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Aliens: Colonial Marines

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Aliens: Colonial Marines
Developer(s)Gearbox Software
In association with:
Publisher(s)Sega
Composer(s)Kevin Riepl
EngineRed Ring[5]
(Unreal Engine 3 with a new renderer)[6]
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
Wii U[7]
Xbox 360
Cloud (OnLive)
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360
February 12, 2013[1][2]
Wii U
  • NA: March 2013
  • EU: Q1 2013
  • AU: TBA 2013
  • JP: TBA
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Aliens: Colonial Marines is a video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by Sega for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360. It is the third Aliens title that Sega has produced: the first was Aliens vs. Predator in 2010, and the second was Aliens Infestation in 2011.

Gameplay

Aliens: Colonial Marines is a first-person shooter which puts the player in the role of a United States Colonial Marine named Cpl. Christopher Winter. The player will have access to iconic weapons from the movie such as the flamethrower, pulse rifle, smartgun, shotgun, pistol, RPGs, and robotic sentry turrets. Players will also be able to use welding torches to seal doors and motion trackers to detect unseen enemies.[8]

Initially it was announced that the game would involve squad-based gameplay, allowing the player to issue orders to AI-controlled marines using context-sensitive commands.[9] However, Gearbox later revealed that this feature was dropped to make gameplay more accessible.[10] Aliens: Colonial Marines was originally planned to have no HUD to provide the player with onscreen information.[11]

Gameplay types have been described as "Gauntlet Runs", where players must fight enemies as they travel from point A to point B, and "Last Stand" moments, where players must defend a specific area by welding doors and/or setting up automated sentry turrets.[12]

The players will gain experience points when killing enemies and completing certain objectives. These experience points will allow players to customize the appearance of their character, purchase upgrades for weapons, and unlock other skill sets, all of which carry over to other gameplay modes.[13]

The primary enemies of the game are the xenomorphs from the first three films, which include the Facehugger, Chestburster, and "Drone" alien from Alien, the "Warrior" and the "Queen" aliens from Aliens, as well as the "Runner" alien from Alien 3. The game will also feature never before seen xenomorph types created by Gearbox Software. The specifics of these new alien types have been kept a secret, with the exception of the "Crusher" alien, which was revealed in the E3 2011 Walkthrough demo and the "Boiler" alien, a variant capable of self-exploding and covering its enemies with molecular acid that was revealed in the tactical multiplayer trailer.[14] Along with being able to traverse different surfaces from any angle, Gearbox and Sega have also stated that the aliens' AI will use the environment to set up sneak attacks, and group tactics to overwhelm the player.[15] Not all enemies will be aliens as players will find themselves also fighting human enemies in the form of Weyland-Yutani commandos and mercenaries.[16]

Multiplayer

Aliens: Colonial Marines features a campaign with dynamic drop-in/drop-out cooperative multiplayer for up to 4 players online or 2 players locally via split screen.[17] Competitive multiplayer has been confirmed, and Gearbox has shown Aliens vs Marines team deathmatch 6 v 6 gameplay, as well as a 4 v 4 objective mode called Escape, where the marines team must reach an evac point while the alien team must hunt and stop them. Gearbox has said that there are other multiple "objective based modes" that have not been announced yet.[18]

Multiplayer skins based on four colonial marine characters from the movie Aliens will be included in pre-order editions of the game according to Sega's official page. These include corporal Dwayne Hicks, smartgun specialist Mark Drake, sergeant Al Apone and private William Hudson.

Synopsis

Setting

Described as a true sequel to James Cameron's film, the story of Aliens: Colonial Marines takes place after the events of the second film, Aliens.[19] At PAX East 2012, Gearbox Software's Community Manager confirmed that the game is considered an official part of the Alien franchise's canon by 20th Century Fox.[20] Much of the main plot was written by Battlestar Galactica writers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle.[21] The story is told through the eyes of Corporal Christopher Winter, a Colonial Marine who is part of a search and rescue team sent to investigate the U.S.S. Sulaco in search of Ellen Ripley, Corporal Dwayne Hicks, and the rest of the missing marines who were dispatched to LV-426. The Sulaco, and the derelict alien spacecraft from Aliens as well as LV-426 itself will all serve as environments in the game, as well as other locations yet to be detailed.[22][23]

Gearbox has stated that they were invited to speak with Ridley Scott and view the script for his Alien prequel Prometheus, insinuating that there may be connections or references to the events of Prometheus in Aliens: Colonial Marines.[13]

Plot

[Section should be expanded if and when a plot is included via DLC]

Development

File:Aliens- Colonial Marines.jpg
A preview screenshot of the cancelled 2001 Aliens: Colonial Marines for the PlayStation 2.

