The 'Alien' franchise was once a shining beacon of the Sci-fi genre.
Unfortunately for us though, the series found itself wandering steadily off course from Alien 3 onwards and never really returned to form.
And now, after two Alien versus Predator movies - which, it has to be said, were even worse than expected - all remaining remnants of fondness for the series have surely dispersed into the nearest airlock.
Still, chances are that if like us, you loved Cameron's 1986 sequel 'Aliens' then, deep down, you'll probably be willing to reconcile your differences.
In light of the fact that we really want this game to be a winner, here are a few things we think would make it so.
NO PLACE LIKE HOMEThanks in part to its nail-biting horror sequences, eerie futuristic settings, haunting music, and terrifying xenomorth creatures, the first two Alien films remain absolute classics in the Sci-fi horror genre. And needless to say, fans of the films will want to re-live all their favourite moments from each.
Colonial Marines follows on directly from events depicted in 'Aliens', which saw Ripley and co marooned on the desolate mining planet 'simply' named LV-426.
We want to revisit all those legendary sites from Cameron's 1986 classic such as the mysterious crash site, the web-like alien nest and the operations room, which staged Hudson's last stand as he took out twenty or so aliens before meeting his untimely demise by getting pulled through a metal grate.
Much like the movies, we want to be genuinely terrified throughout, fear every step and wince every time the music dramatically changes key or when a pipe suddenly blows steam in our face.
We imagine defending blockades, putting catacombed humans out of their misery and quaking in terror as twenty dots suddenly appear on our motion detectors. We want to feel the cold tingle of fear run down our spine as the booming warning bleeps get faster and faster, before partaking in an epic stand-off to the death. Now that's a proper Alien game!
RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOTCommencing way back in 2006, Colonial Marines has certainly been in development for a very long time indeed. And while it's hard to say if this is a good thing or not, Gearbox clearly hasn't rushed the project, which is encouraging.
To counter this, the game needs to have a gripping display of tense and well paced edge-of-your-seat gameplay that's supported by a strong background narrative, accompanied by a band of likeable heroes that feel genuine enough for us to actually care about. If Gearbox achieves all this, it'll be a truly absorbing experience.
And there's plenty to get excited about in this regard, since the project has been driven by the brilliant Battlestar Galactica duo: Bradley Thompson and David Weddle. This makes a solid narrative all the more likely. Playable Cylon dlc anyone? No? Didn't think so.
Comments
19 comments so far...
MrPirtniw on 17 Sep '11 said:
I'd love for this to be an amazing game- but what the masses want isn't Aliens- it's genero army men shooting in streets. It's more than likely that there'll be an Alien popping out at you every 5 seconds like Dead Space- and I've eaten cereals scarier than Dead Space. I'd like to see something properly scary. Have the Aliens ambush you only every now and then so that the player has to remain edgy and on guard every single second- better yet- have a Left 4 Dead style 'director' that randomizes the gunfights. Also the encounters need to be ferocious- if an Alien gets too close it's literally game over, man.
As CVG pointed out a lack of ammo would be great. The opening level could be the marines all waltzing in- full of themselves and cocky with plenty of supplies... up until things go t!ts up and you have to make every shot count- or be prepared to run.
If they can give us something more than just another FPS with the xenomorph in it it could well be something special- but I'm not going to hold my breath... but I will cross my fingers.
Also- Predator sucks.
Laughlyn on 17 Sep '11 said:
I'd heard that it was 4 player co-op campaighn which would be great if in one teh levels you had to do your own version of the ops room defense. breaking up into a couple teams to deploy sentry guns and waiting nervously as the slow blip.....blip.... of motion tracker increased and you had to keep chekcin the roof for aliens ect. also going on co-op i'd liek you to have to break off from time to time to acomplish a set of goals at sam etime or maybe one/two of you have to amke your way toi shut power down so otehr two can get through a door, or a solo person has to go off liek bishop and either trigge rthe APC/Drop ship while the other 3 have to shoot their way through the the landing pad.
theres loads of potential for a squad based fps'er with it to split you up working as a team all in while knowing theres some nasties waiting in the dark. also a bit in total blackness apart from you armor lights liek the airduct bit at end that was all red (pitch black for teh actors)
Laughlyn on 17 Sep '11 said:
I know its an oldie and not many folk played it but they would be wise taking hints from teh Atari Jaguar version of AvP because that was really atmospheric. during general wandering you didnt get many aliens running around but as you go closer to eithe raliens nest teh numbers increased and teh chill that used to go down your spine everytime motion tracker went off was amazing. going down the elevator and having motion tracker start bleeping as your approaching the floor just filled you with dread
MANYOO4EVA on 17 Sep '11 said:
This has been my most anticipated game since it was announced in 2006 and I just want to play it. Spring can't come quick enough.
As long as the game remains faithful to the film i'll be a happy man.
