Fox’s Aliens vs Predator games date as far back as the late eighties when the series first appeared on the 8-bit NES. Since then we’ve seen numerous updates and the series has undergone several graphical overhauls, spanning some four generations of console hardware. But EA’s 2003 venture sees the game appear, for the first time, as a 3D RTS game.

Three of the most formidable races in the Hollywood universe – humans, Aliens and Predators - have been locked in battle with each other for dec ... more >>

Fox’s Aliens vs Predator games date as far back as the late eighties when the series first appeared on the 8-bit NES. Since then we’ve seen numerous updates and the series has undergone several graphical overhauls, spanning some four generations of console hardware. But EA’s 2003 venture sees the game appear, for the first time, as a 3D RTS game.

Three of the most formidable races in the Hollywood universe – humans, Aliens and Predators - have been locked in battle with each other for decades. And in this case, the infamous planet LV-472 plays host to one of the bloodiest wars the world of fictional entertainment has ever seen. When a small unit of colonial marines is dispatched to the far off planet, they quickly discover the presence of not only Aliens, but Predators too. Not good.

This is the final conflict in the war for universal supremacy. Which side are you on?

Playing as any one of the three available species, gamers must traverse some 21 bloody playing fields that will see them come under heavy attack from the other two enemy races. As a group of colonial marines, you’ll rely on military training and weaponry to defend yourself. As Predators, you must use your stealth abilities and evolved hunting skills to survive. And as Aliens, you will fight in numbers to incapacitate your foes and impregnate them to evolve into the ultimate biological weapon.

The basic play mechanic is very much like that of any other RTS game whereby players will command a group of units into battle, positioning them strategically to defeat their opponents whilst suffering as few casualties as possible. Each race has several different types of units that include never-before-seen breeds of Alien and Predator such as the Predator Hydra and the Alien Ravager. Classics such as the Alien Queen make welcome appearances too.

The game world itself, although not quite as polished as its superior Xbox counterpart, does look gorgeous. Human, Alien and Predator units are colourful, nicely animated, and although they aren’t loaded with curved polygons, they do look convincing. And there’s a lot of on-screen action too. In fact, the PS2 does a grand job considering its age.

This may be the last battle for supremacy, but you can bet your bottom dollar there’ll be more AVP games in the pipeline after this one, and rightly so. << less