The Aliens vs. Predator franchise dates back a good twenty years, and has sparked a host of movies and games to cash in on the success of the survival horror series. Most recently, that was 2007's Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem for the PSP. Now in 2010 we get the launch of Aliens vs. Predator for next gen consoles and PC. Developed by Rebellion and published by SEGA there is a considerable force behind the development of the title. Given as how SEGA hasn't exactly been riding a wave of quality titles in recent times, it was interesting to see how Aliens vs. Predator played out.

The title focuses on the epic battles between the Aliens, the Predators, and the Colonial Marines who are being torn apart somewhere in the middle. The real attraction in the title is that the game can be played from the perspective of any of these three races, each playing entirely differently to the next.

The Aliens are fast and effective at close range. They use the darkness and their physical capabilities to gain the upper hand. They can cling to walls and run along ceilings, and whip enemies feet out from under them using their tails. Darkness is their friend, and they can use it very effectively to gain an edge. Aliens have heightened senses and can smell the scent of enemies, including predators. The aliens are by far the most fun to play, though the way the controls and camera is implemented, movement quickly becomes disorientating and confusing. However, their speed and attacks make them very entertaining for the most part.

The predators are more of a stealth unit. They are best suited to attacking from above, leaping easily from tree to tree, and using cloaking to come at enemies from behind. The predators can cast energy attacks at their enemies as well from a distance, which work somewhat like heat seeking missiles but are fun and easy to power up in the heat of combat. They are weak against the marines' heavy weapons, and their cloaking is ineffective against aliens, so playing the predator means you always have to have your wits about you. Speaking of wits, as a predator you can change your vision to include thermal scanning, allowing you to easily detect humans. Being able to use different forms of vision is a nice addition, and as the predator class isn't altogether that tough you will need all the help you can get. The predator class was probably my least favourite as it simply doesn't feel well implemented at all.

The humans, as can be expected, are the same as humans from any other FPS. They have firepower but lack virtually any other assistance other than a torch and a handful of flares. Playing as the marines is entertaining at times, but the controls across all the different classes are not particularly well structured, making it a challenge at best. Shooting can be so frustrating: at times that you'll plug more bullets into the ceiling and the floor than into the alien standing right in front of you.

The point of the various classes is to tie the storyline together giving you insight into the different sides in the conflict, and this works quite well. However it seems that by branching off in three directions neither of these has received the time and polish that would have been required to create a truly great game. While all the campaigns start off strong they give way to relatively dull levels and some frustrating design choices that leave players wondering if it couldn't have been done better. In next-gen gaming, invisible walls should be a thing of the past, but they're not as the game forcefully pushes you toward the next checkpoint. The AI is also somewhat frustrating as enemies generally fail to abide by any logical rules, often backing straight towards you making it feel like meals on wheels more than anything, particularly when playing aliens or predators.

Graphically Aliens vs. Predator is no great delight. The levels at times look good enough, and the alien character models look fantastic, but the human models on the other hand look downright hideous, so hideous in fact that I thought I was playing Halo again. A highlight however are the fantastic trophy scenes when you decapitate an enemy to pocket the skull. These are gruesome and fun to execute as they vary just enough to not become overly dull too quickly. The audio for the title is also a real highlight. The marine campaign is rather shocking at times, as you hear aliens scuttling through vents above you, frightening the bejesus out of you. This really adds to the atmospherics in some of the darker more brooding levels, feeling something like F.E.A.R. at times.

The online mode surely must be the highlight. A range of game modes are available mixing the three sides against each other. Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Infestation, and Predator Hunt which are a bit like Zombie in Halo where one player has to infect the others, and finally a Survivor mode for endless waves of enemies to battle in co-op. Though the controls are still a hassle the advantage surely is that all players are facing the same struggles. Unfortunately though the player base online appears so low its virtually unplayable. So if you plan on picking up Aliens vs. Predator ensure you've got a healthy friends list to team up with online, then there is certainly a lot of fun to be had.

Overall Aliens vs. Predator falls well short of the mark. The games controls are too confusing and the environments frustrating. Sometimes character movement appears inconsistent and this makes flitting from wall to ceiling difficult at times when playing the alien. The graphics are stunning in parts, but below average in others again reflecting the fact that the developers split their efforts across three campaigns, rather than focusing on one and doing it well.

Aliens vs. Predator certainly has much in common with the movies, but possibly isn't quite the answer that fans of the series were wanting in the way of video game fulfilment. Its a good effort no doubt, but its not quite there yet. Maybe the next iteration.

