Alien Trilogy 

by Acclaim  Reviewed by: Aaron Nicholls  

Overview

Remember the nightmares you were having? Well, they’re back and they're not just dreams. You remember them far too well to be just part of your imagination. Images of their dark, sleek shapes dash like spiders across your eyelids at night. You can hear their hiss, feel the heat of their breath, sense their minds of pure hatred. The aliens have come back after humanity, and you, the only human to have ever survived an encounter with these beasts, have been selected to join a team of soldiers sent in to neutralize this terrible threat. However, soon your team is decimated, and it’s up to you to finish the job. Can you handle it?

Alien Trilogy is a new 3D first-person shooter from Acclaim, based on the movie series of the same name. In it, you play Ripley, out to kick some Alien tail on colony LV426. You are provided with the weapons familiar to any Alien fan: pistol, shotgun, pulse rifle/grenade launcher, flame thrower, smart cannon, detonation charges, and a few other tricks. However, you are pitted against the most evil of enemies: a wide variety of aliens, such as face huggers, dog aliens, warrior aliens, and Queens. In addition, there is a wide range of other hazards: acid, steam vents, infected humans, synthetic guards, and many more.

Gameplay

A few years ago, gamers were so desperate for a good game that incorporated the pure terror of Aliens, that several homebrewed attempts were made to alter existing games like Doom to represent the games we wanted. Some were more successful than others, and this one is a mixed bag. The key question is, how much do you want to play Aliens? In addition, there are a few other factors to consider. Namely, the game has a somewhat unrefined feel to it when compared to other games. Since the game was simultaneously released on the Sony Playstation, you can only save between levels (not during), contrary to what is normally expected on the PC. In addition, some of the levels are unpolished, with certain spots where you can get stuck and never escape, or certain areas that only give you one chance of getting it right. Having to reload and start the level from the beginning is a rather unforgivable oversight.

Graphics

The graphics in the Alien Trilogy, while indicative of the dark, frightening landscape that was Alien, are only a small step above those of Doom. A few features and enhancements have been added to the engine, but don’t expect a graphical tour de force here. On-screen graphics are all in low resolution, making Chest Bursters look like finger puppets at times. In addition, after a while, the dark green glow starts to rub like a wet pair of underwear on a long, long hike. On the other hand, aliens look just as spooky as they do in the movies, if somewhat blockier. In other words, compared to current offerings in the 3D action category, this game is a disappointment in terms of graphics.

Audio

The audio in Alien Trilogy, while not revolutionary, contains many of the appealing elements of the original -- more than once I jumped in my chair as a xenomorph came shrieking out of the shadows at me. There is the familiar hum of machinery, and other simple environmental sounds set the tone for the game. There are often long moments of silence punctuated by multiple screams and hisses and the hordes of darkness tearing in. The stereo sound is helpful but not compelling, and while the technical aspects of the audio are nothing amazing, it should be stated that the sounds in the game often match the same level of terror and chaos as those in the movies. In other words, you won’t be wowed by the sound, but you will be scared out of your gourd.

System Requirements

Windows: 486/66 Mhz with DOS or Win 95, 8 MB RAM, a local bus video card
Reviewed on: P-133, 32 MB RAM, 4X CD-ROM drive, Diamond Stealth 64 video card

Documentation

Adequate. The documentation consists of one of those CD jewel case pamphlets, and while it is not extensive, how much documentation do you need for a Doom clone? If you’ve played Doom and seen an Alien movie, you will spend more time looking at the installation instructions than you will the rest of the "manual." The manual, while short, explains all the necessary commands and actions, as well as describing each of the game levels, items, and enemies. For most games, I beg for more documentation no matter how much is provided, but in this case, there just isn’t much needed.

Parental Warning

One word of caution: This game is not horribly gory, but if you won’t let your kids watch Aliens, you might not want to let them play this game, either. It is a relatively violent game, and more than that, little kids don’t need any reinforcement to see scary monsters lurking in dark corners. In fact, if you are the squeamish type, keep in mind that, love it or hate it, one of the main attractions of this game is the fright factor.

Bottom Line

As I said before, it really comes down to this: How much do you want to play Aliens? If you are a real fan of the movie, you will probably enjoy this game. It incorporates many of the same sounds and images that kept you screaming in the theater years ago, except this time, you’re in the driver’s seat. In addition, you get to use all the familiar toys from the original, like the smart cannon and flame thrower. However, for those gamers already drowning in 3D action cookie-cutter copies, you’ve seen everything here. True adrenaline junkies may also find some fun in the fright factor of this game, but there are no features in this game that you haven’t seen before. How much you enjoy the game depends on how much you enjoy Aliens, and not much else.