Aliens Versus Predator

"(Gold Edition Review) Can't sleep something will eat me."

I can not sleep. Part of the reason my be the three pots of coffee I just drank. However, I think the real reason is that I just finished playing the most intense first person shooter ever. ''Aliens vs. Predator: Gold Edition'' is head and shoulders above anything I have ever played before. It makes my previous favourite first person shooter ''Jedi Knight'' seam like a kids game.

Now I have only played the first mission of the game as the Colonial Marines. I would have gone on further, but quite frankly, I don't think my nerves could have handled it. When you are playing as the marines you are the prey. Let me tell you that it is not a good feeling to be the lowest rung on the food chain. I have new respect for deer now.
What really sets this game apart from any other first person shooter that I have ever played is the atmosphere that it creates for you. Anyone who is familiar with the Alien series will instantly recognize their suroundings, and realize they are in a world of trouble. The coridors and textures of the levels are straight out of the movies, complete with the requisite Alien lighting or lack there of. To add to the effect of the visual scenery the sound effects in this game only serve to highten the intensity of the game. Steam pips burst from the walls, sparks fly from destroyed computer councils and of course the shreaks of the aliens is enough to chill your blood, if you had time to think about it as one of those nasty insects is chasing you down.

My favourite movie of the series has allways been ''Aliens'', largly because of the brash trash talking character Hicks. Well tonight for 20 minutes I was Hicks. Every time an Alien poped out I screamed in terror, and invoked the name of the all mighty lord. Then proceded to swear at my friends monitor as I attempted to train my guns on the lightning quick aliens. I don't think I have ever experienced a moment of pure video game elation equal to the feeling I got when I took an Alien's head clean of with one shot from my Pulse cannon.

I guess I have gotten long winded, and I appologize, To sumarize, I would definatly recomend this game to anyone with a computer fast enough to run it. Sadly, my glorified word processor that I have at home isn't. My friends all swaer by the other races in the game. (the game allows you to play as the aliens or the predator as well as the walking lunch menu marines) I however, don't know if I would ever even try those guys, I mean where is the fun in being the superior being with cloaking devices and the ability to climb walls. It is refreshing to play a first person shooter where your character is not only out numbered, but easily inferior as well. The hunt is on, and you are the one with the bulls eye on your head. Good luck, and stay frosty.

Overall score: 10
Graphics: 10, straight out of the movie
Sound 10, again straight from the movie from the alien screams to the rattle of your pulse rife, to the screams you make when an alien is breathing down your neck
Replay: 10 With three different races there is enough to keep you busy I suppose, but I don't think I would be anything but the Marines.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/08/00, Updated 06/08/00