I am somewhat less a fan of the video games that have been based on "Aliens." While some of the "Aliens vs. Predator" (AvP) incarnations, including the most recent one from 2010, have been entertaining and fun in their own right, they don't really echo the quality and impact of their source material in my view.
"Aliens: Colonial Marines" (A:CM) is no exception. Does that make it a bad game? No, but it is not the quintessential, interactive "Aliens" experience one might hope for given how many times that's been attempted over the years.
In fairness, this was the first time at bat for many of the folks involved in trying to bring "Alines" to life in video game form and in a lot of ways, A:CM is just as successful as any of its predecessors in achieving that.
The problem is that A:CM is not the first game to attempt such a feat and its creators taking a similar path to those who came before them has produced a game that feels far too familiar in a number of ways.
The good news is that A:CM does provide a few features that are uniquely its own. The ability to complete the campaign in four-player, drop-in/drop-out co-op is a welcome inclusion and something I've always wanted from an "Aliens" game.
There are also some interesting competitive multiplayer modes that take things beyond the basic "Aliens vs. Marines" team deathmatch mechanics featured in the AvP games.
Still, I can't help feeling like A:CM doesn't do enough to differentiate itself, not only from the AvP games but from "Aliens" itself.
One of the major reasons why "Aliens" is such a great movie is that it took the premise established in Ridley Scott's original film and built on it– elaborating on and extrapolating it into a natural evolution that felt compelling, believable and satisfying.
A:CM doesn't. It is so preoccupied with fan service and so determined to re-tread the same ground as the films that it never develops an identity of its own. I liken it to a theme park ride, designed to provide an interactive version of content that those familiar with the source material have already experienced in a more passive form.
As I said before, that doesn't make A:CM a bad game, just a largely-uninspired one. Everything "cool" about it comes straight out of the "Aliens" universe with little of merit added to the mix.
The other issue with A:CM has to do with its production values. It strikes me as a game that spent a bit too much time in development and is consequently saddled with some game engine technology that's a bit behind the curve of what's come to be expected from current first-person shooters.
Because of this, A:CM feels like a game that's struggling to justify its price tag and would be a lot easier to recommend at $20 or $30 than $50 or $60.
I'm not saying that A:CM hasn't had some serious work put into it but it also has some technical issues and limitations with regard to enemy AI, visual effects and animations. I could see some of these being resolved via patches and none of them are game-breaking but they are yet more chinks in the game's already acid-soaked armor that hinder it in overcoming its unambitious overall design.
I'm intentionally being a bit harsh on A:CM because I want you all to understand why it's not a great game in my estimation. Having said that, it is a fun game and I've enjoyed playing it alone and with others over the past few days.
I could sit here and pick it apart, elaborate on how it's just another overpriced, run-of-the-mill FPS with an "Aliens" skin and all that would be true but I also had and continue to have fun with it and I'm not going to ignore that fact.
Got another co-op game to play with your friends? Not a big "Aliens" fan? You can probably safely give A:CM a pass, or wait for a Steam sale but there is fun to be had with this game and I've played a lot worse.
To paraphrase Newt: It's mostly good on sale... mostly.
Aliens: Colonial Marines (via Steam)
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