opted for a more old school/Halo approach to their multiplayer - weapon and health pickups and all players starting out on an even footing. And I bloody love it.
Depending on the game mode, you will also find the teams are very even, either with the same number of players per team or the teams with the smaller numbers having higher ranks.
The one thing that really makes sure that AvP's multiplayer is so unique is that you pretty much always (again depending on the mode or settings) have three teams battling it out. This really makes it a lot more fun, the matches closer in score points and keeps gamers on their toes.
Who’s your daddy?
You would think that the Aliens or Predators would have the upper hand, but it is very rarely the case. I've played plenty of matches as the Marines and won happily. It usually boils down to just how good your side play as a team - lone Marines rarely survive long, while Predators can fall prey to their own Plasma Canons, or the canon of a team mate (if too close to the enemy).
Aliens are good alone or in packs. Alone you can be sneaky, hugging walls and running to safety to re-heal yourself when need be. But in a group you can distract or just plain terrify your enemy as you charge at them. The downside is that you need to be close to kill, unlike the Marines or Predators.
But it can also depend on the level chosen. Some levels are suitable for all species - with dark areas, high and low grounds to fight in. But there are some other levels that are definitely suited more to one of the species - making it more intense for the other players.
One such level would be the awesome "Pyramid" stage – similar to the pyramid in the first AvP movie: With moving walls and stairs and everything (it’s great). The Pyramid level is brilliant when you are an Alien, because you can use small gaps in the walls and floors even when other routes are cut off by the moving walls. But there are times when, as a Human or Predator, you get stuck and have to wait for the Pyramid to shift again - or wait for something to find you. It can be intense.
Also it’s almost impossible to camp, which I’m thankful for. Because the different species have their own ways of finding enemies; Marines have motion trackers, Predators have different visions and Aliens can see/sense enemies through walls - it means that anyone camping won't last very long.
Playing the ranked matches may not earn you new weapons, but you earn experience and as you level up you unlock new skins for your species. The Humans are pretty mundane, just characters from the single player, but the Predators and Aliens' skins are great for fans of the series - unlocking things like 'Net Head' and the 'Predalien' - from the AvP movies.
Aside from Team Deathmatch, my two other favourite modes (they’re all fun really) are Survivor; where up to four players work cooperatively to fend off increasing hordes of Xenomorphs. Again this is a time where I genuinely felt like I was in an Aliens movie – freaky stuff.
And there's the Infestation mode - where you all start as Marines, except for one player who is chosen to be an Alien. The Alien then has to try and kill all the Humans - when a human dies they too become an Alien. Meaning by the end you will have one lone Marine up against about 15 Xenomorphs.
Summary:
If MW2 is my GTA IV; good looking, polished - but bloody boring. Then AvP is my Saints Row 2; looks ok, rough around the edges - but a hell of a lot more fun.
The single player isn't amazing, there are definitely better games out there in the genre. But it's definitely worth a play and will entertain you.
Some areas need to be tightened up, like the god awful Marine AI and the voice samples used. It could have been a bit scarier, but the general atmosphere of the AvP world seems to have been captured.
The multiplayer is where it’s at though. As I say, I haven't had this much fun in a multiplayer game in years. Even the times where my team loses I enjoy myself and leave with a satisfied smile.
It is annoying though, because as much as I love the game I can't give it a higher score. There are just too many niggling problems that keep it away from the highest tiers on our review system. Hopefully if Rebellion/ SEGA do work together again on another AvP they can sort these issues out.
Pros:
+ Aliens and Predators captured perfectly.
+ Multiplayer is off the chain!
+ Solid, unique gameplay with the Alien and Predator species.
+ Fending off 3 Aliens and a Predator as a lone Marine in the multiplayer. (Really gets your pulse racing).
Cons:
- Single player could/should have been a little better.
- Feels a little unpolished in areas.
- Marine AI far too retarded.
- Need to pay for some more actors to give voice samples (Damn, I'll do it for free!).
~G~
