There are 7 missions per group, and 20 maps that you explore. Sometimes you are the marines, trying to defend your base against the onslaught of nasties. Sometimes you are the aliens, carefully tending to your nest of eggs and developing a new queen. Each group has its own growth trees, its advancements and goals.
The graphics are good but not excellent. The maps are sometimes quite on the plain side endless caves, endless jungles. The sound is reasonably good and does give you a spooky feeling sometimes, worrying what might be around the next corner.
None of the groups are easy to play, and the game is definitely not an arcade-style shoot-em-up. You have to lay down a well thought out strategy, using each of your unit types to its best advantage, if you're going to win. Anyone who has seen the movies knows that whatever side you're on, there are usually overwhelming odds stacked up against you that usually leave only one man standing. The game is no exception. Don't expect an easy mow-down-the-enemy game. Whichever side you play, you're going to have to play WELL to move along.
I realize that plots are usually rather transparent in these games, but I do still like them. I was disappointed with the plot and cutscenes in here you get a brief 'do this' description in the beginning and if you win, you win. I would really have loved some cinematics to show what was happening and to give you a sense of satisfaction when you win the game. To just have it say "OK, campaign done." wasn't very much fun after many hours of playing.
Probably the most disappointing part was the complete lack of multiplay. We often have friends over the house to play games with us, and this one was a sit-and-watch game only. You can't multiplay in the same house. You can't multiplay over XBox Live. And since there are only 7 missions per group, once you finish those missions, the game is completely over. That's rather short for us we enjoy games that we play for months and months, unlocking new features and missions and playing multiplay. To have a game that just ends after a week of play seems rather short.
A great game for a sci-fi and StarCraft style strategy fan, but be ready to sell it back to the game store for their used shelves when you're done.
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First let me start off by saying I absolutely love the Aliens vs. Predator franchise. Its probably one of the best ideas that had ever been conceived. Pitting two of the most popular movie monsters of all time against one another in a fight to the death...what could be more fun? Well, unlike the other Aliens vs.Predator games, AvP:Extinction breaks the First Person Shooter criteria and comes in with a Real-Time Strategy game. Its a nice attempt, but ultimately flawed.The graphics in the game are sub-par...as far as a strategy game goes they're decent, but just very average...clearly nowhere near the caliber of Warcraft III or Command and Conquer: Generals. However, examining the creatures up close yields further distortions in graphics. Some of the aliens look ridiculous, and the Predators look just plain silly. The design is very cartoonish, just like Aliens vs. Predator 2 for the PC, which many people complained about. The environments are also very drab and dull...nothing really stands out. Some of the jungle environments are nice, but most of the environments, such as interior settings and caves, are just lifeless and boring.
The game itself is very simplistic. While creating endless droves of Aliens is alot of fun, the whole game just lacks substance. Aliens use the Queen to lay eggs, and drag back hosts that they killed (or more likely, just invaded and nearly wiped out your colony the moment the mission started). The Queen is basically the epicenter of the hive...you purchase all upgrades by selecting her, and using 'currency' earned by killing your enemies, you can upgrade your aliens. The basic Alien species are there: the warrior, the drone, the dog alien from Alien 3, the praetorian introduced in the AvP games, and new Aliens called 'Ravagers', which are huge, monstrous aliens with blades for hands that rend and maim opponents. The 'Carrier' is a large Alien that allows facehuggers to attach to its dorsal spines and leap out at enemies as you go. Nice ideas, though the creatures themselves look uninspired. All the aliens have unique abilities, and playing as them was an overall fine experience, but the game is just not executed well.
As for Predators, you are very limited in forces, which is understandable considering how powerful they are. The only building they have is the 'Shrine', where upgrades can be purchased and new Predators summoned. All the Predators have unique abilities and weapons, though some of them look uterly ridiculous...one Predator has a scythe, and it just doesn't go well with the whole Predator look. Cloaking is utterly useless, since it seems that everyone and everything can see you regardless. Predators earn curency by killing, as well as taking trophy skulls of their enemies.
Marines are simple enough to use, though difficult to play. The 'CommTech' is used to purchase upgrades and summon more units from the dropship. If the commtech is killed, you're out of luck. Some of the humans are immensely powerful, which throws the balance of the game off alot. The marines don't have any structures of any kind, just one landing beacon where the drop ship lands. Marines earn currency by fixing 'Atmos' which generate steady income. They must be defended, since Aliens and Predators will try to destroy these every chance they get.
The game is unbeleivably difficult...it should be the Aliens that come in countless swarms...not marines and Predators. The final Alien mission is infuriating...the moment the mission starts out, you are attacked by all three sides (Marine, Predator, Mutant Aliens) and they don't attack each other...they attack you. Some of the earliest Predator missions open up right into the middle of a fire fight...the Predators should be able to decimate marines but the endless swarm of marines and their incredibly strong fire power are too much. The game can end before you even get out of the starting area. As for marines...forget it. Aliens and Predators swarm you so much you won't even know whats going on half the time.
Overall, the game's biggest fault is that it was designed narrowly...with the consoles in mind. All the races, while characteristically different, are fundamentally the same. None have any structures, other than the main population center (Queen, Shrine, Landing Beacon). The game is somewhat unbalanced, with some units just being far too powerful. The idea of Alien procreation is good and is probably one of the best aspects of the game, but this game is just far too basic of an RTS. Perhaps its biggest fault is the complete lack of Multi-player and custom missions. Once you beat the game, that's it. You're done. There is nothing else to do, unless you want to try for a 'medal' by fulfilling all mission requirements in a certain amount of time. The game is virtually devoid of extras, and there are no ending cinematics...when you beat a campaign...that's it...you're just done. You won. Nothing else. There is no downloadable content or anything else...this is strictly a one-player strategy game that, once beaten, has absolutely nothing else going for it. This was a decent attempt to expand the Aliens vs. Predator franchise into a new game genre...but it fails. Perhaps they should've paid more attention to existing strategy games...its utter lack of options and extras throws this game back almost ten years...compared to other RTS games, it is basic and completely mediocre. The game was fun, but it took only about 2 or 3 days to complete, and playing it anymore beyond that became pointless, because there was nothing else to do.
This just further proves that RTS games belong on PCs, not consoles. Had this game been released for the PC, with multi-player options, extra content, and a better game engine overall, then this would have been a winner. As it stands, it was a decent but failed attempt.
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Okay, I am kind of hesitant playing a strategy game without a mouse, but this game's system is actually really easy to learn and use. All three species very, which keeps you hooked after the first few missions. I would like to say that since each side varies so much, that each side would be really different to play, but it isn't so. You still need large numbers to accomplish much in this game. The upgrades are nice and inventive, and the Predators ripping the heads off of their kills is priceless! The sound effect for that particular event is great.I did like the soundtrack, even though there was very few background tracks total.
Over all, the game is very hard. But it does have it's perks, and if you can't afford a computer and still love strategy games, this one will definetly fill your plate.