A previous game titled Aliens: Colonial Marines was developed by Check Six Games and was to be published by Fox Interactive and Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 2 in 2001, but was cancelled before its release. A more traditional first-person shooter, it shared the same subject matter and setting as the upcoming Gearbox-developed game. Its story was to be set between the events of Aliens and Alien 3, concerning a rescue team of Colonial Marines searching for the Sulaco. Despite the similarities in gameplay and story, however, Gearbox has claimed that their upcoming game is unrelated to this early version.[24][25]

On December 11, 2006, Sega announced they had purchased the electronic rights to the Alien franchise from 20th Century Fox.[26] On December 15, Gearbox Software and Sega announced that they were working on a completely new game based on the franchise.[23] In February 2008 the game's title was officially announced as Aliens: Colonial Marines and it was featured as the cover story of Game Informer magazine.[24]

The development team took great pains to recreate the vehicles and settings of the films by using original set designs to recreate the exterior and interior of the Sulaco and LV-426.[23] Concept artist Syd Mead, who had worked on Aliens, was hired to design areas of the Sulaco that did not appear in the film but would be used in the game.[27]

A Shacknews article dated November 21, 2008, reported that the Aliens: Colonial Marines game had been delayed, supposedly because of layoffs at Gearbox Software. However, Gearbox president Randy Pitchford insisted that development on the game continues.[28]

According to a Kotaku article, Sega said that their new Aliens vs. Predator game is to be released in early 2010 would be the first of their Aliens games to be released, meaning that Aliens: Colonial Marines will be sometime afterwards.[29]

At the 2010 Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), Gearbox showed five new screenshots and stated that the game remains a priority for them.[30][31] In the beginning of June 2011, Gearbox unveiled a teaser trailer and officially announced that Colonial Marines would be presented on E3 2011 and that the game was expected to be released in spring 2012.[32][33] On January 26, 2012, Sega announced that it had decided to delay the game yet again, pushing it to a fall 2012 release date. In addition, Gearbox Software also announced that they would be releasing a new trailer.[34] On May 21, 2012, Gearbox Software announced a February 12, 2013 launch for Aliens: Colonial Marines on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with a Wii U version announcement "at a later time".[35][36]

Gearbox’s CEO Randy Pitchford, speaking exclusively to Official PlayStation Magazine explained that the release delays were decided to include several actors from the 1986 Aliens film in the game. According to Pitchford, actors Michael Biehn (Corporal Dwayne Hicks), Mark Rolston (Smartgun Operator Mark Drake) and Al Matthews (Sergeant Al Apone) reprised their roles, while William Hope (Lieutenant Gorman) and Lance Henriksen (android "Bishop 341-B") will play two brand new characters (Commander T. Shannon and android "Rook" respectively). A marine character from Aliens called Wierzbowski will also appear, but not voiced by the original actor.[37][38][39]

