"It's scary, tons of fun, but it could have been SO MUCH MORE!"

I looked forward to getting this game forever. I played three demos, all of which I loved. I thought that there was no way that this game wouldn't become an instant classic and revolutionize the FPS genre. There was so much potential, that when the game was finally released, I was very disappointed to find that the game was only what I consider to be a ''good game''. However, it is an experience no one should miss. Here's how it looks on the famous Rapskallion Rating System:

Originality: 7/10
The plot of this game sucks. I'll be honest about that. There isn't much of a plot at all, really, especially for the alien missions. You are just given an objective and must do it. So why does it get a 7/10 for originality? Because the levels are just so cool! The alien is a bit boring at times, but the ability to climb on walls and eat people's heads (yummy) makes up for it most of the time. The marine levels would be rather boring if it wasn't for the motion detector, which lets off an eerie beep whenever an enemy is nearby. It makes for some truly scary moments that feel just like the movies. And finally, my personal favorite; the predator levels. The predator is done perfectly. His weapons, his cloaking, his heat sensitive viewing... its great. I love his unique form of ammo as well. I could go on and on, but I don't wanna ruin the game for you. Let's just say that the lack of a plot is made up for by some of the coolest and most diverse characters known to the PC. If you liked the movies, you have to play the game.

Graphics: 8/10
Pretty graphics with lotsa blood. Nothing revolutionary, but it gets the job done. Excellent lighting effects help add a lot to the environment. However, don't expect to get blown away by any scenery like you do in Unreal and Sacrifice; it won't happen here. The graphics are usually boring dark corridors, but there's nothing wrong with that, is there?

Gameplay: 8/10
The gameplay is great. All three campaigns are fun to play and are totally unique. The predator's inventory is so well done that whoever did it deserves a raise. The weapons are fun and well balanced, and there really is nothing to complain about. So why the score? Because the gameplay should have been outstanding! There should have been more interaction and a more ''living'' environment. This game should have tons of unique features, but it doesn't. It's really a shame, too.

Sound: 9/10
Beep.... Beep.... Beep.. Beep.. Beep, Beep, Beep Beep Beep Beep!!! Wow, lemmie tell ya, the sound effects are freaky in this game. The motion detector is the coolest feature of the game, and is just as scary sounding as it was in Aliens. The predator makes its funky clicking sounds, and gives out a pain filled yell when it injects itself with the medpack. The marines guns sound great as well, especially when they blow aliens into pieces. If there is one thing this game got right, its the sounds. Just like the movies, folks.

Multiplayer: 8/10
I feel bad about giving this game an 8/10 multiplayer, I really do. There is nothing wrong with the multiplayer; its actually a lot of fun. There are some really ingenious games, and there is nothing more satisfying than dropping from the ceiling on some unsuspecting marine. Hehehe... They did a great job of giving lots of fun options for the multiplayer, but there is one major problem. The predator kicks ass! There is no doubt that the predator is the most powerful character on multiplayer, and whoever plays as him seems to always win. The marine is incredibly weak, and the alien is in a category of its own. If they had found a better balance, this game could have been the multiplayer game of the year.

Replay value: 6/10
Here is where I throw in my biggest problem with the game; the lack of an in game save feature (note: there are patches available to allow in mission saves, but I am reviewing the game as it is when shipped). It's a lot like Goldeneye; you beat a mission, and get to go to the next or retry the mission on a higher difficulty level. The problem is that the levels are a lot bigger than Goldeneye, and you could be playing for an hour just to die and have to start all over! It's quite a pain, and you won't wanna play through the game again. Even with the in game save feature, there is no reason to play through the single player missions again. As for the multiplayer, it gets boring as soon as you realize that the predator is the only race worth playing.

Fun: 8/10
(Marine Fun: 8/10)
(Alien Fun: 7/10)
(Predator Fun: 10/10)
I feel like such a grumpy old man giving this awesome, incredibly fun game an 8 out of 10 on the fun department, but this game had some big shoes to fill. Of course its tons of fun, its Aliens vs. Predator! How could it not be fun??? There were some really scary moments that made you feel like you were in the movies, but there should have been more of them. The marine missions had lots of cool moments thanks to the motion detector, but there could have been so much more (example: the lights suddenly go out, you are left with only your motion detector to guide you, aliens coming in from all directions... you get the picture.) The alien missions were repetitive and for the most part boring due to the lack of weapons, but hey, what do you expect? I mean come on, you're a big bug! Thank god the predator missions saved this game. I consider them perfect in every way. The heat sensitive vision and auto targeting shoulder cannon are identical to the movies. The cloak is lots of fun to use, and the ammo management is really cool as well. The predator is the only character that never gets dull. If only the marine and alien were done as well as him, this game could have gotten a much better score.

Overall: 8/10
This is far from a bad game. It's a good game that should have been a great game. If you liked the movies, I think you'll find this game satisfying. It's fun and really scary at parts, but more than once you'll probably say to yourself ''wow, they really could have made this game great.'' Still, it's a really good game that no FPS fans should miss.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/13/01, Updated 02/13/01