Aliens vs. Predator 2

It might seem weird to review a video game on a film site, but this is a very particular case: first, the source medium is not one but two series of films, and second, attempts to follow the present product in film form have been undisputed disasters. How could you get those so wrong and this so right?

First things first, the Alien series is perhaps the finest adult science-fiction series in existence, a visionary horror saga that plays on our Lovecraftian fears of the cosmic unknown and delivers the greatest monster of all time. The Predator is a worthy challenger, showcased in one of the greatest sci-fi action films ever made. In the early Alien and first Predator films, we have not just great monsters, but master directors conjuring a perfect atmosphere. That is where Sierra crucially got things right with this game!

This feels like being in a blend of Alien and Aliens, and you will feel fear, no matter the species you choose, for yes, this is a three-scenario game: one as a human marine, one as a predator, one as an alien, and all threads interweave several times. A mighty arsenal is thrown at you in all categories, but you will rarely feel better than merely safe (perhaps as the Predator). The human thread is the most spine-tingling of the lot, and the thrill of holding that pulse rifle quickly evaporates when the motion sensor starts beeping.

Whichever way you look at it, this is a glorious solitary journey into claustrophobic fear and violence, making the leap from effectiveness to greatness by arming itself with tight and smart parallel narrative structures (in several cases, as one species, you see who you'd be playing had you chosen the other). For gamers and general shoot'em-up fans this is essential. for fans of either of Fox's monsters, this is too good to be true!

Let me start off that I love Predator and Alien 1&2(I like Predator a bit more than the alien movies though). So after playing AvP 1 I got hooked. I couldn't stop playing. Having the power of the Predator at your very hands...amazing. But I didn't like that the Predator in AvP wasn't very true to the movies. Even small things like what color his health pool is to big things like no crouch jumps, not being very strong, and horrible cloaking(marines can see you even when you're cloaked half the time). Also the levels very rarely intertwined with one another.I also must say in AvP 1 marine mode was awful. I hated being marine.But don't get me wrong I loved the overall game!

When I got AvP2 I expected it to be like most movie and game sequels. Not as good as the first. Man was I wrong. The graphics are incredibly realistic. The plot is great. The levels are always intertwining, and the game is so true to the movies it makes a fan like me crazy about it. All the above I said Avp1 didn't have this game did. I guess we can attribute this to Sierra,the makers of Half Life. They took on AvP2 along with Fox Interactive and made this game great. Another thing about the first AvP. In Predator mode you never got to hop through trees. But you can in AvP2! I already beat Predator in AvP2, and am half way through in alien and marine(marine mode is like half life in this game...I love it). I don't know if I've lost you along the way but the point I want to make is that AvP2 is better than the first, and I recommend it to anyone, especially Predator,Alien, or even Half Life fans(but be warned, this game is not a copy of Half Life, it's much better!) And so 4/5 stars brings me to my conclusion. BUY THE GAME

Where the first merely sought to recreate the various locations, creatures and weapons of the six cinematic entries into the universes, this not only does that(and adding basically everything that the first didn't get, as far as the last of those go, and also equipment), but goes beyond, and includes several new designs. This isn't terribly long, but the previous one wasn't, either(and at least this doesn't attempt to hide this fact through the difficulty). This offers an authentic merge of the two series, not to mention a pretty darn entertaining experience. There isn't really any re-playability, admittedly, except for putting all the pieces of the overall story together(these are found throughout each of the three campaigns, and are at no point herein summarized or put together, this is left up to the individual... either to do by themselves, or to Wiki it). It has atmosphere to spare, and it is built up masterfully. The single-player portions aren't equally long, they seem to get shorter, starting with the human and going past the more technologically advanced outer space being. It's hard to find something in the movies not featured in this... without it being a crutch, either(obviously the sections in them(mostly) aren't found here). The cut-scenes are all within the engine, but they are well-done, with quite good cinematography and editing(and scripting). The graphics are absolutely gorgeous... movements look natural and realistic, and the detail in them is impressive, allowing for subtle facial expression and the like(it's really no wonder they used it so much, with nothing being done in full animation or live action). Unlike the first one, this doesn't offer bots for multi-player. That doesn't by a long shot mean that this isn't fun beyond the main portion... you can spend hours battling it out with others, and the optional class systems really help make things interesting. It could need some more modes for it, however... about two thirds of them are more or less the same(two teams versus each other, fragging). There are perhaps not all that many levels(it should be noted that there weren't for the one preceding it, either) for it... but they're almost invariably well-done, and a joy for the different ones(not always as much for every one of them) to run around and wage the continuing interspecies war in. And on that... the odds have shifted, and it's much more fair and even. Now not a single of the sides seem weak or slow as such when you're controlling them, they simply do better in different situations(meanwhile, both when by yourself and against or with others, this allows for them). The AI is absolutely great, and rather accurate... just about every single foe you fight behaves the way it should(I will choose this for where I interject that the wall-walking has been *vastly* improved, and now, little if any "sticking" takes place, regardless of who does the moving). The story lines intersect, and more than once, at that. They're complex(and not the only thing that that applies to, either), well-told, intriguing and true to character all the way. One thing that has got to get a mention is how incredibly smooth this is. Not just in that there are nearly no bugs or glitches(and I've yet to see any biggies), but it runs so well, the game-play(which is awesome and enjoyable almost without exception), everything. The difficulty levels are about spot-on... if you have any skills as far as FPS' go, you should be able to complete this on the easiest, and if you try for the hardest, you will find this intense. The new stuff brought in, for all of them, improves(the same goes for most of the things where this differs from the first), makes them better, more engaging, to control. This actually has the life cycle of the Xenomorph(also as an on/off feature for MP). The music changes when there are opponents around(and they are aware of your presence), giving the sense of being in a scored film, set in these worlds. The audio in general is exceptionally done, and thorough. Voice acting is marvelous. The boss enemies are very nicely done, great fights. Level design is excellent, it all comes together extremely well, and all the races get to do what they do best... and without anything seeming out of place, or this ever requiring you to suspend your disbelief(beyond what the concept itself asks, and if you're reading this and/or considering playing this, you most likely already do so). The areas explored, the sheer amount, and the versatility of them... other planets entirely dissimilar from what we know, foreign technology, as well as buildings in a similar style and architecture as what the original efforts on the Xenomorph contains(without it being straight remakes, like it was in the installation this is a successor to). The dismemberment is enormously well-done, so believable and so many... gore and blood never seems underdone or anything in this. It's really *the* game for enthusiasts. What minor stuff still remains not integrated is seldom missed... more so after the release of the expansion pack, Primal Hunt, where they were there, but they weren't done right, and messed up the balance. The references are more homages than direct rip-offs, and this could, if need be, stand on its own, any player who doesn't know the source material could largely "get" it and find him- or herself into it. Both this and the one before it are worth investing time in, and they can be beaten utterly independent of each other(save for the theme, drawing inspiration from the same sources and sharing a title, one really has no connection to the other). If it's one or the other, then there's no reason to ponder... this is the choice. I recommend this to any fan of Alien, Marine and/or Predator, and really anyone who enjoys solid FPS', and unique ones. This is noticeably more well-rounded and fulfilled than the other(it just doesn't have Co-Op like it). 8/10

