The precise depth of Gearbox's appreciation for the Aliens universe didn't really impress itself on me till last month, when Mike Channell, formerly of this parish, approached me with eyes a-glow to declare that he'd found Newt's tricycle while exploring the Aliens: Colonial Marines version of Hadley's Hope. For those who aren't up on their James Cameronese, Newt is glimpsed riding that tricycle for a handful of seconds early on in the Aliens Director's Cut. Such mind-bending detailing reflects the commitment of a developer that's been labouring away at the license since 2006, and riffing devotedly on classic Aliens tropes for its entire career.
But then, you already knew that Aliens: Colonial Marines was going to be a rich exercise in lore-mining thanks to our hands-off look, with its orgasmic references to bevels and LED readouts. You already knew about Randy Pitchford's fascination with the UNSC armoured personnel carrier and its prodigious bonnet-mounted cannon, yet to be seen in action (wink, wink). You already knew about things like how hard it is to make an Alien's back legs work without sparking a kangaroo-esque farce, and Xenomorphs not showing up on infra-red, and Gearbox's sworn intent to "make sense" of things the films leave hanging.
When I first laid eyes the game in May, there was room for worry on this count. The trick to Aliens the movie, after all, is its half-hour build-up - the slow piecing-together of the precise nature of the threat, the insidious shaving-away of nerve endings before the carnage finally erupts. The ingredients of such a setup are all there in Colonial Marines, but the segment we were shown derailed too swiftly, throwing its raw materials at the player in a Gatling gun frenzy.
Thankfully, hands-on time reveals a shooter that knows when to hold back, allowing the sweat to accumulate along the player's spine. It all starts on the surface of planet LV-426, following a frantic couple of hours aboard the hulk of the USS Sulaco.
On arrival, you're ordered to rewire the door, and there's a moment of pure film nerd joy when Hudson's hacking gear appears in your hand, all cables and chunky keypads. Then you're inside, staring down a long, long corridor filled with makeshift barricades, melted sections of walkway, heaps of dangerously unidentifiable garbage, and shadows. Far too many shadows for comfort. The audio disappears, on cue. Time for the motion trackers.
11 comments so far...
NinthGeorgesw on 11 Dec '12 said:
This has got me more excited for the game again. By the way, do you know if you can turn off the xp pop-ups in the campaign?
I'm pretty sure that's a pre-order bonus.
OXM ETboy on 11 Dec '12 said:
I'm not sure about the pop-ups, but will ask. You're right about the Pulse Rifle/Flame Unit combo being a preorder thing. A bit sickening, that. The weapon's supposed to be this badass improvisation in the face of terrible odds, and here they are flogging it as super-premium gear.
OXM ETboy on 11 Dec '12 said:
Oh hang on, seems it's just the flamethrower that's a pre-order bonus.
LUCASH525 on 11 Dec '12 said:
this game better be out next year as I'm sure I'm not the only one fead up of waiting.
but still this looks amazing (bit stupid you get the flame thrower only if you pre-order though.)
Decent_Jam on 11 Dec '12 said:
Sounds exciting. I really hope the multi holds up against Left 4 Dead, given the comparisons already mentioned elsewhere. I really want to love this game so I have my fingers firmly crossed.
Apart from being unkillable Ed, are your fellow squad mates actually of any use?
OXM ETboy on 11 Dec '12 said:
The multiplayer is hard to love, I'm afraid. Still, the game as a whole is coming along fairly well. As regards NPCs, they're basically there to help with the storytelling and put up enough of a distraction that you won't be totally overwhelmed. The radio chatter's quite polished.
Decent_Jam on 11 Dec '12 said:
Slightly disappointing, but not too surprising I suppose - do we know if there will be a demo? I suspect not after all these years of development and with such a well-known IP behind it but hey, I like a good demo (hell, I even like a half-decent demo), all games should have them.
This game might be the sort of thing to watch just after you've had a marathon of the films so you are totally in that mindset and loving it (hmmm...you may want to keep it as a trilogy...though I personally find Resurrection OK).
Zombie Trooper on 12 Dec '12 said:
Despite never watching an Alien film in my life, I am still quite looking forward to this game. I like the idea behind mulitplayer, one team trying to eliminate the other in an asymmetrical duck hunt to the death. Maybe I've been wathcing to amny games of the Hidden on youtube. But still, may pre-order this. Just hope they don't delay for a second time.
CunningSmile on 12 Dec '12 said:
We've probably said this before but watch the first two at least! Alien is a brilliant claustrophobic horror movie that takes the slasher genre and turns it into a sci-fi, whilst Aliens is still one of the best action films ever made and is a masterclass on how to make a sequel that isn't just a remake with new actors.
danhalen74 on 12 Dec '12 said:
shame the multiplayer isnt apparently up to scratch, that takes this from must-buy to rent for the weekend.
pity
RetroDad on 14 Dec '12 said:
^ What Cunning said! From the first time I ever saw Aliens, I gave a shit about the welfare of the characters. Everything from the acting, endlessly quotable dialogue, lighting and one of my favourite ever film scores courtesy of James Horner... Just love it.
I have a backlog of new games to get through, looking at me from the shelf like children from an Oxfam advert. If Colonial Marines is not a must buy, it'll be picked up dirt cheap as and when I want to go on a bug-hunt.