Like the original AvP you get to choose which race you play as; the nasty bloodthirsty Aliens, the hunting Predators, and the “running with fear with wet trousers” Marines. Where AvP2 differs straightaway to its predecessor is that you do have an interesting plot that links, intersects and weaves together each of the characters stories almost seamlessly into the main underlying story that’s unfolding. Although events that one character experiences are generally not as the other classes, they are all interlocked in some way. So an outcome in one mission for one race for instance will be the reason why you have a certain task to achieve as the other class. For example if the Aliens cause a power failure for the humans on one level, playing as the Marines at the same point in time in the main story would have you fighting in that building when the power outage happened.
In AvP this is what it really lacked as it was just a series of unrelated levels. There was a link for each level, but it was all very loose and really was just three separate tales, one for each race. So in AvP2 there is a sense of purpose brought by this campaign structure that lacked in the original. You feel like your achieving something rather than just blindly moving forward blasting.
Essentially the plot is similar to any of the Alien series of films (‘Aliens’ and ‘Aliens: Resurrection’ being most familiar) told via the in-game cut scenes after each level. Cut scenes consist of game graphics rather than cinematic versions so not only show off the fancy Lithtech visuals that you get whilst playing but also make the tale you’re in seem ‘real’, rather than just a flashy non relevant cinematic that seems miles away from the game itself. However most of the games cut scenes are based on the Human perspective, seeing events that are occurring on their side. With Aliens it would seem pointless to include cut scenes revolving around them (seeing as they don’t talk as such) but I think seeing things from the Predators view (and being translated for us to understand) would have been a nicer touch. Only a slight niggle, nothing that bad, so lets move on…
Controls
The game plays like your ordinary first person shooter would do, having similar controls and interface to every other one before it. However there are a few extra keys needed which are race sensitive. Aliens for instance have two additional methods of attack from the usual primary claw slashing attack; the tail and a new attack called Pounce. As well as a key needed for climbing walls.
The problem with the way AvP2 has handled the keys is that some are taken up in the ‘Shared properties’ settings. So some keys that you would want to be race sensitive you have to sacrifice for the other races in the shared menu! Annoying to say the least. What simply would have been better would be just to have three separate control settings for each race?
Keys are also a burden for the Predator, who has many new functions that all require a key that is easy to remember and near to press in a quick battle. I often find myself pressing the wrong key and having to find myself looking down at the keyboard, by which point I am dead. The Predator in Avp2 is a far harder character to play as than I remember in the original, and compared to the other two simpler races you get.
Single Player
Single player is usually fun to play, although it will depend on your taste which races you enjoy being as more. Being the Marines is probably the scariest, having hordes of Aliens charging after you with your motion tracker making that scary “OH MY GOD” bleep. Predators are most suited for those warrior types who like to hunt down your prey and feel all mighty and powerful. Whereas being an Alien is fun for those who like a fast paced version of the hunt seeing your victims run with fear.
This diversity means missions are a good blend of all out action, and stealth which is a nice change. And a pleasant new aspect with AvP2 is that sometimes when you’re the Alien you get your fellow ‘pals’ to come and help you! Although they are pre-programmed and scripted to do one thing, and not follow you once that action has been executed, it’s still a nice addition. Same goes for the Predators who appear to help support you. What’s a real shame however is that you don’t get your team when you’re the Marine!! A perfect way to add more tension and atmosphere as one member of the teams keeps dropping, gradually getting less, is sadly not present. Just when you think your going to see your team mates side by side in action they seem to magically avoid confrontations! Normal humans you meet on the way all say similar things, with unarmed ones always saying “g, g, god, g, g, god” which is rather boring after a while.
Characters
Each of the characters you play as are fundamentally the same from the original (broadly speaking), but do have some changes and additions to enhance them. The biggest changes occur with the Alien and the Predator, whereas the Marines changes are more subtle. The Alien now has special markers on screen to tell you where you are in relation to the wall when climbing them, to make it easier to navigate. The head bite move (which still is the Aliens way of recharging your health) has also been made a lot easier to pull off, something that was frustrating in the original. The Predator has new weapons to toy around with too and new secondary fire modes for older weapons, as well as a new energy sift device which means he can recharge himself instead of looking for pickups like in AvP.
Marine’s changes are not so obvious, but anyone familiar with AvP could notice them. The marine is much tougher than before, meaning that he lasts just a little longer against an alien (before he could only take about 2 random swipes from an Alien and be dead straightaway). It doesn’t upset the balance at all though as it just gives the marine, considered by many as the weakest class, a fighting chance rather than a huge disadvantage.
Modes
For those who are diehard veterans I suggest doing what I did and go straight to hard mode if you fancy a challenge. The game is not easy (or short) by any stretch of the imagination but playing in hard I soon found myself fighting an uphill battle from the start to finish, something a lot of recent shooters don’t offer. Sometimes it verges on moving from that fine line of being just 'difficult' too 'frustrating', so be warned if you do go straight to hard mode.
The game itself though is, on the whole, made easier by the fact that you can save when ever you like, something which the original lacked. Some will miss that limited save option, most will not, but never fear as AvP2 has the option for either if you so wish! Isn’t that nice of them?
Multiplayer
Multiplayer is your usual affair, with a nice server browser built in (unlike its predecessor), but on the whole is nothing really special to write home about. It is just deathmatch with Aliens and Predators included. True you have other strange and unique types of MP experiences such as “Hunt” (where the players play as Prey or Hunters), or “Evacuate” (where all players must get to a certain point) but most of the time you’ll spend most of it fighting in regular DM.
In my opinion multiplayer just doesn’t capture the Aliens experience I thought it finally would. Just imagine being a small team of Marines having hordes of aliens (A.I. and/or real players) chasing after you, just like in the second Aliens film!
Well that can’t and doesn’t happen because there are no scenarios or maps made up that way. You don’t feel scared unlike the SP experience, and it just feels like any other FPS multiplayer match.
Respawning is also a big problem in AvP2. Spawn locations are totally random, which means you can appear almost right near another opponent who will kill you before you even get to walk 2 steps! Monolith needs to address this problem by making it so you respawn a little more out of danger, because “Spawn Killing”, as it’s now known throughout the AvP2 gaming community, is a nuisance.
