Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction

"A great strategy game! Review for none AvP fans."

Introduction
Ok, if you're not an AvP fan this review is for you because I'll try to explain a lot of the essential terms needed to understand the game. This is a great game. Although it's more of an all-out action game than a strategy game it does involve some planning ahead to get things done. This isn't your typical Star Craft either folks, where the objective is ''Destroy all Units''. The objectives here range from reaching a high point to contact your leaders to releasing your queen to capturing eggs. So here is your review.

Gameplay-10/10
The game lets you pick from three campaigns much like Star Craft using three different species: Aliens, Predators, and Marines.
The Colonial Marines are the most basic force. They use good old fashion bullets and grunts to get the job done. To collect currency to purchase new units they must repair a small structure called an Atmo(Atmosphere Processor). When they receive enough money they may order more troops from a DropShip using a ComTech Marine who is vital for the survival of the Marines. The marine units range from Androids, to SADAR Marines(rocket launcher), to a large battle armor called an Exosuit. I think the Marines are probably the least fun to play as considering the fact that they really have no strengths, only weaknesses.
The Predators are the strongest units. Predators are huntors that collect their opponents skulls as trophies. The Predators have two kinds of units: Hand-to-Hand and ''Long Range'' units. To obtain currency for themselves they must kill their opponents and collect the skull. The Shrine is an annoying hovering unit that is the counterpart of the ComTech Marine. Predators, once ordered, jet down to the surface in individual pods. The units range from Brawlers(Predators with blades on each wrist) to Huntors(Predators with a laser on their shoulder) to Blazers(military Predators with a long range fire beam). The Predators are in my opinion the second most enjoyable species in the game due to the fact that they can cloak and become invisible for as long as their energy doesn't run out.
The Aliens are the weakest and the fastest relying on numbers to surround their enemies. Instead of ordering their units they must lay eggs using a Queen Alien. The eggs hatch facehuggers which impregnate ememies with the Alien embrios. The Aliens get money by impregnating and hatching units. The units range from the Drone(basic Alien) to the Carrier(an Alien that throws facehuggers at enemies from it's back) to the Ravager(the largest of all Aliens). The Aliens are the most fun in my opinion because there is just something addictive about dragging humans to eggs and impregnating.
All species have a supply limit. Aliens have the most, than Marines, than Predators.

Graphics-8/10
The graphics may not be up to the par with some of the newest games out but they get the job done and are likeable. It's not like you can't tell the difference between a human and an Alien.

Sound-7/10
The sound is okay. The marines talk when you tell them what to do and the Predaors and Aliens growl and screech. The battles are loud and do sound wuit good. The wet noises of the Aliens are good also.

Control-8/10
The control is based upon a circle in the middle of the screen. Holding down X will enlarg the circle, letting go selects all the units inside. It's hard to get used to but when you do it's second nature.

Story-6/10
The story is a little hard to follow because there are no cinemas or anything. There is a breifing at the beginning of each mission. The three seperate campaigns all have different stories.

Overall-9/10
One half of a star is gone because there is absolutely no multiplayer. Another half is because there is only one cinema, a beginning cinema, which is superb, but it's not enough for the whole game. This is a very good game that is more action than strategy. If you're not sure rent it and check it out. It's not even easy on the easy setting so whatch out, and have fun dragging nocked out humans to your Alien hive!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/01/04