Reception

Initial reception of Aliens: Colonial Marines has been mostly negative. On aggregate review website, Metacritic, the game currently attains scores of 49/100, 50/100, and 46/100 respectively on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.[40][41][42]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-21-aliens-colonial-marines-delayed-to-2013-new-trailer-released
  2. ^ http://e3.nintendo.com/games/#/wiiu/aliens
  3. ^ "TimeGate Studios helping Gearbox on Aliens: Colonial Marines". GamerZines. 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  4. ^ http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/171665/Gearboxs_Pitchford_on_Aliens_evolution.php
  5. ^ Seid, Kurtis. "E3 2011: Aliens: Colonial Marines Demo Preview". GameSpot.
  6. ^ Nelson, Mike. "E3 2011: Aliens: Colonial Marines is the Game Gearbox Was Born to Make". 1up.
  7. ^ "E3 2011: Aliens: Colonial Marines Confirmed for Wii U". IGN. 2011-08-06. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
  8. ^ Game Informer, March 2008, Issue 79, p. 49
  9. ^ Game Informer, March 2008, Issue 79, p. 51
  10. ^ "Gearbox talks Aliens: Colonial Marines". OXM.
  11. ^ Game Informer, March 2008, Issue 79, p. 53
  12. ^ PC Gamer, August 2011, Issue 229, p. 50
  13. ^ a b Shuman, Sid. "Randy Pitchford Talks Aliens: Colonial Marines Release Date, Prometheus Possibilities".
  14. ^ Bradford, Matt (2011-10-03). "Meet the 'Crusher' in Aliens: Colonial Marines video walkthrough". gamesradar.
  15. ^ Ivanchenko, Alex (2011-11-22). "Aliens: Colonial Marines. Interview with Matthew Powers, SEGA". gamescope.ru.
  16. ^ Ivanchenko, Alex (2011-11-22). "Aliens: Colonial Marines. Interview with Matthew Powers, SEGA". gamescope.ru.
  17. ^ Richardson, Ben. "Aliens: Colonial Marines gameplay info".
  18. ^ "Aliens: Colonial Marines - Gamescom Demo Interview".
  19. ^ "Aliens: Colonial Marines - Does it respect the series' legacy?". CVG.
  20. ^ "Aliens: Colonial Marines is officially part of movie canon; Wii U version "is not a port"". Warp Zoned.
  21. ^ Aliens: Colonial Marines in late 2008, 4-player co-op. Joystiq.com, February 21, 2008.
  22. ^ Sefton, Jamie (2008-04-03). "First look: We're on an express elevator to hell". CVG. Archived from the original on 2 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ a b c Game Informer, March 2008, Issue 79, p. 47
  24. ^ a b Game Informer March Cover Revealed. GameInformer.com, February 13, 2008.
  25. ^ Game Informer, March 2008, Issue 79, p. 55
  26. ^ var Matt Wales (2006-12-11). "SEGA Hunts Down Alien, ''IGN UK''". Xbox360.ign.com. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  27. ^ Official Xbox Magazine, Issue 86, August 2008, p. 32.
  28. ^ Breckon, Nick. "Sources: Gearbox Shelves Aliens Title Amid Layoffs (Updated)". Shacknews.
  29. ^ Fahey, Mike. "Aliens Fight Predators Again In 2010". Kotaku.
  30. ^ "A Brief, Surprise Glimpse At Aliens Colonial Marines". Kotaku.
  31. ^ "Gearbox Software Acquires Rights To Entire Duke Nukem Franchise, Free Level Cap Upgrade For Borderlands". G4tv.
  32. ^ "Aliens: Colonial Marines shipping Spring 2012 and will be at E3 + Teaser Trailer - Gearbox Software Forums". Gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com. 2011-06-01. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ Aliens Colonial Marines: Teaser Trailer on YouTube
  34. ^ Haas, Pete. "Sega Explains Aliens: Colonial Marines Delay, New Trailer Coming Tomorrow". Gaming Blend.
  35. ^ "Aliens: Colonial Marines to release worldwide February 12". SG Cafe!. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  36. ^ "Aliens: Colonial Marines delayed to 2013, release trailer released".
  37. ^ "Aliens: Colonial Marines Story Trailer". Gamespot.com. 2012-12-27. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  38. ^ Ditum, Nathan (2013-01-02). "SPONSORED: Aliens: Colonial Marines Story Trailer Analysed". PCGamer. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  39. ^ Iwaniuk, Phil (2012-02-10). "Aliens: Colonial Marines – Original Cast Members Confirmed, Release Delay Explained". Official PlayStation Magazine UK. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  40. ^ a b "Aliens: Colonial Marines - Xbox 360". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  41. ^ a b "Aliens: Colonial Marines - PS3". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  42. ^ a b "Aliens: Colonial Marines - PC". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  43. ^ "Aliens: Colonial Marines review". Edge. Future plc. February 12, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  44. ^ Whitehead, Dan (February 12, 2013). "Aliens: Colonial Marines review". Eurogamer. Eurogamer Network. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  45. ^ VanOrd, Kevin (February 12, 2013). "Aliens: Colonial Marines Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  46. ^ Ogilvie, Tristan (February 12, 2013). "Aliens: Colonial Marines". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  47. ^ Thursten, Chris (February 12, 2013). "Aliens: Colonial Marines review". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  48. ^ Sterling, Jim (February 12, 2013). "Review: Aliens: Colonial Marines". Destructoid. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
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