Game review - Aliens: Colonial Marines

Let’s face it, not many have quite cut it, although a universe such as the Aliens universe isn’t that easy to emulate and bring forth its unique feel.

Well it’s finally here, developed by Gearbox Software and published by Sega, Aliens: Colonial Marines, a first person shooter which brought us a lot of hope of a true to life Aliens experience upon its announcement, but does it deliver all expectations?

Set seventeen weeks after the events of Aliens, players take control of a United States Colonial Marine named Cpl Christopher Winter who is part of a team on board the USS Sephora, which has been sent out to investigate a distress call from the USS Sulaco.

Upon boarding the Sulaco, it is not long before Cpl Winter discovers the Sulaco has fallen victim to an extensive Xenomorph infestation which has impregnated and killed everyone on board except from Cpl Dwayne Hicks, who helps the player throughout sections of the game.

The xenomorphs then begin to use the crew of the Sephora as hosts to their offspring and so you as Winters must find a way to rescue whoever you can and end the infestation.

I didn’t like the story, even though thanks to the decent voice acting it progressed nicely and at a steady pace.

Aliens: Colonial Marines is a bog standard first person shooting game with a slight horror theme to it, meaning its dark space setting brings tension and occasional jumps as the Xenos are really fast and can come at you from any angle.

This is no different from any other FPS. Players can shoot weapons featured from the films all of which have a primary and secondary firing mode, throw grenades as well as activating switches and activating scripted contextual actions such as freeing trapped allies, using a blow torch, forcing open a door or shaking off a Xeno.

It’s all standard stuff, however things are ramped up a little due to the vehicle sections where players can pilot the walkers from the film which handles sluggish however it does induce a feeling of invincibility.

All of the Xenomorph types are here, from the creepy facehuggers to the Runner alien from Alien 3 but they aren’t the only enemies players will face, at some point during the game players will fight off Weyland- Yutani soldiers which are humans.

Fans of the series will love this game as it’s the best one yet. However players looking for a deep and satisfying shooter will be disappointed as the Alien intelligence from the films is nowhere to be seen here and Xenos gladly throw themselves in the middle of your crosshairs making it difficult to miss and ruin the whole experience, even on harder difficulties, the AI doesn’t shape up any.

The visuals of Aliens: Colonial Marines is something I can’t fault. The whole feel of the films has been successfully ported over and thanks to the graphics of today, and everything looks outstanding.

Xenomorphs are just as intimidating and scary as they are in the films and the facehuggers are just as creepy.

Death brings different animations depending on whatever Xeno type they get killed by for example, the Drones are seen mounting the player and shoving the mini set of alien teeth emitting from its mouth into the player, just like the film.

Summary

Here we have a simple first person shooter that doesn’t bring anything new to the table, even the multiplayer is bland although being able to play as a Xeno is quite fun. Fans of the films will be right at home and will appreciate its authenticity however FPS fans won’t fight beyond half an hour into the game due to its dumb AI. There are some great moments in the game that do the films justice however these are far and few between and don’t expect to see a skin headed Sigourney Weaver.

Aliens: Colonial Marines

Developer: Sega

Publisher: Sega

Xbox 360®

Playstation 3®

WiiU

Genre: First Person Shooter

Release Date: 12th February 2013

Story – 3/5

Graphics – 4/5

Gameplay – 3/5

Overall – 3/5