Aliens vs Predator (PC)

Overview

Not the first, or even most fondly remembered Aliens vs Predator game, AvP was a well-liked PC game. It won positive reviews for it's markedly different play styles depending on whether the player chose to play as Colonial Marine, Alien or Predator.

Gameplay

The game featured a six-mission campaign for each of the three character types. This was limited to single-player only. There was also a Skirmish mode, which used specially constructed maps. In these, the player could, solo or with other players, simply try to gain as many kills as possible befoer dying or running out of ammo. Finally, standard multiplayer deathmatch were also available over null modem, network on internet connections.

Colonial Marine

Considered the most 'standard' play type, the marine plays very much like many first-person shooters. He is initially armed with a pulse rifle. He can also throw flares and use a night vision mode to compensate for the darkness that usually greets him. Other weapons scattered throughout the levels are available to him, including the smartgun, grenade launcher and minigun.

Alien

The Alien's most distinctive feature is the ability to crawl along walls and ceilings as easily as floors. The only weapons available to the Alien were the Xenomorph's jaws, tail and claws.

Predator

Featuring three vision modes in addition to normal sight, the Predator is the most technologically reliant of the three. Relying on stealth, the Predator can cloak at the cost of an energy reserve. This energy reserve recharges over time, and is used for many of the energy-based weapons. This includes the distinctive shoulder-mounted cannon seen often in the films. Weapons such as the speargun are limited by physical ammunition. Later, other weapons appear, such as the pistol, which is specifically for killing Aliens.

The three vision modes are made for detecting each of the three classes of character: heat vision for humans, electromagnetic for Aliens (which do not give off heat), and 'Pred-tech' for other Predators. The last of these, 'Pred-tech', would be redundant in single player, were it not for that fact that it also serves as a robust night-vision mode.

Graphics

The game was among the early batch of games that required the host PC to be equipped with a 3d graphics accelerator. It was put to good use, with detailed (for the time) alien and predator models, as well as a variety of fullscreen effects for the vision modes.

Also unusual for the time was the interaction between character models and weaponry; most obvious when shooting at Aliens, limbs could be blasted off. Also, the Predator's speargun could shear off a limb and leave it pinned to a wall or floor.

Dynamic lighting effects, such as those from the Colonial Marine's flares were also a stark improvement over many games of the time.

Reception

The game garnered positive reviews, although there were a few issues reviewers brought up. Plot was almost non-existant, with almost no exposition or explanation. The Colonial Marine was given orders through screens mounted on walls, triggered by the player passing close by, or entering a particular room. The player only ever met up with enemies, never finding an ally. Also, some criticised the game for being very difficult in places.

Record 1476 - videogame - Last update 14 Oct 2007, 20:01:48

Entry written by: DiscoBurgess

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