Aliens vs Predator is essentially the third game in the AvP series started by Rebellion back in 1999. The original game was truly groundbreaking and Rebellion managed to fuse three distinct types of gameplay into one fantastic game. The first sequel was handled by Monolith productions and while it had a more closely integrated storyline and was generally very good, it fell slightly short of the quality shown by its predecessor.

Hopes were high, then, for Rebellion’s return to the series with Aliens vs Predator on PS3, PC and Xbox 360. In a similar fashion to its predecessors, Aliens vs Predator is played out from the point of view of each of the three species; Xenomorph (the Alien), Human (Marine) and Predator (also known as Yautja). Players are free to choose whichever campaign they like to start with and the game can be played straight through with each species in succession or can be split up into chapters played alternately with each species.

The Marine campaign is the closest that the game comes to a standard FPS, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The storyline is completely new and was written specifically for the game, though it uses many of the cliches and twists seen in the movies and previous games. Without ruining any of the storyline, you are essentially left stranded with a torch, a pistol and a voice in your ear that tells you where to go. The Marine campaign is genuinely scary and comes close to the incredibly atmosphere established by the original game. The gameplay is fairly standard stuff that doesn’t progress much from the ancient Doom philosophy of collecting keys and shooting monsters. However, being set in the AvP universe, this gameplay does not tire as quickly as you may think and is a fun but short experience.

The Alien campaign is interesting and fun for the first 20 minutes but then quickly becomes tiresome. The ability to stalk human prey adds a nice twist to the game and makes a refreshing change from being stalked in the Marine campaign. However, the clunky controls can make movement awkward at times and you can often find yourself clinging to the side of objects and buildings when you simply want to run over or drop off the edge. The Alien campaign is noticeably shorter than the other two campaigns, which is probably a good thing as it is the least enjoyable.

The Predator campaign is like a hybrid of Metal Gear Solid and Thief, in which you can take down enemies from afar while staying hidden to avoid detection from others. You are initially able to change between normal and infra-red vision, enabling you to easily track humans due to the heat they emit. Later on you are given a new vision mode to track aliens, as well as increasing your arsenal with a throwing disc and a spear. The Predator campaign adds some well-needed variety to the game, though again the campaign is relatively short.

Graphically, Aliens vs Predator is bland and suffers from considerable screen-tearing, though the art design is generally done well considering the low quality textures used. With fantastic looking cross-platform games like Unreal Tournament 3 released over two years ago, there is no excuse for the plain and dreary graphics of Aliens vs Predator, particularly from an established and renowned developer like Rebellion.

Aliens vs Predator sadly to quite live up to the high standard set by Rebellion over ten years ago and cannot escape the inevitable comparisons. The game is too short, even when all three campaigns are combined, and consistently feels like the potential of the franchise is being underused. It is definitely fun in places however, and brings a classic series up to date for the current generation of consoles.

The multiplayer mode does little to enhance the game but is fun for a few hours, allowing you to unlock new skins for the characters as you play through. If you are a big fan of the Alien/Predator franchises and don’t mind the bland graphics and short single-player mode, then Aliens vs Predator can usually be picked up pretty cheap and may be worth a few hours of your time – just don’t expect gameplay on par with the original or graphics that stand up to modern shooters like Killzone 2.