A game that has been discussed by most major gaming websites recently is the Rebellion Games developed Alien Vs. Predator. Hovering under the radar besides the hype generated by controversy, the shooter looks interesting… but will it actually be good?

From what we know about the game so far, it features three species: the Xenomorphs (a.k.a “Aliens” from the movie series), the Predators (again, from their respective films) and the extremely unfortunate Human Marines. Each race has their obvious advantages and disadvantages in gameplay, creating unique three-teamed online
multiplayer scenarios.

The most is known about playing as Predators, the fishnet-clad super killers who battled the Governator himself. Predators handle the battlefield by keeping high ground using a unique “focus-jumping” system which the developers compare to the grapple techniques in Batman: Arkham Asylum. Their weaponry ranges from heavy weaponry to hand-to-hand blades, giving them a well rounded offense. Opposite their offense, the Predators are granted a great defensive tactic with their cloaking system which renders them nearly invisible. You’re wondering how this game will be fair at all? The Xenomorph Aliens can see through Predator’s cloaking at all times, hopefully balancing what seems like an unstoppable Predator race.

The next species is the Aliens. What’s been revealed about the Aliens so far is that almost all of their combat is physical, so players need to get up close and personal to melee attack their opponents. The Alien’s claws, tail and jaws have been confirmed to all be seperate weapons. Much like the Predators, the Aliens need to rely on a stealth system to avoid marine’s shredding them with bullets. The Aliens need to use shadows to remain hidden and surprise attack enemies. They supposedly can walk on every surface of a level to gain impressive hiding spots on opponents.

Lastly, the poor Marines who are expected to stand toe-to-toe with these two alien juggernauts are outfitted with weaponry that will apparently keep them fighting. Included in the game are iconic movie weapons like the Pulse Rifle and Smart Gun, as well as the movie’s classic radar system. Human marines can see all incoming enemies with an always present radar system. The shotgun can apparently kill a charging Alien in one shot too. Also confirmed with little detail is a flamethrower-style gun which was described as being as dangerous to the user as it was to the foe.

What makes this game even more interesting is that each of these species gets their own campaign storyline, although they all weave into one large tale. Not much detail has been released thus far but apparently the human campaign is obviously the most similar to a “shooter campaign” a la Modern Warfare 2, while the extra terrestrials require a bit more tactic.

The game has constantly been in the press for apparently being one of the more violent videogames ever created. Included in the game are opporunities to “trophy kill” opponents, triggering an action in which a gruesome kill is showed on-screen such as disemboweling or decapitating your enemies. The only confirmed trophy kill is the action of a Predator killing a Colonial Marine who is “dragged into the centre of the screen by his or her throat, which the Predator then snaps effortlessly with the accompanying sound of “someone biting into raw celery. The neck broken, the Predator decapitates the marine, a “sizeable portion” of the spinal cord following. Even after this, the marine is still alive for a short period of time, gasping his last, with nothing but bloodied, glistening vertebra beneath his chin.” Pretty gruesome if you ask me!

Since it was proved last year by Batman: Arkham Asylum that not all movie-related titles are worth a pass, maybe this game is worth a serious look. We’ll know more as Rebellion and Sega release more info on the game as time goes on.