You have my sympathies (Aliens Versus Predator 2 (PC))

Member Name: Marcus_Arac

Product:	Aliens Versus Predator 2 (PC)
Date:	01/09/03 (43 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Terrifying, Atmospheric, True to Source

Disadvantages: Terrifying, Too Short

I'm going to start by saying this: I /love/ the Aliens movies. Except the fourth one, frankly, that sucked. But the rest of them are simply sublime, and 'Aliens' is Cameron's tour de force - forget Titanic, or Terminator. I took a trip all the way down to London some time ago /just/ to go to the Alien War live action amusement in Leicester Square (Must do an op on that one day). I am, basically, a drooling fanboy, so it's fair to say there's no doubts that I'm going to like the source material for this game.

So, here we have a first person shooter based on my favourite films - where not only can you play a US Colonial Marine, packed to the hilt with all the lethal toys-for-the-boys we remember from the films, but I also get to run around as an alien chomping off people's heads and skulk around as the Predator, slicing off limbs from a distance. Each species has its own series of levels and objectives, however, the stories occasionally - and very cleverly - overlap.

If one word defines the AvP2 experience, it's this: terror. This is - along with System Shock 2 - one of the single most frightening games I have ever played, indeed, the only game I have ever had to turn off on occasion simply because I was too afraid to continue. The game accomplishes this in a number of ways, some of which elicit of a nervy laugh at the designer's genius right after they elicit a yelp of fear. A prime example of this distinctive atmosphere is the marine's shoulder-lamp, which handily illuminates areas in front of the player (but not to either side, of course, just for that added tremor), however, it has only a limited battery that recharges while not in use. However, it's very easy - whilst edging your way down an air vent - to forget this, only to have your torch fail and plunge you into near-complete darkness surrounded by indeterminate sounds that might just be claws skittering on metal...

In situations like
this, it's nice to be carrying heavy firepower, for whatever small comfort it affords, and it's all there for your delectation: Pulse Rifles, Flamethrowers, Smart Guns and more. On harder difficulty levels, the opposition is fierce indeed, and even blasting a leg off your alien foe will only cause them to claw their way across the floor towards you.

Although the alien and predator missions have little of the same terror factor - after all - in these cases you /are/ the monster in the dark, they both have their own distinct 'style'. The alien missions being particularly clever in the way the player begins as a face-hugger who must find a victim to implant an alien embryo - then becomes the burster in a truly unpleasant set-piece in which he must chew his way out of his victim's chest. Despite the lack of long-range weaponry, the alien is nonetheless a potent melee fighter, and capable of regaining health by devouring the corpses of its victims. Most of the stages of the alien life-cycle also grant you the ability to climb up walls. The Predator, however, is more suited to stealth and sniping, with a variety of 'vision' modes (including the 'heat-vision' effect seen in the Predator movies) to help him locate his prey.

Each species has a number of scripted action sequences within the levels, which brighten up the proceedings a great deal - but not to the extent that the game feels like it is on rails.

The game does have its shortcomings, however. First off, the 'finale' of all three episodes is somewhat lacking, indeed the final confrontation as the marine against the alien queen is perhaps one of the easiest points of the game and comes all-too-soon, as the episodes in and of themselves are not exactly huge, and due to the fairly heavily scripted nature of the game, repeated playing becomes quickly tedious. Load times between levels can also be interminably long, particularly if you have a machine
with less than 256MB of RAM.

The Lithtech engine on which the game is based is quickly showing its age, and stutters horribly on low-ram systems. However, for a game based more on style than visuals, this is not a killer blow - it's more than capable of displaying the creepy, steam-filled corridors which make up a large part of this game. Sound is competent, and loyal to the movies, full of industrial clanks, alien screams and the distinctive rattle of a pulse rifle.

A special mention must be given to the multiplayer modes, in which teams of marines can face up against teams of aliens in a deeply atmospheric Battle Royale where tactics and interlocking fire reign, and a lone marine is easy prey. Other popular scenarios include one or two predators squaring up against a larger team of marines. Unfortunately, as with all FPS games, it suffers from a number of deliberate 'griefers' who go out of their way to annoy others.

As for my recommendation? Well, that depends, it's certainly not the best first-person shooter in existence, so if that's all you're after, there's better out there, but for fans of the films - or those who like their games immersive, involving and damned scary on occasion, it comes heartily recommended.

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