Aliens Versus Predator 2 Profile: The Marine

By Giancarlo Varanini, GameSpotPosted Aug 15, 2001 6:14 pm PT

Our third Aliens Versus Predator 2 concludes with information on the marine and multiplayer modes.

Day Three: The Marine

For our final day of Aliens Versus Predator 2 coverage, we're examining the third and final playable race, the human marine. As previously mentioned, the storyline for each playable race is completely intertwined, and for the marines, their story is definitely a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A small group of marines have been sent to planet LV-1201 to find out why the corporate facility has gone offline, and because of previous experiences, they immediately suspect that the facility has indeed been invaded by an alien colony. Unfortunately, what the marines don't realize until it's too late, is that the aliens aren't the only cause of the problems at the facility.

Lighting plays an important role in creating a sense of fear in the game.

The marine single-player campaign starts with the team outside the doors of a smaller portion of the corporate facility. To open these doors, you need to use the marine's hacking device, a small computer item that lets you open doors and solve other puzzles spread throughout the rest of the game--but what exactly those puzzles entail isn't clear at this point. As you move through the doors, the radar makes a familiar noise as it scans the surrounding areas for any other life-forms, friendly or hostile, that might be in the area. The sound of leaking pipes fills the air and the subdued environmental lighting successfully conveys a sense that the base has been deserted and something is waiting inside. A few minutes later into the hallways of the facility, you hear the screams of other humans and the growl of another creature. A quick glimpse of the room's ceiling reveals a laser targeting system not unlike that of the predator, which you finally meet face-to-face upon exiting the room as another predator attempts an ambush by firing projectiles from its shoulder cannon while cloaked. The corporate facility is not only infested with aliens, but it's also being used as a hunting ground for the predators.

Marines are the most conventional of the three races, so if you're a fan of other first-person shooters, you can jump into the game right away. The learning curve for the alien and even the predator is nearly nonexistent for the marine unless you learn how to use each weapon well. The marine has a number of new weapons--the knife, the shotgun, EMP grenades, spider mines, and the hand torch--which you can't find in the original Aliens Versus Predator. The knife has been added for the obvious purpose of giving the marine a weapon that lets you cut your way out of the predator's net. Other weapons, such as the EMP grenades and spider mines, give more tactical options (like setting traps), but the most interesting addition to the marine's arsenal is the hand torch, which lets you open doors or even seal them if you're overwhelmed by the number of enemies in another room. Returning from the original game are the pulse rifle, grenade launcher, proximity mines, flamethrower, smart gun, and minigun. It's also worth noting that the flame effect of the flamethrower is one of the game's more spectacular effects, as it spews fire forth in a realistic manner.

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jakeboudville
Posted Sep 2, 2006 6:19 pm PT

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