Get ready for: Aliens Colonial Marines

Remembering the brilliant Alien vs Predator computer games? Could it be that Sega is looking to bring their spirit back to life?

Simon Brew

Ask many hardened gamers, and the first person action game that most filled their trousers/underwear/undergarments/chair were the Alien vs Predator titles. Paul W S Anderson clearly hadn’t played them, because the games were wraught with a tension and fright factor that his AvP film, nor its tawdry sequel, got anywhere near close to catching, yet alone understanding. It goes without saying that it’s to this day worth picking both games up, and reliving the brilliance and – yes! – terror of them.

In fact, a personal anecdote on that very issue, before we get to the reason that we’re here. I was playing the original PC version of AvP in the dark, with headphones on one night. My nerves were frayed, and the seeds of my caffeine addiction were setting in. At this moment, my wife – bless her – thought it would be an opportune moment to creep up behind me and practically stop my heart by tapping me on the shoulder. There’s still a dent in our ceiling, and a lack of headphones in our house as a result.

Anyway, game makers, undeterred by the disastrous steps that both the Alien and Predator franchises have taken on the big screen, are going to have a go at sorting the whole mess out themselves. Gearbox Software, they who brought the world assorted conversions and such like in the Half Life saga, is the developer behind the new game, which is due out next year.

The good news is that it’s to be a first person shooter, which – according to the blurb – is set to mix in the atmosphere and look of the original films, and throw some new technology into the mix, too. We’re paraphrased a bit, but you get the drift.

Furthermore, we’re also being promised a co-op mode for up to four players, alongside a single player mode that if it comes close to capturing the tension of those aforementioned PC classics, will make Aliens: Colonial Marines one of 2009’s must-haves.

That said, it's expected on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and the PC in late 2008, but we’re sticking to a 2009 prediction ourselves. It has an official website too, at www.sega.com/aliens. Splendid. Stay frosty, folks...

27/02/08

A Colonial Marines game was originally set for 2001: here's a screen from it

A Colonial Marines game was originally set for 2001: here's a screen from it