So, I've been playing the Demo to death in anticipation of the complete release for Xbox 360 and I have to say that I think this game will be a perfect match with MW2. Why? Because it's a first person shooter that takes the concept of FPS to a whole new level by allowing players to pick from one of three species each with their own unique play style. I can see a lot of MW2 gamers playing AVP as well simply because it builds on the already well-established genre and introduces new play-style concepts.

I am eagerly awaiting the ship date and here's the rub; it's already been shipped and received in store but only for PS3! So if you're a Playstation kind of gamer, you already have a head up on the competition (not that it's cross platform or anything) while those of us who play on the 360 have to wait until tomorrow! What gives?

Given how in to the Alien/Predator genre I am, you can expect a more comprehensive review of the game within the next few days but until then I'll just keep munching on my finger-nails, waiting...

And here's another thought...

... while I like the diversity, given that you can play as a Predator, a Marine, or a Xenomorph, it seems a terrible shame to me that they didn't go ahead an add one more character option... the Terminator! Okay, okay... I know that the comic cross-over (Predator/Alien VS Terminator) wasn't very popular it just seems to me like they could have done a lot, in game, by adding a few Terminators to the mix.

Regardless, and based on the Demo alone, I think my first choice is now and will always be to play as an Alien. As cool as the Predator is I personally find that playing as a Predator gives me a kind of helmet-fire, being bogged down by the host of weapons options, jumping and leaping, stealth kills vs outright gun busting... I find it breaks down like this; the Alien is your perfect ambush/stealth character and is exceptionally good in that role while the Marine is your standard trigger-mashing, bullet blasting hero but the Predator lives somewhere between these two roles and while it is good at both, it is not exceptional at either... but I could be wrong. What troubles me most is the thought that those gamers who chose to play as a Predator, given enough experience, will be able to dominate maps.

But I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

AVP FTW!

Indeed.

Can't wait to get my hands on this game. I'm sure I'll be popping your alien cranium with my laser-guided shoulder-mounted tri-laser canon in short order. ;)

I can't wait... I've been a fan since the originals, and I played those to death.

I cannot fucking believe this, Paul.

So, the launch was pushed up to the 16th, right? But then it only shipped for PS3 while SEGA emailed their clients informing them of a delay to the 17th (which, coincidentally was the original release date) and then today, being the 17th, they sent out another email saying that it wouldn't be available until the 18th...

The 18th!

That, by the by, is the same day it was scheduled for Australian release!

And you know what the probable excuse is? Repackaging to accommodate our bilingual nation... FUCKING FRENCH CANADIANS!

This looks pretty cool... it kind of looks like the game that I've been playing for the past 7 years. :) (Which I'm sure I've plugged for on trf before- It is what it is.)

Mutiplayer looks amazing. Many game modes, 3 races... I expect it will be a smash hit. But what I am also really, very much looking forward to is the Campaign/Story mode...

... it's going to have 3 different campaign modes, one for each race (Predator, Alien, Marine) which will all form a single, over-reaching story. I am extremely excite about being able to play as an Alien, rather then just killing them. Something I just discovered is that as an Alien you'll be able to destroy light sources, capture humans and feed them to facehuggers to build your Hive...

Super-excited.

I've played both Predator and Alien single-player so far, switching between the two after a level or so. They are both pretty fun. I love the new jump mechanic for the Predator, where you aim at a position in 'focus' mode, before leaping up and away - it's awesome to leap through the trees with none being the wiser about your passing... until you gut them with your claws.

Also, I totally dig the 'grab kills' - I mean, when I can rip a man's head out through his ass, because I jammed my claws up at the base of his spine, before forcefully ripping the entire thing out, head and all... that's damn cool.

I also enjoy breaking Aliens' backs over my knee, ala what Bane did to Batman.

I haven't tried the Marine yet, but that's mostly because I kind of know what it will be like. A typical 'run through dark passages, unloading endless clips into shadows and moving aliens, before running into a Predator and getting my ass kicked a few times'. Not to mention I've always played the Predator, followed by the Aliens.

But, train up, Beff... daddy's coming for you, and he has a smart disc and sharpened forearm blades.

I prefer the Alien and have yet to play anything aside from the demo since it's only being shipped/received today, supposedly. However, the idea of playing a Predator/Alien duo in multi strikes me as something that could be dangerously fun... PredAlien, ahhh?

GOT. MY. COPY!

I enjoyed the Marine gameplay in the original. Hoping with the stepped up graphics, it'll be an enjoyable run for my life. ;)

EDIT: Though I don't have a copy due to lack of funding.

I'm starting the Marine campaign now, and so far it's pretty decent. The flare is a nice addition for really dark areas, and the sensor is a little more accurate, in terms of showing direction and alerting you to all manner of movement.

The 3-round burst function for the pistol is awesome, and is practically unbeatable when an Alien gets close.

Plus, the ability to knock the attacker back and to the ground is excellent for giving yourself that moment to reload, or shoot them while they're down.

I passed the other two campaigns, and they were also fun. I enjoyed the Alien a lot, and the Predator slightly less - I just felt invincible and wasn't really strained in combat at all. I only ran into trouble at the end boss, but even then I killed him quick enough once I got into the swing of attack/retreat.

We'll have to try survival online, Beff. Two Marines (us) against endless waves of Aliens in a rundown facility... bring it on!