I also want a survivor/horde mode where you fend off ever increasing waves of xenomorphs. For me, that was the best thing about the last AVP game, especially when played in the dark and the sound up.
Oh and I want the option to say, when I'm in the power loader,: "GET AWAY FROM HER YOU BITCH!"
MrPirtniw on 17 Sep '11 said:
...only for yourself and the alien queen to share a moment of awkward silence as Newt won't be in the game.
metallicorphan on 17 Sep '11 said:
unscripted attacks would be great,keep you(or all 4 of you)on your toes,and it doesn't have to be attack after attack either,part of the suspense with Aliens is saying to yourself "Where the f**k are they?"..especially with that motion sensor beeping away as well
MANYOO4EVA on 17 Sep '11 said:
@MrPirtniw
Yeah I know Newt won't be in the game, but if they have a female character who is about to get it from the Queen, you then surprise her by coming into the room in the power loader - then I can say it!!!
Well, i can dream can't I?
MrPirtniw on 17 Sep '11 said:
Dream you most certainly can- knowing me I'd balls it up.
"Get away from her you BOTCH!"
...
"Can we try that again? That came out wrong."
ckyleburnett on 17 Sep '11 said:
Arghh!!! I can't wait any longer for this game. Has been on my most wanted list for SOOOOOOO LONG!! I am glad to see the author not totally reaming AVP, it was a FUN game. I know it was flawed in some areas, but the MP was fantastic (for the most part). I hope the MP for this lets you be an Alien again. Some people were turned off by the somewhat awkward controls of the Alien, but once mastered- it is unrivaled. I still miss the awesome Alien "lifecycles" of the PC AVP games. it was so cool going from facehugger to drone to queen.
I don't really think there is anyway for Gearbox to disappoint me here, this is the Aliens game I have always dreamed off!! Still anxiously waiting for the word on the MP modes though.....
evilhippo on 17 Sep '11 said:
What do I want to see? The ability to play entirely in third person.
DannyIsBatman on 17 Sep '11 said:
For those who cant wait for this, id suggest trying out the Alien Breed trilogy on XBLA, great little games that have the perfect aliens feeling.
TheCrimsonFenix on 17 Sep '11 said:
I want a scary Aliens game involving survival in a similar style to Alien. Seeing as this obviously in the same style as Cameron's Aliens, I'm not going to get what I want am I?
I just can't honestly see this being anything but a slightly better constructed version of the human campaign from the last AvP game. Sure there'll be moments when an Alien pops up but once the initial split second shock is made redundant with you and your team of assault rifle and armour wearing commandos.. it just isn't the same. The only way in which this could be in some way scary like I want would be if there were tense well directed moments were ammo is low, scanners are f**ked, and survival is your main objective.
MrPirtniw on 17 Sep '11 said:
Wholeheartedly agree Mr Fenix. But keep the scanners- they actually do more bad than good to the ol' panicometer.
Legend Turtle on 17 Sep '11 said:
I want to wack an alien right up the ass with a futuristic umbrella and then you can open it remotely and the alien's acidic guts splatter all over the roof. That would teach those mo' fo's.
I also want to be slightly scared while I'm doing it... Like, whoa dude I hope this works otherwise I will (quite literally) be alien toast.
Also they should work on a special type of rumble so that it feels like there is an alien eating it's way out of your lap while you play, that would be boss-hog.
dicky1993 on 19 Sep '11 said:
is it good ive heard about it but don't know what it is?
Dajmin on 20 Sep '11 said:
First things first, it's xenoMORPH, not morth. At first I thought it was a typo, then saw it repeated and it's bugging the hell out of me.
And now to the point: all I want is to feel the levels of claustrophobia that both Alien and Alien 3 had. Aliens was good, but it didn't have enough of the actual psychological horror that made the other two movies in the trilogy (I'm ignoring the rest) so amazing. For my taste. It was more shooter than survival horror, if you'll allow me the parallel.
Now obviously I accept that you're never going to have a mainstream game like this where you don't shoot guns, but if it balances those out with some pant-wettingly scary sections then I'll be happy. I think Dead Space has taught us all that it's more about what you're made to imagine than about what you can actually kill. I want tension as you try to seal a door ahead of a rampaging horde. I want smart AI to flank and burst through vents that the players never noticed. Maybe I'm hoping for a bit much.
wasted-again on 20 Sep '11 said:
1986? Can't they find something a bit more up to date than this to make a game about?
moogiesboy on 20 Sep '11 said:
I just want to see the damn thing make it onto the shelf finally.
darren_mccoy on 28 Oct '11 said:
The main reason the original AVP on the PC was so scary, was the lack of saves during the level. The fear of having to start all over again really helped. Even one alien could tear you to shreds in a few seconds and oh GOD! I just remembered about the face huggers. their scampering sound sent shivers down my spine, they were real hard to see and the BOOM the little fecker was on your face....GAME over man.....Game over!