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Alien vs Predator
Published in the December 1994 issue of GAMEPRO
magazine.
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By Manny LaMancha
The long-awaited Alien vs.Predator (see PreView, Gamepro, June
1994) has finally surfaced. Jaguar owners should be happy with this edge-of-the-seat
first-person shooter.
A Trio for Free-O
Because it offers different game-play scenarios dependent upon
the charcacter you play, AvP is like three games in one. You choose among
three markedly different characters: a human soldier, the Alien, and the
Predator. It would take the remainder of this ProReview to compare the
many ways in which game play differs based on the charcater, because each
puts their own twist on things. For instance, the Predator scenario is
a battle requiring careful analysis and slow-paced attacks. The Alien game,
on the other hand, calls for a quick, darting offense and knowing when
to retreat to the safety of a quiet hallway or air duct.
In the simplest analysis, AvP delivers basic video game thrills
for each character, under a kill-or-be-killed premise. All the scenarios
involve lots of bloodshed and stealthy movement through a dark and eerie
installation, with danger around every corner - and heavy anxiety to match.
Regardless of which charcater you play, you'll frequently view the Game
Over screen; it's not easy to get through this game in one piece.
Your challenge throughout is maintaining a balance between making
progress through the installation and gathering new weaponry and, more
importantly, health-restoring medical kits. Only the Alien can't restore
its damage bar with med kits; it creates extra lives through its ability
to cocoon humans. This ability makes for mobile checkpoints in each level:
If the Alien dies and a cocoon is aged enough, the oldest cocoon becomes
the new continuation point.
Aliens, Register Here
AvP's graphics are stunning, lifelike, and claustrophobic from
a distance, flaunting the photorealistic capabilities of the 64-bit powerhouse
hardware. However, if you move too close to objects on-screen, they become
pixelated blurs. This graphical drawback doesn't heavily detract from the
exhilaration of the game - especially when you open a door and find a foe
on the other side ready to take you out - but it's a negative nonetheless.
The creepy audio gets on your nerves in the most delicious way.
The sound drives the game even more than the graphics, offering loads of
enviromental atmosphere. The audio thrills extend from bassy heartbeats,
to the shrieks of the Alien, to the whispered imitations of soldiers' voices
by the wily Predator.
Buttoning Up the Crime Scene
Control is also balanced, with a good blend between speed and maneuverability.
You'll give the Jaguar's keypad a real workout, and you'll find that the
keypad is both a blessing and a curse. You have a basic fire button, with
variations for the three characters, and buttons to load up on health,
change weapons, open doors, and initiate a sidestep. It takes a while to
get all the button presses down pat.
Go Forth and Conquer
The end result is an in-your-face contest and durable game play
that doles out a great deal of entertainment. A grin crosses your face
just in time to have it flicked off by a speedy Alien attack or a whole
batallion of soldiers backing you into a dead end. If Atari can turn out
a dozen more games like AvP, Jaguar owners could truly rest easy and enjoy
their purchase. Until then, go forth and prevent creatures from multiplying.
<< ProFile / Capsule Review >>
This long-anticipated game goes to the head of the Wolfenstein
class,
with stunning realism and three dizzying play variations.
(on a scale of 1-5)
Graphics: 4.0
Sound: 5.0
Control: 4.5
Fun Factor: 4.5
Challenge: Expert
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