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Preview:

6th August 2003:
Alien vs Predator: Extinction
Alien, Predator, Human - could it be the new Paper, Rock, Scissors?
Posted by Chris Barnett - Xbox,PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe

Having had a chance to play this ahead of its release this Friday we can give you some initial information and opinions on it.

The first thing that will strike you when you see this game is how much it does not look like a console game. We have seen RTS games on consoles before, but this does not look as if it is designed for a console at all. It has all the features of a PC RTS game, but with controls designed to suit the pad. The controls are, of course, difficult to get used to as the human brain seems initiated to assume that all RTS games should be played with a keyboard and mouse. But once you learn to group troops and assign them to the D pad, you will feel much better. The units also have set postures and formations too, allowing positioning of further units whilst others are engaged in pre set actions.

The units of which we speak can be of either of the three species: Aliens, predators or humans. Each has their own properties and attacks, as you would expect. But the unique point that sets this game appart from the usual RTS games (even those on the PC) is the way in which it handles the generation of new units. Each of the different species can recruit new units in different ways: the predators gain respect by collecting skulls (attracting more predators to join up), the humans gain credits to call in reinforcements and the aliens reproduce by using eggs/facehuggers. From what we could see, the aliens method of reproduction seemed very interesting with different types of alien being produced by different combinations of face hugger and host.

For those unfamilier with the 'Alien' films, the aliens reproduce by laying eggs. Out of these eggs come facehuggers which must go inside a host in order to progress to a full alien. In the game, the hosts can be any of the rival units you see (except mechanical ones, of course) and so the potential for combinations is extensive.

The game looks pretty good too, not anything special, but good enough to keep fans happy. RTS games have never really prided themselves on graphics, so the fact that the characters are recognisable is enough. But this game does go one step further with impressive animations. Especially impressive in our brief play was a predator 'impaling' a human marine on his spike weapon (as you can see in one of the screenshots). Such was the quality of the animation that it really reminded us of the predator films.

With the game out on Friday we hope to bring you a full review of this very interesting prospect. But we have played enough to recommend that strategy fans save a few pounds for Friday.

Chris Barnett

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Aliens Vs Predator: Extinction
for Xbox

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