This game initially lacks an in-level save option (you have to download a patch for that) as well as any kind of a running narrative plot, or any between level cut-scenes for that matter. But what this game does, it does PERFECTLY. And that is to put you into the body of a Colonial Marine, a Predator, or one of the Aliens.

Either character allows you to literally step inside make believe and interact with locations that up until now you could only view in the movies. Locations like the LV-426 colony, or the inside of the derelict Alien spacecraft complete with the fossilized pilot.

The highlight of this game is the third level while playing as the Alien. It is basically a recreation of the first Alien movie, but from the Alien's point of view.

For fans of the Aliens or the Predator movies, this game is an absolute must.

7 of 7 found the following review helpful:

Incredible and addictive  Jul 03, 2000
By Bhanu Dhir "bnu3358@aol.com"
I have had this game for ages and it took me ages to get used to it. I started first with the alien which moves faster than anything I have seen in a game and can crawl up walls, hang from the ceiling and makes a nice crunching sound when you bite into your enemies heads.

The predator levels are easiest and if you are familiar with the movies you will know why. Amazing fire power and tools (just check out the disc and the grappling hooks)not to mention invisibility, zoom and four different vision modes. I would suggest that you start with this baby because the predator is one mean and resilient character.

The marines are helped by their motion trackers (so you can see where your enemies might be) and a startling array of weapons: pulse rifle, smart gun (which tracks your enemies), flame thrower, mini-gun (the jungle flattening one used in the Predator movie) and the awesome SARDAR rocket launcher. Great but you have to find them along with body armour and medikits. Beleive me you will need them.

There are loads of levels and the opportunity for bonuses. The strategies needed by each character are different and this leads to some great game playing oportunities.

There are also multiplayer and skirmish options. Multiplayer means you can play across a LAN or the net. A great chance to wup your mates. Skirmish mode provides you with little vignettes -opportunities to massacre or be massacred.

This is not a game for the faint-hearted. Eerie sound effects and gory deaths are everywhere (you are even encouraged to do head bites when an alien - for extra health).

I do not claim to be a games wizard and it has taken me a long time to go through the games (at training level - I still have to do it at realistic and Director's cut levels)!

Two tips: buy the guide - you will need it and download the patch so you can save games.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

Really good game  Mar 12, 2000
By Sythrix "gamewrathe"
Anyone who likes video games and has seen the movies would really like this game, even if you haven't seen the movies, you'ed still like the fluid graphics and great detail. One of the best aspects of this game is the sound! Everything from the motion detecter to the alien's sounds to the predator's clicking type sound is EXACTLY like in the movies, I really appriciate this as it adds to the overall experience. The graphics are smooth and good looking. the Predators look a lot like in the movies and the Aliens are so well done I had to pause the game and marvel at the detail. When you first get this game do the marine mission if you are looking to be scared out of your wits. In the game you can play as all three different races(Predator,Alien,Colonel Marine)all with their own missions plus bonus missions. The Alien Ai(artifical intelegence) is really really good. You can be standing there minding your own business and then an alien will drop down from the ceiling when you didn't even know it was sneaking up on you. The only notable complaint is that the predators cloak only actually keeps you unseen for about 7 seconds(it doesn't go off or anything its just all of a sudden they can see you even if its up) Which of course lead my theory that you should kill them in 7 seconds or less(with your cloak up) if you wanna go undetected. Also staying true to the movies the Predator is extreamly hard to kill, whether you are playing as him or fighting him. And the aliens are brittle but really really really fast, and yes you can climb all over the walls at top speed when you play the alien:) The colonel marines are both brittle and slow, but they have BIG weaponry(chain gun with 800 rounds anyone? Also the chain gun's sound is really good and pumps the rounds out really fast. They also have a lot of other weaponry).All in all this is the best FPS(first person shooter) to date, especially if you are an Alien/Predator fan.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

A BOSS GAME  Jan 31, 2000

THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE BEST ALIEN AND PREDATOR GAME ON THE MARKET. IT HAS EXCELLENT GRAPHICS. WHEN YOU SHOOT AN ALIEN YOU ACTUALLY BLOW OF LIMBS AS IT CHARGES AT YOU.PEOPLE SCREAM AS YOU TEAR THEM APART WITH YOUR CLAWS. PLUS WHEN YOUR STALKING YOUR PREY IN CLOAK MODE THEY REALLY LOOK SCARED AS THEY WALK RIGHT PAST YOU UNKNOWINGLY. AWESOME ,TOTALLY AWESOME.SOME PEOPLE MIGHT WHINE ABOUT NOT HAVING A SAVE GAME FEATURE BUT THINK OF STARTING OVER LIKE AVENGING THE DEATH OF YOUR BEST FRIEND OR HUNTING PARTNER OR SOMETHING. THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVED THE ALIEN AND PREDATOR MOVIES.

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