I should probably start off by stating that this game had some huge shoes to fill in order to impress me. I absolutely ADORED the 1999 release of AVP2 and played that game religiously for years. It was a brilliant game from top to bottom, that really shined through in its online multiplayer with great depth in character classes, excellent atmosphere and level design, and the supremely balanced and intense rock-paper-scissors aspect of the gameplay. With that said, I must warn that it is virtually impossible for me to review this game on a stand alone basis. I can only compare it to what I have known in the past and how it compares to what I was hoping for in a remake. Unfortunately, in that respect, this game ultimately disappoints and falls well short of its predecessor. Yet even with all of it's "flaws" AVP at it's core it is still a decent game and can be a blast to play at times, so it shouldn't disappoint those who were unfamiliar with AVP2.

The single player campaigns are your garden variety first person shooters tweaked a bit for each species that have differing styles of play. I'm not going to comment too much on the single player, as I've only ventured into the beginning portions of them at this time. Multiplayer is where this game is either made or broken, and so far my experiences with it have been mixed.

Multiplayer online game types include: Hunt (one pred versus a group of humans), Infestation (a group of marines, one is selected as alien, whoever he kills then becomes an alien until the last man standing), Deathmatch, Species Team Deathmatch, Mixed Species Team Deathmatch, and Domination.

Now here's where the problems with the multiplayer come in. When selecting a multiplayer match, you only have two ways to filter a search: gametype and # of players. There are only a handful of maps available at the moment, and some are much better suited for one specific game type vs. another, but unfortunately there's no way for you to select the level you wish to play. Getting into that "perfect" match becomes a game of chance leading more often than not to frustration. Once you do find that great game, upon its completion everyone (except those that you group with from your friend list ahead of time) are kicked back to the multiplayer menu and have to begin the search all over again. It would have been much better had it been set up like COD:MW2 in that once you were in a game lobby you remain there with the same players until you decide to exit.

Further compounding the frustration, the online matchmaking is TERRIBLE at the moment. Specify that you want `x' number of players in a game, and you will be forced to wait for exactly that number of players to join your lobby. Specify "any" number of players and frequently you'll be put into a lobby with only one other player. Many of the maps are large and are not conducive to 1-on-1 battles. The result of all of this is that it's very cumbersome and time consuming to get into a fun match; however, it is very possible this improves as more people purchase the game.

Melee combat at first appears to be very deep, but ultimately boils down to a limited set of moves shared by most classes. Moves consist of slow "heavy" attacks, faster "light" attacks, and a block ability. Block a light attack and you can counter attack that typically stuns your opponent. Heavy attacks will strike through a block, but also give off a telltale sign while they wind up in which you are wide open for a light attack that will interrupt the attack. Response times for button presses are clumsy and sometimes don't even register. There are also a number of "grab" attacks insta-kills that are cool to watch at first, but eventually become a nuisance as they are far too easy to pull off. A grab attack executed during a melee combo will result in a "trophy kill", however aliens and predators can escape these in certain circumstances just by pressing block, rendering them useless moves against good players. Marines have no grab ability or counters to trophy kills and thus become fodder against the faster alien species. This can be made up for in firepower, but due to the large size of the maps, and slow as molasses marine movement, you'll rarely stock up on weaponry before getting killed. Unfortunately for this reason, DM games are mostly populated by alien and predator players.

In stark contrast to the varied classes within species in AVP2 (i.e. Predalien / Light Predator / Heavy Predator each with different abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and play styles) what you see from the beginning in AVP is what you get. You do gain experience as you play online allowing you to unlock different skins, but these are only cosmetic changes, and the gameplay remains otherwise unaffected.

Now I know it sounds like I'm completely railing against this game, but I'm not! Unfortunately though, it is destined to live in the shadow of its superior predecessor. Multiplayer issues aside, when you finally do get into that game and everything comes together it is still A LOT of fun to play. But what in the end is a mediocre game, could have been a very good game, had it just a little more depth and customization ability to the multiplayer component.

Here's to hoping for an AVP2(2) in the future!

I preordered Avp excited. I got it, rushed home and started my marine campaign. First, graphics are nice. Everything is dark, creepy. Just enough light to let you see, but also enough to be creepy. The campaign was fun. Pulse Rifle best gun ever. The tracker, adds to the creepyness. The planet outside, nice. Traditional but nice. Second the action, phenomenal. Aliens rushing you, Pulse Rifle firing 100 rounds per clip, you feel the adrenalin flowing, heart pumping. Brilliant. Marine smartgun, and even the trophies are sweet. Predator plasma castor, gory.
The other 2 campaigns are much the same way. Great graphics, superbly brutal kills, 8-10 play time. Aliens need dark. Predator stealth. Nicely incorporated. The game reviers gave it a bad rating. They are truly stupid. Multyplayer, limited yes, glitches yes, is still amazing. This game is superb. Its new in its approach to these game types but also well thought out. Very brutal, good way to let off anger and pass time. Buy it, you won't regret it.