Welcome, one and all, to the most dissaponting game of 2010!
Being a huge fan of the original AvP game released many moons ago, I was looking forward to their new revised version of the game. With the potential of todays current gaming platforms and the well documented shortcomings of the related films, I had justifiably high hopes that we would see a project which could bring a fresh dynamic to a crowded
FPS genre.
Unfortunately, my optimism was misplaced. I had decided to dismiss the shaky demo released on xbox live, which was an incredibly short sighted release. I fail to see how Rebellion thought it would be a good idea to give eager fans of the genre a game mode which goes against everything covered in past AvP lore. Instead of participating in a classic genocidal clash of the species, here was a messy free-for-all which gave players precious little time to learn the controls, let alone the limitations of their race. Along with a string of other problems, the demo ended any potential interest from my friends. I decided to wait for the full game, which as I duly found out, was a
very big mistake.
This game is overwhelmingly flawed. This isn't a rant about how X is overpowered compared to Y. This game is an affront to the genre; the reasons of which are legion. Note that the following list will only concern Multiplayer mode, which I consider the games main selling point. The solo game is a little better, but ultimately a predictable romp filled with little reward and enemies which have about three catchphrases. I'll skip that and head on to what I believe is the meat of the game.
Honestly; it's hard to know where to start, but I'll try.
1.
Choosing A Game
After signing in to xbox live and heading down to the multiplayer option, you get to attempt a multiplayer session. After choosing Ranked Match, you'll be able to scroll through several game modes. This is the first problem. There is no description on what these modes represent. Team Deathmatch is self explanatory; Infestation is not. This is something that five minutes of market research would have revealed.
2.
Getting A Game
Like any good lover, I avoid peaking to early, but with the following list of ailments it is impossible. The matchmaking system in this game is a nightmare of staggering proportions. Choosing ''Species Team Deathmatch'', one would be under the impression that you could choose your favourite species and take use them against either one or two of the franchises other denizens. ''I loved the Predator films!* Can't wait to try them out against other players!''
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
The first hurdle that AvP stumbles over in this regard is the deployment of a game. Unlike Modern Warfare 2, the Usain Bolt of
FPS games, AvP is a shining beacon of how not to prepare players for a game. Instead of instantly being transported into a waiting lobby, you're confined to gaze at a spinning biopsy of a face hugger, whilst watching the number of potential participants rise or fall.
For everyone reading, here is a typical turn of events when trying to create a game in AvP.
The following is absolutely true and anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar.
[PLAYER] I'd like to play Species Team Deathmatch. With 12 people, lets keep it small. Can't wait to try out the Predator!
<AVP> CONNECTING
<AVP> Waiting for 11 more players
[PLAYER] ...
<AVP> Waiting for 10 more players
<AVP> Waiting for 9 more players
<AVP> Waiting for 8 more players
(Another player joins. You can't see them, for reasons only Rebellion know)
<AVP> Waiting for 5 more players
[PLAYER] Come on...
<AVP> Waiting for 0 more players
[PLAYER] ?
At this point, the sound of cockroaches being slowly ground into dust resides and the player finally enters the lobby, to be confronted with two other players. The game has decided that he should play as a Colonial Marine.
[PLAYER] FOR F***S SAKE! FINE, I'
LL BE A F*****G MARINE, JUST LET ME PLAY A MATCH
<AVP> BLEEP! The host has left the game.
This is where you as the player have to start the entire process again folks!
[PLAYER] *puts boot through television*
Believe it or not, this is a very realistic depiction of what constitutes most of your gametime on AvP. I spent fifteen minutes trying to find a game with a decent amount of people, that didn't lag, and that let me play as a Predator. My hopes of forming a Predator clan evaporated within minutes after discovering that the game randomly assigns you a species. When and why was this design decision approved? Maybe there are people out there like me who hate the film Aliens and want to live out there fantasy of slaughtering the cast of the film! Now you're telling me this is impossible?
Fans of the game may respond to this point saying that Mixed Species Team Deathmatch allows you the stellar privelige of choosing any race you want. Great, except that nobody EVER willingly plays as a Marine, unless they are insane or love ramping up the difficulty level. Call me a traditionalist but I can't swallow the notion of Predators and Aliens teaming up to take on all comers. But by this point in the game, farce is depressingly common. Also, should the assigned host of the game quit the entire match ends and you are sent back to the beginning screen.
3.
The Game Itself
Should you complete the labyrinthian task of getting into a match using your desired species, another bout of flaws become apparent. Instead of being deployed as a team, the developers decided it would be better to sprinkle the players liberally over the chosen arena. In doing this, they successfully abolished the chance of tactics creeping in to the gameplay; instead turning the game into some sort of intergalactic royal rumble**. After meeting a similar desperate soul in need of some structured play, we exchanged friend requests and managed to get into another game. We were cursed to represent the Marines, so decided pre match to dig in to a corner of the map where we could use our range advantage to the fullest. Unfortunately, the previously mentioned spawning mechanic landed us all over a large area of jungle. The white arrows above team members heads helpfully point downwards allowing you no sense of wether they are nearby, or miles away being devoured.
In the end, we managed to find each other and spent the majority of the game hosing Aliens and Predators that ran towards us. We won the match, but the logistics of finding another of your squad had shattered our resolve to attempt intelligent play.
