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August 11, 2010

Game: ‘Aliens vs. Predator’

CNHI

Live Oak — By Cody Webb

Anyone who has ever seen any of the Alien or Predator films is well aware of how violent and graphic they tend to be. This trend is continued in Rebellion's "Aliens vs Predator" for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC -- a "reboot" of the video game series of the same name. Being a big sci-fi and horror fan myself, I can stomach most of the carnage, but I highly recommend that anyone who has a weak stomach or is too young to stay far away from this game.

Now that we're past that disclaimer, those of you familiar with the "Aliens vs Predator" movies series will know what to expect here: humans open up a sacred Predator hunting ground, unleash Aliens, and then are immediately caught up in the Predators' hunt for the loose Aliens. The AvP game follows three separate stories: a Rookie Marine who was dropped in to assist the colonists, a loose xenomorph trying to free its queen, and a newly-made Elite Predator come to cleanse the human stain on their hunting grounds.

Each campaign offers a different feel to the game, with the Marines being the standard first-person shooter, the Aliens being purely stealth, and the Predators stalking their prey. The downside here is that having three separate viewpoints to the same story means that you'll be getting very familiar with the same few levels as they are recycled for each character.

Just like in the movies, the Marines prove to be the weak link in AvP. The atmosphere does a good job of getting you immersed in the environment. I can honestly say I was on edge, right up until I punched a xenomorph in the face. If this is raising any red flags, then pat yourself on the back: you're a fan! Any suspense that you feel is shattered once you realize you can easily block then counter any enemy you have to fight. Couple that with a touchy aiming system, you'll be glad when this section of the game is over.

The Predators' gameplay is a step up from the Marines: here, players have access to the various Predator gadgets and weapons. Yes, that includes their trademark cloaking technology. You'll spend most of your time cloaked and stalking the silly little humans, sneaking in for a stealth kill. Or simply walk up to them and melee them, then perform one of the brutal, and gory, finishing moves. Just like with the Marines, the Predators suffer from the too-easy melee system.

By far the best campaign in AvP, the Aliens make the melee system feel natural. Perhaps it's because they don't wield weapons? As fans of the series know, the xenomorphs are capable of blending in with darkness, climbing along walls and ceilings, and using the vents to hide in. Add in the Alien's zippy pace and you'll find yourself speeding along walls to stealthily kill or harvest unsuspecting humans.

The decent multiplayer does a little to redeem the lackluster singleplayer: with all three species running around trying to kill each other, matches tend to be great fun. Plus using the graphic finishing moves on your friends is something for you to brag about. However, the humans versus Predator mode can be rather boring: with everyone after one player on huge maps, you can miss out. Why isn't there an Aliens versus Predator mode instead?

So would I recommend Aliens vs Predator? A little, definitely if you're a fan of the series. There's plenty here to enjoy if you love the weapons, settings, or if you just want to see some of the most graphic and violent kills since Mortal Kombat. If you're looking for a great game with a great story, save your money for Halo: Reach. I'll give AvP a C; the endings seem to indicate a sequel, let's hope Rebellion fixes the quirks and delivers a properly-polished AvP experience!

Cody Webb lives in Live Oak.

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