Aliens vs. Predator Preview

Turn your back on a Xenomorph, and you're most probably dead.

The Aliens vs Predator brand has a long and varied history in the realm of gaming. Over the years several developers have approached the license in different ways, resulting in everything from scrolling beat-em-ups (via Capcom) to real-time strategy outings (via EA and Zono Inc). Some of these efforts were better than others, but most gamers will agree that the most successful outings were those that adopted a first-person shooter format - a structure first used by British developer Rebellion. In 1994 the Oxford-based studio hit upon the idea of a three-part FPS for the Atari Jaguar - a sci-fi triptych that would allow players to stalk their prey as a high-tech Predator, slash open faces as a vicious Xenomorph, and soil their pants as a terrified Colonial Marine.

Few of today's gamers will remember that release - or the long-deceased Jag, for that matter - but they may recall the excellent PC follow-up from 1999. Now, some ten years later, Rebellion is back to its old tricks - and I for one am pretty excited. Both Wez and Tom have already taken a look at the new project, but until last week I had yet to see much for myself. Having spent a morning with the game's multiplayer modes at a SEGA-hosted event, I can happily report that the new specimen has plenty of killer potential.

In short, it seems that Rebellion is playing to the same strengths it focused on at the end of the last millennium. The AVP universe is packed with iconic toys, from James Cameron's chunky Pulse Rifles to the Predator's thermal vision, and all of these elements make for great video game ingredients, allowing for different styles of gameplay. Each of the three single-player campaigns will feature a distinct flavour, but it's clear that this diversity will also extend to the multiplayer side of proceedings. Regardless of which species you choose to play as, there are clear strengths and weaknesses that will strongly define the way you approach a deathmatch.

The Predator was by far the most popular choice at last Friday's showcase, and it's not hard to see why. As the most technologically advanced of the three classes, ol' Tusky Face gets a nice selection of lethal gadgets: a shoulder cannon, proximity mines, and the ever-popular killer Frisbee. The latter is now controlled via a laser guidance system, so you can throw it through a doorway and then zip it about to slice up hidden enemies. If you switch your vision to Alien or Human targeting modes, you'll find that you gain a faster lock-on when fighting enemies of that species. On top of this, the Predator can also use his famous cloaking device - although he'll automatically reveal himself after every kill (and by that I mean he'll become visible again; he's not some form of intergalactic flasher).

Standing underneath a Predator isn't such a hot idea either.

For demonstration purposes we were playing a build with all the Predator's weapons unlocked, but under normal circumstances he'll have to find them on the map; until this happens, stealth tactics will play a big role in your tactics. The cloak is obviously extremely useful, but equally important is your ability to climb the environment with targeted leaping. By holding the left trigger you'll engage Focus Mode, summoning a bright red reticule: guide it to the spot you wish to reach, then hit the jump button to bound away. Focus Mode also highlights objects of interest in the game world, and by lining the red marker up with another player, you'll be able to pull off a leaping attack.

Through careful use of these skills, you should be able to creep up on your unwitting opponents. If you position yourself directly behind a foe, you'll be able to pull off an instant stealth kill at the touch of a button. If you're feeling cocky, you can approach an enemy from the front and perform a trophy execution. This is a real show-off move that leaves you vulnerable, and it's incredibly gory: when you grab a marine, you'll pull their head and spinal cord clean out of their neck, taking a moment or two to inspect their cold, dead eyes.

Personally, I found the Predator a bit too much to deal with. While most people loved all his flashy toys, I had far more fun with the Alien. As a Xenomorph, your main strengths are speed and dexterity. You run (or rather, crawl) like the wind, and if you approach a wall you'll run straight up it. If you never played the earlier AVP games you may find this a bit disorientating, as you've got to cope with the fact that you can easily end up on the ceiling. By tapping the right shoulder button you'll automatically drop back down to the ground, but once you get used to the Xeno's moves you won't have to do this too often. Indeed, you'll soon find that you're perfectly built for dashing up behind people: like the Predator, this placing allows you to perform a nasty execution.