Whilst the graphics are pretty standard, there is an admirable amount of gore here. Unfortunately, to see it you'll need to pull off one of Rebellions endlessly lauded finishing moves, sneak attacks, donkey punches or whatever the hell they call this lame game mechanic. It involves you springing on someone from behind and making a mess of them in a suitably cinematic fashion. Again, like nearly everything in this game, there is a massive downside to this. Showing off to your Aliens mates that you can impale a Preadtor on your tail leaves you open to a suprise coshing too!
Like it should be! No-one is safe with their back turned!
Except this makes the sneak kills a total liability! As a marine I watched a conga-line of death develop between four Aliens and three Predators. When playing as one of the viable races (anything without the word ''Marine'' in it), you trumpeted strength of roughly taking someone from behind is an invitation for instant death. At least give the player who has worked himself into a position to pull a flash move survive to see his plan reach fruition by making him immune for its duration.
Playing as... The Alien
For fans of The Raptor in Turok 2, disorientation, and ''rubber claw syndrome''.
As an Alien, you spend most of your time zooming about looking for kills. There is no point in camping an area as either (A) you'll be sniped by a Predator who can see you across the map, or (B) any marine will run backwards at the first sign of movement. Also, running up walls would be fun if it wasn't so difficult. Unlike the excellent first title by Rebellion, you're permanently attached to the floor/surface, meaning that you have to wiggle down every step individually. Much better would have to been using
RT as a trigger for this ability, but innovation has clearly gone out of the window in AVP. You're restricted to using claws/tail for attacking, which give up slicing enemies in favour of a rough slap. Those who played the first game will know the joy of flicking a Marines head off with a quick swipe; those days are long gone. You'll need to gank people from behind in order to kill them as anything else is normally suicide. It's embarrassing to be killed by a marine because you're glued to the wall, so make sure you're on the ground, by the way.
Playing as... The Predator
For fans of Bob Marley, trees, and ''charging like hell to get a Plasma Caster''.
Far from the agile, Apollo Creed pwning villain of old, the Predator is now old and frail. Slow and cumbersome, Predator players tend to get as high as possible (in terms of levitation) in order to avoid surprise donkeypunch syndrome, as well as to switch vision modes in order to track enemies. Unfortunately, you become so paranoid of Aliens (your only real threat) that performing the latter resembles watching some sort of acid house video, only with crap music and a sense of emptiness. Intially devoid of your dreadlocked brethren, you can be sure to see them camping the weapon respawn points. That's right; it's like Goldeneye! Weapons magically appear on the ground and like Ash Ketchum,
you gotta catch 'em all!
This tactic of floating weapon spawns is so ludicrously dated that I actually laughed when I experienced it. Suffice to say, they're normally high up somewhere and glow red. The only one you'll need is the Plasma Caster as it nails anything it hits. The spear is akin to angrily throwing a brick, and the discus is flash but impractical. Marines can't see you, but your sluggish yeti-like frame will struggle against Aliens head on.
Playing as... The Marine
For fans of death, hip firing, and beeping noises.
The Marine is supposed to be meat, and they fulfil their role admirably. Useless up close, the marine is forced to rely on automatic weapons which are used to hose down enemies, preferably from a distance, preferably whilst said enemy is taking a friend roughly from behind. Rebellion abandoned the bizarre notion of looking down the sight of your gun in order to prevent the marine from deploying effective firepower; instead he normally works from midrange where his wild spraying will occassionally take down an enemy. SCHWEET! Imagine playing in character as one of the Stormtroopers chasing Han Solo and you'll be able to gauge your general accuracy. Also, the motion sensor is broken; it only works when something hideous is in your face, as well as being bloody annoying.
I hate the AVP films. But I feel extremely sorry for the people who were genuinely looking forward to this game. Whilst you may find solace in the single player mode, multiplayer is a car crash of game design which deserves to be pulled from the shelves. Aside from the laughable matchmaking system, which you are forced to endure
every match, there are numberless problems with the game itself. I will be sending a letter to Rebellion stating many of the above points, along with a torrent of basic improvements that the inevitable follow up needs. It is fair to compare this to a Nintendo 64 game, but what was a delight ten years ago is now pre-school knowledge in the games industry. There is a total lack of innovation in AVP. It follows the same methodology of games such as
Turok 2 and expects modern gamers to swallow it. This is not fair on people who spend a days wages on the title, and Rebellion should be ashamed of their apparently finished product. I fail to believe that this game underwent testing. Some of my friends were curious about the title, but I could not reccommend anything about the game. It is a piss poor insult to both fans of the genre and computer games in general.
If anyone has strong feelings on the above, I'll look forward to seeing them. A brief skim of the previous posts suggests general dissapointment; as you might be able to tell, I was livid. People are right to make up thier own minds and take critics opinions with a pinch of salt, but I feel a common average of 5/10 is extremely generous, and should be much lower. If critics were harsher, Rebellion may not make these mistakes.
*In my case, this is not actually true.
** Sounds fun? It isn't.
Play better, simple as that. Use cover and dont sit in front of him when he is pulling the trigger. Of course its not as simple as merely doing that, but why should I have to hold anyone's hand in order for them to stop crying?
that and Assassins Creed 2 white edition with figurine 