Aliens games: LOVE or HATE? (Aliens Thanatos Encounter (GB))

Member Name: Mechman68

Product:	Aliens Thanatos Encounter (GB)
Date:	03/07/01 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Correct to the film world, Slight emotional involement, HUGE levels

Disadvantages: HUGE levels hinder rescuing marines captured, Lackluster AI, Individual marine charactaristics very basic

Every one who love the second aliens film will instantly want this game after seeing the picture on the back off the box, of a marine holding the signature 'Pulse Rifle'. But before you give into your cravings, there are a few things that need to be said about this game.

Firstly a quick synopsis. The story behind the game is that a group of hard ass marines are traveling home from a training exercise. They recieve a distress call from a large cargo ship, and, because they really do love civilians, respond to this call. What they find is that the ships crew is in tatters and the ship has been taken over by Xenomorphs. This involves lots of blasting aliens, or running around like a headless chicken.

Don't get me wrong, this is not the worst game on the GBC. It is quite thrilling for a portable game, with the enemies moving twice as fast as your character and causing a lot of damage. The multiple character system is a very good idea, and does add a tactical aspect to the gameplay. The music also is quite atmospheric, and adds a lot to the feelings of isolation you experience while playing. Most of the weapons are satisfying, and deal damage according to what you would expect.

Of course, as one would expect, there are some bad points. Firstly the AI of the enemies is rather suspect. The aliens always throw themselves onto you, or hide by the walls, or run around not knowing where they are going. The SFX really are not up to much. The sound of your character walking quickly becomes repetitive, and the sounds of some of the weapons are also more 'pop gun' than 'death dealing boom stick'. The system of marines getting captured is also quite bad. Most of the levels are so huge that once a marine is captured it is almost impossible to rescue them in the 200 seconds you are given to find them in. Also, the 5 marines you choose from are not very individual, and only determine hit-points and speed. This
system could have been expanded on further, by adding particular weapon useage limitations, or particular abilities that are required to pass particular levels. For example, one marine could have knowledge of usein a blowtorch or explosives which would be required to breach an annoying door.

Overall though, this game is pretty good for the format, and gives the user a small emotional kick whilst playing. The only niggle that does show lazyness i think is the lack of battery back saveing, requiring the use of passwords which are annoying to say the least. The game however does draw the player into the world, and provides a break away to 'kick some alien ass', and it is good to be able to do it away from AVP.

Summary: