Aliens Versus Predator 2

"Like Being In The Movie, Minus Acid Scars"

Every once in a long (long long long) while, a game based on a movie license comes out that, God forbid, someone will actually wanna buy. In the case of Alien vs. Predator 2, you should go out and buy multiple copies.

Control: 9/10

Controls in first person shooters are typically difficult to screw up, and past the WSAD format, all pretty much the same. However, Aliens vs. Predator 2 has basically 3 different control schemes (for Marines, Predators, and Aliens, respectively), which range from simple controls (Aliens, with nothing really more than claws and and pounces), basic (Marines need little more than WSAD and a mouse, and a single button for vision changes), to somewhat confusing 'till you get used to it (Predators have the basic Marines controls, plus cloak, vision changes, energy ball, electric dischargy-doohickey, so forth). However, once you get used to the control, everything will run smoothly and you'll have little to no trouble controlling everything (with the possible exception of the damned Leap for Predators).

Ambience (sound and special effects): 11/10

I cant think of a game with better ambience than this. The sound is fantastic, right down to every scream, claw, and gunshot (kudos to Fox Interactive for using the same effects from the movies). The evil laugh emitted from a Predator after a head shot with the spear gun is inappropriately delightful. As for the effects, EXCELLENT. Aliens speed past halls scaring you, Marines get pulled through vents to a gruesome death, and bodies hang from ceilings, flayed and dripping. The lighting is pure genius. When it comes to Ambience, nothing beats AvP 2.

Story: 7/10

A nice three part story intertwines between the three races. Its not the best, but it works. Not very much drama or surprises, but it passes. I'd say more, but then I'd risk ruining it.

Graphics: 9/10

Absolutely great. Perfecting lighting, great textures, emptied shells fall from guns, so on and so forth. And you dont even need a Ninja computer to play. Lots of graphical features can be turned down to play on the ol' 400, and still they look good. One of my litte niggling complaints, while you can still blow off body parts, its rare until the bodies are already dead. Excluding spear gunning heads off, theres very little removal of appendages until theyre already dead. Not that chopping a Marine up when yer done isnt entertaining, but I miss the days of one-legging Aliens and sticking arms to walls with my trusty spear gun. Oh well, cant have it all... *weep*

Overall: 9/10

Its just plain pure genius. I didnt review the multiplayer as I havent tried it yet, but Im pretty sure its gonna be around a 11/10, as Ive played multiplayer in the first AvP. Anyway, if great games arent quite your thing, download the demo and check it out yourself. You wont be disappointed. Enjoy!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/10/01, Updated 11/10/01