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Aliens vs. Predator: the Deja Vu Edition?
I'm as hungry as anyone for details of what Sega is doing with the Alien and Predator licenses. There's been a fair bit of fumbling around lately when it comes to these games, with cancellations, delays, and swapping developers. So I was elated to see a press release in my inbox promising new details. Here they are:Developed at Rebellion by the team responsible for the original 1999 PC classic, the all-new Aliens vs. Predator allows players to take the role of three infamous species: Colonial Marines, Predators and Aliens. The game will feature a unique three-way online multiplayer experience, allowing gamers to battle for survival and the right to be crowned the deadliest species in the galaxy. Each race will also have its own distinct action-packed single-player campaign mode, with a storyline that cleverly interweaves with the other two species' paths.
With the exception of the name of the developer, there is nothing in that passage that doesn't also apply to Aliens vs. Predator 2, a game I still play. Let's move on to the details of each race's single player campaign:The Colonial Marine's story is an incredible fight against all odds from horrors lurking in the dark. Surrounded on all sides yet armed to the teeth, the Colonial Marine represents humanity's last stand with the firepower to fight back.
As the Alien, players will discover what it's like to be the scariest, most murderous creature in the universe, with the ability to traverse any surface at lightning speed in order to get close enough to unleash its deadly claws, tail and teeth.
A master of the hunt, the Predator grants the player an arsenal of exotic weaponry with which to stalk from the shadows. Earn the greatest honor by ambushing prey up-close, before butchering them for a gory trophy kill.Again, there's nothing there that couldn't apply to the previous Aliens vs. Predators game. Actually, there's nothing there, period.
Finally, there's this bit about the plot.Set on planet BG-386; a human colonist mining group discovers an ancient pyramid containing a dark and horrible secret. Across the galaxy, a race of warriors is alerted to the discovery of their pyramid and a hunting party is dispatched to ensure that it remains sealed at all costs. Deep inside the ruined pyramid meanwhile, nature's deadliest species awakes from centuries of hibernation intent on finding new prey.
Well, at least they're drawing from the original Alien vs. Predator movie for inspiration. I don't recall much from that forgettable movie beyond the alien death pyramid. However, didn't they collaborate with the Aztecs for that? How did Aztecs get to BG-386?
It's still early in the development process considering this will be a 2010 release, so I shouldn't give Sega too much grief. After all, the real news are the three screenshots, which look pretty good to me. A latest-gen Aliens vs. Predator game is really all I want. A good one would be nice, but I'll take what I can get.
You can see the other two screenshots after the jump.
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By nilus at 9:18 AM ON 05/21/09
I hope they take some cues on how to do co-op from games like Left 4 Dead. Instead of 4 marines vs for Aliens in a death match. Maybe have a sort of campaign versus. Aliens could be plentiful with players taking control of special aliens. 4 man Marine Squad has a goal area to get to. Maybe have a 9th Predator player whos goal is to collect tropies. Could be interesting.
I just hope its just not a even match deathmatch like the other versions. I think we have seen that versus games can be a lot more.
By LowKey at 9:44 AM ON 05/21/09
The skirmish mode in the original AvP is one of the best multiplayer experiences of all time. Playing only as marines or predators, you and you're buddies just stayed alive for as long as possible against unlimited aliens. There is still nothing to compare to the sound of a smart cannon whirring up as you pin legs and arms to the wall with the spear gun, happy days. If they get that in there, even slightly right, it'll be a great game.
Also the ping of the motion sensor as you spy an egg in the corner of a room, spinning round and round furiously trying to spot the little horror before it just appears on your screen making you scream and jump out of the chair, the original AvP got next to nothing wrong, apart from maybe the difficulty, but I always thought that was intentional. The bar is set high on this one, but if they just rinse and repeat with next-gen graphics, it'll be awesome. Colonial Marine looked good too, is that dead now?
By Chijts at 9:48 AM ON 05/21/09
I really like the sound of nilus' idea.
By Steiner at 11:35 AM ON 05/21/09
I still like playing AvP2 so much. I think all they have to do is update the graphics and it will instantly be one of the best shooters out there...much better than Left4Dead, IMHO.
I have yet to play a shooter that elicits as many honest screams of fright as AvP2.
By DerStu at 1:59 PM ON 05/21/09
sounds like that they are taking the first game and mixing it with the story of the first AvP movie... it should still be good
By LeonKaiser at 3:48 PM ON 05/22/09
I'm with Steiner on this one, just slather AVP2 (cpu version) with updated graphics and give that to us.
I LOVED that game. O.O Utterly fantastic gameplay and multiplayer was the utmost best.
By Farseerer at 9:15 AM ON 05/25/09
Rebellion said in OXM video on Xbox 360 that it is essentially a reboot of the first game they worked on many years ago.
By grendelpete at 1:33 PM ON 05/26/09
".. the right to be crowned the deadliest species in the galaxy"
"As the Alien, players will discover what it's like to be the scariest, most murderous creature in the universe"
Now that that's taken care of, let's play.
grendelpete:
".. the right to be crowned the deadliest species in the galaxy" "As the Alien, players will discover what it's lik...More »