14 DAY TRIAL // While the single player is definitely the biggest part of Rebellion's upcoming Aliens vs Predator, with three different campaigns and a powerful atmospheric and immerisve element, the game also has a multiplayer that can make its developers proud. The demo Rebellion released last week proved just that, with the matches being a very hectic experience, keeping you constantly on your toes, always on the lookout for the smallest sign of any of your three possible enemies. But AvP doesn't really feel threatened by the current kings of the FPS multiplayer scene, since it doesn't see itself as being part of the same war.
CVG had a chance to talk to Dave Brickley, the senior producer of Aliens Vs Predator, and asked him how the game would compare with others like Modern Warfare 2 or Halo. Brickley replyed that, "Those are really awesome games, and it's not hard to see why they are so dominant. Which is why it's nice not to be going into such a competitive market as a 'me too' shooter – FPS is just one of three strands in Aliens vs Predator, and it's that three species approach which means we have a unique opportunity to tear people away from what they may be enjoying."
Besides the strong survival-horror elements of the game, AvP has plenty of other things to set it apart from its competition. The cinematic stealth kills add a very personal touch to the multiplayer, as you'll not soon forget the nemesis that ripped out your spine or chomped on your skull. The game also has an obvious underdog, the Colonial Marine, the obvious prey, and many players will enjoy using him to try to turn the tables on his predators, feeling an extra satisfaction by winning a match with the "weakest character."
The full release of the game is expected to come next week, on February 16 in North America and on February 19 in Europe. It will be released on the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, so there shouldn't be any players complaining about a lack of Aliens, or Predators.