Besides influencing horror and action films, the Alien and Predator franchises turn a profit for game companies. Virulent Xenomorphs scavenging an industrial spacecraft for survivors is the perfect focus for a Run N' Gun, and bare-chested soldiers grappling Predators were sustained in arcade Beat 'em ups. The most successful spin-off is the Rebellion developed Aliens versus Predator for the PC in 1999. It renewed the scares and action of the films with three campaigns and multiplayer. 10 years later, Rebellion has released Aliens vs. Predator, the third game in the series, but despite the decade passed, it is very similar to its predecessors. A throwback that recreates the original's action/suspense while retaining outdated mechanics and presentation, AvP's uneven campaign and niche multiplayer, like the iconic motion tracker, has great moments that blip and disappear amidst all the grey. Singleplayer covers three storylines of Marine, Predator and Alien, each in descending length and quality. Campaigns begin with a novice (Rookie Marine, Alien fresh from the chest, or Youngblood Predator) during his initiation ritual. There is a decent amount of backstory and lore woven into the narrative, but it still boils down to either Escape or Kill. Picking up after the events in Alien III, the Weyland-Yutani corporation is still trying and failing to harvest and control the "magnificent specimen" Xenomorph. Of course these rascals break free and much head biting ensues.
The campaigns follow identical paths and locales seen from each species' perspective. But there is no overarching mystery or finally wrapped up loose ends, only laziness. Recycled boss battles and levels with a pittance of inhabitant variety would be immediately forgettable if not for the repetition. I think you run into five different enemy types total. Even though the treks through washed-out mines, barren jungles and lackluster temples are monotonous and the enemies within them repetitive, the campaign is saved by enjoyable combat, great audio and the first Marine stage. Far and away the best campaign, the Marine scenario begins as a "survivor horror," as told by Rebellion, that shifts to standard FPS as enemies with long-range weapons are introduced. The beginning exceeds my expectations after watching game previews of unlimited flares and a Marine blocking then returning an Alien's punch. While I still consider the hand-to-hand triangle of block, heavy and light attack useless, the use of shadows and absence of light delivers classic scares relying on sound ambiance and the claustrophobia of a derelict research base. Jump scares are coupled with intense gauntlets like guarding a turret against waves of Xenomorphs in a tight hallway, Aliens dragging away your squad. Common machine guns and shotguns carry heft and sound believable. Pulse rifles bursts splinter Xenomorphs into globs of acid, the flamethrower features great effects, and a lock-on machine gun called the Smart Gun treats opposition like a lawnmower to grass. But the the vulnerability from this new threat vanishes, and as you infiltrate Xenomorph nests and stand ankle deep in Alien appendages, victory feels superficial.
Lackluster machismo replaces frenzied scares and the initial thrill seeps away as the levels expand wider into the outdoors. More Aliens bursting from ventilation, please! Less waves of identical Xenomorph's climbing from illuminated spawn points! The other two campaigns douse any ember of suspense. The Predator campaign focuses on a search for ancient technology and Weyland-Yutani's true intentions toward it. Dozens of Marines and Xenomorphs block the way. With a cloaking device, wrist blades, explosives and a potential for huge jumping mobility, the Predator excels at incapacitating from afar and finishing up close. I mention a potential for huge jumps because the game is very specific about where you can and cannot jump, with drop spots arbitrarily placed a few feet away from where you want to go for example, in addition to a lag between button press and execution. Managing your agility, you can set up stealth kills by sneaking behind your opponent undetected. Your reward is a trophy skull and bloody spine. Once this gets old around the fifth time, you discover recordings of Predator funerals and ceremonies that detail the Xenomorph feud. These appear as holograms visible through your visor, and you also learn the skill of human heat detection and Xenomorph radar. Far and away from the barrage of bodies in the Marine campaign, the Predators combat mechanics revolve around scouting for targets, and patience with the cumbersome movement and telepathic enemy AI.
This feature review continues on the next page, please click below to reveal our final thoughts on Aliens vs. Predator as well as the score.
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