Aliens vs. Predator Preview

The Aliens vs. Predator concept has had a mixed history. The films have never lived up to the original comics, and the games have varied in quality. The highlights have to be Rebellion's Aliens versus Predator, and Monolith's sequel Aliens versus Predator 2. As these were only released on the PC, the console market has been longing for a quality game that this franchise deserves. After 10 years, Rebellion has been reunited with the face-hugging, ugly mothers that we know and love, and are developing Aliens vs. Predator the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Words by Chris Thornton. Platform: Sony PlayStation 3

The ability to play as three very different species was always the attraction of the original Aliens versus Predator games. The latest version maintains this "Hunter, Survivor, Prey" choice, and will offer three individual campaigns that run along side each other. Much like the first AvP film, a mysterious pyramid is discovered on a remote planet by a human colony, who wake the Aliens contained deep inside. The Predators are alerted to this, and dispatch a hunting party to ensure that the pyramid remains sealed at all costs. It's slightly disappointed to see a lack of originality in the plot, but there are probably only so many scenarios that will make the paths of these species cross simultaneously.

The variety in the species makes the AvP games interesting. The Colonial Marines may be physically weaker, but utilise an impressive arsenal in an attempt to stay alive. The Aliens are agile and quick, and have their handy proboscis-like inner jaw, and razor-sharp claws and tail to ravage their prey. The Predators combine the two, with high-tech gadgets and tree-climbing antics ensuring they are the masters of the hunt.

Early footage looks fantastic, with the planet BG-386 being a suitably atmospheric backdrop to the action. Rebellion state that the game will be a "truly terrifying and visceral experience", and have utilised fully the technology at their disposal to make this happen. There's a big emphasis on AvP being a horror game, not just an action first person shooter, and scenes of Alien hoards approaching terrified Marines have certainly got Gamestyle's heart pumping. The action shifts between dark, claustrophobic corridors, to deep, expansive forests, and watching the Predator stalk Marines through the tree-tops gets Gamestyle in the mood for some trophy kills. It's clear that the single-player campaign will be the focus in AvP, but there is also a multiplayer mode, which allows all three species to fight it out online.

Gamestyle is looking forward to trying out the unique skills of each species, and 2010 looks set to be a year of Alien invasion, with the release of Aliens vs. Predator, and Alien: Colonial Marines, also published by SEGA. It's a glorious day to be in the Corps, so let's go bug hunting!

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preview for the Sony PlayStation 3
preview for the Sony PlayStation 3
preview for the Sony PlayStation 3
preview for the Sony PlayStation 3
preview for the Sony PlayStation 3
preview for the Sony PlayStation 3
preview for the Sony PlayStation 3