1. Renegade Ops (PC)(Multidirectional Shooter)
2. Borderlands 2 (PC)(FPS/RPG)
3. Gunpoint (PC)(Puzzle Platformer)
4. Robotrek (SNES)(RPG)
5. The Tick (SNES)(Beat 'Em Up)
6. Alien vs Predator (SNES)(Beat 'Em Up)
I am greatly saddened by this Activision game because it is not the amazing Capcom arcade beat 'em up that I love and adore so much. Instead this game is muddied and ugly, with bland and repetitive music and sound effects. It doesn't have anything like the frantic three player action as Predators and cyborgs flip around unloading unholy laser death on hordes and hordes of xenomorphs.
Nope, instead I get two enemies on the screen at a time(and maybe a face hugger), and combat that is completely different and far more ground focused. In a way, it's actually rather nice that this and the arcade game are both in the same genre using the same property and even include some of the same weapons(the spear and disc), and yet they are so very different in their approach. The arcade game utilizes a lot of jumpkicks and the like. The console one instead favors sliding kicks which can instantly trip opponents, hit downed enemies, destroy eggs, and wipe out chest bursters and facehuggers with ease. Whereas the arcade is frantic, this game is much more methodical, and I found myself trying to trick AI for better positioning the entire time as opposed to jumpkicking my way in and following up with a quick combo. And the throws. Oh my God, the throws. The xenomorphs are practically leaping into your arms to be tossed around like rag dolls. And nearly everyone drops a weapon for you to use to beat down the next group of H.R. Giger nightmares you come across.
And you'll need it too, as the aliens start out quite tough and remain that way throughout the game. Quite a few have significantly better range or can simply run into you too fast for your attacks to connect. While Alien vs Predator is still quite beatable, it isn't easy and makes you work for it. And then the final boss comes along and causes you to completely throw out the ground game and resort to jump kicking, or else the Queen will maul you to death. In fact all of the bosses offer a new challenge, and they're quite nice to look at compared to the repetitive sprites of the base xenomorphs you find throughout.
So what's the verdict? This game isn't nearly as fun as the arcade title, but it is at least different enough to offer a new experience and isn't a pushover. It's a perfect length with some variance in level design that I enjoyed, though most of the time you simply have to walk to the right and few of the environments offer any sort of interactivity. It's mediocre, far from greatness but still very serviceable when compared to the crap at the bottom of the barrel for the SNES. Just don't go in hoping it's like the amazing Capcom game. You'll only feel disappointed.