Techtite's Macintosh Game Reviews!

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"Aliens Vs. Predator Vs...TERMINATOR...?" 

Without a doubt, if you were to choose a sci-fi horror series up to par with Alien and Predator, it would be Terminator. Trouble is, the only people imaginative enough to conceive of this are Dark Horse comics, and their graphic novel showcasing the concept was...not so good, or so public opinion says. Still, if there is to be an Aliens Vs. Predator 3, how about adding a few of those cyborgs to the mix?...perhaps even the liquid metal terminator, hmmm? I'm sure by the time of release, 3D card could more than handle such a game...maybe.  

Aliens vs. Predator 2 was a long time coming. The original game was successful, after all, so why the long wait for the sequel? To give you an idea how long we're talking about: the original Alien Vs. Predator game was first released for the Atari Jaguar back in 1994! Anyone who wonders if the wait was worth it: yes, it was. I just can't help but wonder why I'm not playing AvP-4 or even 5 by now.

The story is immaterial, since it's just a way to have humans (Marines), Aliens, and Predators all on the same planet for a big battle. Wisely, the game designers have made the Aliens and Predators almost excusable in their monstrous methods, since the real enemy to one and all is the Wayland weapons division; the guys who risked all those lives in the Alien films, just to capture a few aliens for their biological weapons labs. In such a story, Aliens are being exploited, Marines are the guinea-pigs used to bait these aliens, and Predators are basically in the wrong place at the wrong time. Each character type leads to the same story and timeframe, though with totally story arcs for that character.

Let's first review the game as a human Marine. He's the best way to see the aliens and predators head-on, and you get to defeat these aliens, who quite frankly, are the real enemy here (unless you claim to not be a human playing this game!). The only caveat is...unless you're an expert gamer, this is a suicide mission, even in "easy" mode. Not that it's impossible; just very, very tough! Aliens spurt acid while predators have cloaking devices...and both are far stronger. To make matters worse, your motion tracker can be thwarted by aliens who stand perfectly still until you're right next to them. Adding to the difficulty level is the frequent pitch black corridor, which can only be lit by a flashlight on your helmet...which needs to be shut off frequently, to recharge! I know this is all to set the mood in an "interactive thriller," though still, I would've liked to click my quick-save and quick-restore keys about 100 less than I did. On the other hand, a good challenge is why you bought the game, right?

Second is the Alien...and by far, the best thought out character type in the whole game. I admit, there are times I thought the graphic designer for these game levels was one sick puppy, though fans of the Alien character might say that's what makes the levels so cool. For one thing, you start as a facehugger; the spider-legged creature which needs to find a host for its egg; an alien drone. Then comes the next part --fully interactive-- when the snake-like baby Alien must bite its way out of the human host. From there you're a full-sized alien, who may not be able to use any weapons like the other characters, though has powerful claws, a stunning tail, a spring-jaw set of teeth, and --better yet-- the ability to fully rejuvenate health by eating your prey. Did I mention your prey are those nefarious schmucks from Wayland Weapons Division, who caused this whole mess? Go get them!

Last (and sadly, least) is the predator...a character who, aside from the thrill of playing him, is a hybrid mix of intriguing graphics and ill-conceived gameplay. For one thing, you're practically blind as a bat unless you use the alternate vision modes supplied by your mask. There's one vision mode for each alien type, including a vision mode for other predators. Trouble is, it's a little disorienting when your environment is suddenly mono-colored except for your targets. Worse yet, the only way you can retrieve power for your weapons is by taking some from your health...and vice-versa. This is all to even things out in multiplayer, since the predator has all the cool long-range weaponry...some with automatic tracking! It makes sense to "even the score" with an energy limitation such as this. Still, it's not a picnic playing as the predator. What's more; the "boss fight" with the Alien Queen was unremarkable aside from the fact she was harder to fight; otherwise, I wouldn't have known I was fighting the Alien Queen at all. Meeting her in her creepy egg-nest-lair (a la the Aliens film) would've been cooler.

One added Predator gripe (dissent can be sent to Techtite's letters page); there is no punishment for killing innocents, unlike the movies, where a Predator supposedly kills only for sport. What goober thought that killing innocent, unarmed, cowering-in-fear civilians was part of Predator's repertoire? As the first film showed, Predators are hunters first and killers second, who are willing to let unarmed creatures alone since there's no "sport" in killing them (indeed). You'll come across hundreds of unarmed lackeys who whimper in front of you pitifully --"No, no, please...pleeeease!"-- and while you can leave them be (as I did), the game offers no penalty if you kill them in cold blood. Instead, you're given another "trophy" for your collection, booby prize that it really is. Meanwhile, killing a more worthy opponent like the Alien Queen offers no "trophy" reward at all. Huh...?

Yes, lack of movie continuity (with the predator) and all, it is fun to be able to play as an Alien, a Predator, or the sole Marine who defeats them both. It just isn't the game it could have been. It isn't even the scariest game you can buy for the Macintosh; Clive Barker's Undying wins that category. Of course, it does do what you want it to, by letting you play as two of the most ominous movie aliens ever conceived. Whether that's enough to buy it is up to you.