Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction

"Wasted Potential"

INTRO: First off I must say that the premise for this game is a very good one. Unfortunately the consol controls are designed for an RTS in any shape or form. Overall this game has a very nice package gameplay, but the controls aer very shoddy.

GRAPHICS: The graphics are nothing impressive at all. The backgrounds are very generic and the game's resolution is questionable. The character designs are just all right. Considering the source material here there is so many unrealizied ideas. To it's credit though, the framerate holds up, even when there is 30 guys on screen.
Score 6

SOUND: The sound is also respectable but nothing to write home about. The music is unispring and their is very little voice acting. The sound effects are hit and miss. Some of the effects are taken from the movies which sound good, but others just sound a little off.
Score 6

CONTROLS: As you would expect for a home console RTS, this is where the game fails miserably. The game calls for imprescie cursor action with the left joystick. This can be very annoying and frustrating. Overall this is the game's biggest detraction by far. And since their isn't as many buttons on a controller as a keyboard, you have to go through quite a bit of menus instead, which further detracts from the game.
Score 3

STORY: The story is very generic and is not a driving point of the game at all. The stroy is progressed with breifing menus, which can be tedious, so will give up here quite quick. Again with the abudance of source material here this is just another part of the game poorly realalized.
Score 5

REPLAY: Without online support all RTS games are pretty low in this category. Online support would have really helped this game out. But instead we are left with nothing.
Score 5

GAMEPLAY: You play the game as one of three races Alien, Predator, or Marines. All from their respected franchises. All the action is focused on unit handling and combat. There is no building or real resource management. This is an attempt to streamline the game and make it more action oriented. Instead we found this is a game much better suited for the PC. The marines have medic, support, gunner, comm units. Each unit has upgradeble options. To get more units and upgrades you gain credits for completing side missions and repairing various things. The predators have all combat units. Each with different upgrades. The gain resource by honor points. Everyone you kill you can take their head. The more head trophies the more honor, the more honor the other clans will join your hunt. The aliens have a queen the queen makes eggs which make two types of facehuggers. Purebreeds, which make your powerful aliens. And morphing facehuggers. Depending on what the facehuggers impregnates depends on the 3 different possible aliens.
Score 7

OVERALL: The gameplay is very original and thought out but it is just to bogged down. If your a fan of the seris then you will probably appreciate a rent, but don't buy this unless your sure like the funky controls and watered down depth.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 04/13/04