#aliensinfestation
Aliens sure are awesome, aren't they? They are the ultimate killing machine! They're super sweet-looking! They star in two of the best sci-fi films ever made! More »
Another year, another 12 days of holiday giveaways! Between now and Christmas Day, we're doing the one thing that makes us feel truly alive: giving. Specifically, we're giving you fine folks some of the swag we've managed to collect in our cluttered home offices. And the good will and merriment doesn't stop here! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for even more chances to win!
We're nearing the end of our giveaway spree and, in order to keep things interesting, we're gonna step things up a notch. No more one-off games; it's time for game consoles plus games. We're handing over a Cobalt/Black Nintendo DS Lite and ... eleven games. That's eleven, as in one more than ten. That's a lot of games, so lest you think we're handing out a bunch of junk, we wanted to detail what we're offering, so here goes:
Aliens Infestation
Mario Party DS
New Super Mario Bros.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Super Mario 64 DS
Mario Kart DS
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Fossil Fighters Champions
Professor Layton and the Last Specter + horrible slide puzzle
Kirby Mass Attack + plush
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2
Despite a good time awaiting with Aliens: Infestation, the bottom line is that even if you're a fan of Alien or Metroid, I can't recommend this at the asking price. It's such a shame too, because it's evident a lot of love and attention went into this - and it's why I'm so torn about the rating.
"Aliens: Infestation" is a great entry in both the "Alien"' movie and video game franchises. Taking cues from "Metroid" and "Castlevania" was the right direction for WayForward to go in, and because of that, they've produced a really enjoyable game that should appeal to both fans of the franchise, as well as most DS owners. If you can work your way past the finicky controls, there's a really solid title here from a company that's one of the best developers for the platform.
There is certainly some fun to be had exploring the USS Sulaco and fighting the xenomorphs, but its repetitive nature and lack of variety distracts from what could have been a great game.
Part of the game’s challenge simply comes from adding ammo to your weapons. Needing to reload at the end of a weapon’s clip can lead to an attack from a Xenomorph if you’re not careful, and as your ammo count declines, combat becomes more nerve-wracking. It loses its initial bullet-spraying glee and becomes more of a challenge in careful inventory-management.
It speaks volumes that Aliens: Infestation is a brand new release for a dying console. I firmly believe that its message and mood could not have been delivered on any other device. Infestation shows that a game is more than a cartridge and its box; the controller and screen used for play add something invaluable to the experience. WayForward take advantage of capitalising on all of DS’ limitations and have created a title that has genuine affection and impact.
Packed with reference to the Aliens movies, including Power Loader battles and an intense APC escape scene, this is a game made by fans with the fans in mind. After recent disappointments from the Aliens franchise, Infestation brings it all home and makes for a thoroughly captivating adventure.
Seven months ago I was convinced the DS had seen its last days. With Pokemon and Okamiden in stores, surely all eyes would shift to the Nintendo 3DS, with its major franchises, more powerful graphics and expanded communication abilities. How happy I am to be wrong. Titles like Aliens: Infestation no...
Because of that basic triumph of feel, I'm able to overlook the simple enemy patterns and predictable respawning. Or, rather, I'm able to see that they don't matter that much. Infestation is a deliciously tense experience, an accurate Aliens representation and a genuinely unique Metroidvania, exactly as it is.
It's easy to see the seams in WayForward's Aliens: Infestation. There's not all that much variety in the enemies or environments (mostly because it's an Aliens game). The "AI" is simple and pattern-based in the style of 16-bit games. The enemies even respawn in the same locations, dulling the element of surprise upon return trips.
But even though I was fully aware of the shortcomings, I was completely drawn in. Infestation feels like what would have happened had someone made a good Aliens game in the mid-1990s. It's a cleverly structured take on the Metroidvania style of game that forces careful, methodical play. Despite those aforementioned issues, WayForward completely nailed the dread of Aliens.
...it's an excellent game; it calls back to both the films and the games inspired by it, but it manages to define itself as something unique in the process. It's clearly a labor of love... and it's a satisfying way to celebrate the twilight days of a truly great handheld system.
This title is a must for any Alien fan, and for those interested in Gearbox’s upcoming Aliens: Colonial Marines this is a great stopgap to quench your Aliens thirst.
...fans of Scott and Cameron's fiction will be delighted to see this iconic universe recreated in miniature, while anyone hankering after a 2D Metroid (let's face it, we're not likely to get one from Nintendo any time soon) will be equally satisfied. It seems that, in keeping Death so busy, WayForward has ensured the DS will avoid his scythe a little while longer.
When it comes to 2D action titles, it seems there's nobody as capable as WayForward. Recent entries in the genre, Contra 4 and Bloodrayne: Betrayal, speak volumes to the company's capabilities -- and, the developer's latest, Aliens: Infestation, seems destined for the same fame. Yet, as easy as WayForward makes it look, developing a stellar 2D action title is anything but.
Director Adam Tierney offered insight via a diatribe on fan site AvPGalaxy, discussing in great detail how he and company came up with these characters. For example, did you know that there are unique bios and art for each of the game's 20 different marines, which are then added to the Extras menu once the player comes into contact with any given marine for later perusing? Did you also know that the game's story had 18 different rewrites before the team was feeling good about the final product? Interesting stuff!
Head on over to AvPGalaxy for the full developer diary.
