Aliens Versus Predator: Extinction

"Awesome combat RTS game"

I got this game because I really like RTS games and I am a big fan of the Alien & Predator franchise. There's almost no games of this genre on the newest consoles, so it called my attention.

I must say that this was one of the best games of this genre that I played so far.

First of all, there're two big differences between this game and the other RTS games available:

1. AVP Extinction is totally directed to combat. There's no buildings to construct, only units to create and upgrade - and it's great, because it makes the game fast and furious;

2. The maximum number of units in each mission for each race is small, but it adds a lot of strategy to the game.

Playing as the marines, you earn credits by killing enemies and repairing atmospheric processors. With this credits you can order more marine units. The units are: Comm Tech (the only marine that can order other units and repair mechanical devices, like atmo processors and synthetics), Medic (heal other soldiers), Synthetic (carry the motion scanner and can deploy sentry guns), Infantry , Flamethrower, Smartgunner, Sniper, Sadar (carry missiles), Sentry Guns and the Exosuit (huge mech that inflict heavy damage).

Playing as the Predators, you will earn honor points by killing enemies and collecting trophy skulls. The Predators have an environmental suit that can heal an cloak. The units available are: Shrine (the only unit that can order more Predators and technology upgrades), Predgun (device with heavy plasma guns), Brawler (fighter), Hunter (with shoulder cannon), Spear Master, Stalker (sniper Predator), Disc Master, Vanguard, Hydra & Blazer (strongest units with wide and long range weapons).

Finally there are the Aliens, that earn infestation points by killing and impregnating hosts. The life cycle of this specie is the most intricate, you need to create a Queen, lay an egg and get the Facehugger to implant in a near host. You can even bring hosts to near the hive (the selected aliens will takes the host to the designated area).

This game is very exciting and pure fun! Each race has your own evolution scheme and the combats between the units are the best that I ever see on a RTS game. The sounds in the game (like the pulse rifles firing, motion scanners blips, predator techs, the screams of the aliens, etc) looks like the same from the original movies. And the graphics are great.

The key to rule this game is to calibrate well the attitude stat of your units.

I only noticed two small problems on AVP Extinction: the camera (there're 3 different angles available, but the close zoom camera sometimes did not work well with the environment) and the AI of your friendly units (sometimes they go to the wrong direction, due to ''traffic'' problems). But keeping it in mind, it does not compromise the gameplay too much, in my opinion. It's why I am giving a 9 to this game.

Don't miss this must-have game! I recommend it even to those who usually do not like real time strategy games.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/07/03