Anyone Else Disappointed in Aliens vs. Predator (PC)?

Squarespace - 1, Me - 0.  Round 2.  Ding, ding.

I had a chance to play Aliens vs. Preator (PC) yesterday, and wanted to share my thoughts.

Overall Impressions

AvP is one of those games that many just aren't "sure" about.  The original AvP is widely considered a classic, bringing a multiplayer gameplay not yet seen.  AvP 2, the sequel, was an average FPS with a forgettable single-player and semi-redeeming multiplayer component.  Having played the original two, I'd like to make some comparisons.

Visually, the new AvP by Rebellion is great... I mean really great.  With DirectX 11 running, this game game really shines.  There is a ton of detail in the models and especially the environments.  Bulkheads and floor plating are detailed.  You really feel like you've been immersed in the world.

The sound effects are also something to be admired.  This game doesn't just throw a couple nostalgic sounds at you to make you feel good.  In fact, what Rebellion has managed to do with just the sound effects is nothing short of awesome.  Try to remember all those scary, tense, and heart-thumping moments you had watching any of the movies and recall the sounds that made it iconic.  Those are the types of moments and sounds you'll hear in AvP.

Single-Player Campaign (Marine)

I've only had a chance to play as a marine so far, and only for a few hours.  It is a fun experience, for a while.  Unfortunately, it is very much a solo campaign.  Yes, there are moments where you fight alongside allies, but for the most part you're on your own, which is rather disappointing really.  It certainly isn't an FPS that attempts to do anything new either.  Missions are typically go here, respond to that distress call, locate this person, kill those aliens, etc. 

In fact, it would have been nice if Rebellion had actually tried... something new with the story.  All the AvP games and movies typically have the same plot.  Aliens come in, infest area.  Marines go in, try to clean up.  Predators stop by because they are bored of fighting with Danny Glover.

Multiplayer Component

The multiplayer COULD be amazing.  Unfortunately, Rebellion really missed some opportunities.  For example, we get the standard game modes like Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, etc.  Boring.  They did add two game modes that have unrealized potential.  Infestation, which involves everyone starting as a marine with the exception of one player, who is an Alien.  As the Alien kills a marine, that marine respawns as an alien.  The game ends when the timer has run out or when all the marines have been killed.

The second game mode worth talking about is Survivor, which is basically a 4-player co-op with marines facing off against wave after wave of AI Aliens.  This style of gameplay is more similar to Left 4 Dead, which is a great thing, except that it lacks any of the team-based tactics that made L4D fun.  Essentially, players are locked in a small map, of which there are only two, and basically just kill.  You can't heal your friends, revive the, build barricades, weld doors shut, or setup automated turrets.  Basically, all the stuff you wish you could do from the movie Aliens. 

To be honest, I was expecting much more from the new AvP.  The good news is that Gearbox is working on a different game for Sega called Aliens: Colonial Marines.  With any luck, this title will bring the type of gameplay people like I would have loved to see in AvP.

I pretty much agree with everything in Yahtzee's Zero Punctuation review: