Summary

Places players in the boots of a US Colonial Marine fighting against the Xenomorph threat within the ‘Aliens’ film universe.

• Release Year: 2013
• Genres: Shooter
• Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360
• Developers: Gearbox Software
• Publishers: Sega

Introduction

‘Aliens: Colonial Marines’ (2013) is a first-person shooter developed by Gearbox Software, set in the universe of the ‘Aliens’ film series.

Synopsis

The game follows a group of Colonial Marines, a fictional military unit, as they confront the Weyland-Yutani corporation in an effort to rescue survivors from the Sulaco spaceship. The game features a campaign mode that supports both single-player and cooperative gameplay, and a multiplayer mode in which players compete in different scenarios.

The story begins when the new King of Iron Fist, Jin Kazama, declares war on all nations. Using his resources within the Mishima Zaibatsu family to become a global superpower, he severs the Mishima Zaibatsu’s national ties and openly declares war against all nations. This action plunges the world into an extremely chaotic spiral, with a huge-scale civil war erupting around the globe and even amidst the space colonies orbiting the planet.

The narrative revolves around a deadly menace emerging from the galactic core, a threat of cosmic scale that could lead to the extinction of all men, the second Big Bang. This imminent danger forces humanity to venture into the unknown, moving away from the impending doom.

As humanity explores the vast expanse of space, they are not alone. A mysterious alien race with powers beyond imagining follows them everywhere they go. The presence of this enigmatic extraterrestrial species adds a layer of intrigue and suspense to the game’s plot.

However, mankind is unwilling to surrender to the enemy. With little help from their unexpected alien friends, a renegade faction of the Argo, they successfully rise against the mighty fleet which already assimilated dozens of worlds in its journey through the galaxy. As the balance of power shifts between the two warring species, the game’s narrative leaves players wondering about the cause of the conflict and its eventual resolution.

“Aliens: Colonial Marines” was developed over six years and suffered from a tumultuous development cycle. Because Gearbox decided to focus on other projects like Duke Nukem Forever and Borderlands 2, they outsourced a significant part of the game to other studios. The game was heavily inspired by Cameron’s film.

Characters

Features a cast of new Marines and familiar faces from the ‘Aliens’ series, each with their own specialties and weapons.

Gameplay

Combines FPS elements with squad-based tactics, navigating through atmospheric environments to combat Xenomorphs.

Conclusion

Struggled with execution, making it a controversial entry in the ‘Aliens’ series.

Review Score

5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Fan Art

Fan Art Style: Normal

Fan Art Style: Retro

Fan Art Style: Modern