This game is an incredible improvement on the first. I loved AVP for all it was worth, and this is all that and so much more. The ONLY downside of this game is that it's reletivly short, each campaign is only six levels or so. The game-play is phenominal however, whether the marine alien or predator, it's loads of fun. Each has it's own benefits, and weaknesses.

As the marine, you have access to an assorment of weapons, a few rather potent ones too. You even get different kinds of ammo for them, like amor piercing rounds for the otherwise weak pistol, or shotgun slugs instead of scattershot. Also, in addition to all the weapons from AVP, you also now can get a sniper rifle, though the single player modes don't really have you use it at any point, it's still a good addition for multiplay value alone. The marine is pretty good mostly for his motion tracker, and the weapons, basically everything you have is a projectile weapon, except the knife. This is good and bad, You never really have to get close to anything, but if your wasteful with ammo your screwed. The marine is essentialy the weakest physical character in the game. You can barely jump, and your really slow in comparison to either the predator or the alien.

As the alien, you have only what's attached to you. Your weapons are your claws and your tail. The alien is possibly the most fun to play though, being stealthy and creeping up behind marines is quite a lot of fun, not to mention biting all their heads off. Your claws basically just rip people up, and your tail just kinda stuns em, but if you charge up your tail (I know, sounds weird) you can kill just about anything aside from the predator with one quick shot. The fastest creature in the game, and possibly the single most fun to play as. The only real addition to the alien since AVP is the pounce attack, you jump foward a good distance and rake your claws on whatever what land on.

As the predator, you have all kinds of weirdo gadgets and gear to help you out. The predator is pretty cool, has the cloaking ability, and the highest jump in the game. Not to mention the vision modes, one for each species. Makes everything your trying to kill stick out like a third testicle. With an oddly advanced sort of technology, the predator is the epitome of the everything a hunter should be. You can snipe from a distance, or sneak up right next to them and thwak their heads off. The biggest addition to the predator is the charger, you no longer have to wait to build energy, if you find a quite spot you can fill it all up real quick. The plasma gun has been modified, it now shoots more like a pistol, less like a mortar. The addition of the netgun is kinda superficial, not exactly a horribly useful weapon, I mean, it doesn't kill anything.

Overall, I think AVP 2 is an incredible sequal to the original. I for one look very forward to an AVP 3, and if I live that long, an AVP 4.

Violence... don't you just love it? I mean, good, clean, violence, in which nobody gets hurt (the good thing about video games is they don't have any consequences). Well, this game sure is an outlet for your every day pressure. If you are the kinda guy that played quake and couldn't stop coming back for more, that only stops shooting when the corpses are gone (disintegrated), I suggest you play AvsP2. If you don't like to spill blood and guts across the screen, well... there's always that pokemon crap for you.

Now seriously, this has got to be the fastest and most addictive don't-know-what-has-hit-you-untill-the-aliens-are-all-over-you-beating-the- life-out-of-your-body-kind-of-in-you-face-gaming-experience. You just can't help it... it will make you fear for your life, and you WILL kill to stay alive! Just watch your back.

The game is scary, but it will make you go back for more! The more desperate it gets, the more will your resolve peak. Fear is the only thing that keeps you alive... that and good old shoulder cannon.