Jump to content

Aliens Infestation: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Added development section with details from the 2018 publication - A Profound Waste of Time
Line 21: Line 21:


== Gameplay ==
== Gameplay ==
Gameplay of ''Aliens: Infestation'' is comparable to the ''[[Metroid]]'' and ''[[Castlevania]]'' video games, where players are encouraged to search and backtrack for weapons, upgrades, and keys. The player controls one of a party of four marines and explores the [[Sulaco (fictional spacecraft)|U.S.S. Sulaco]] as well as LV-426 and [[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]] in order to investigate the Union of Progressive Peoples (UPP) and Weyland-Yutani's involvement in [[Alien (creature in Alien franchise)|Xenomorph]] development. If a marine falls in battle, another in the party will take their place. The player loses if the entire party is wiped out. Fallen characters can be replaced with any of fifteen displaced marines found throughout the game, each with their own unique dialog.
Gameplay of ''Aliens: Infestation'' is comparable to the ''[[Metroid]]'' and ''[[Castlevania]]'' video games, where players are encouraged to search and backtrack for weapons, upgrades, and keys. The player controls one of a party of four marines and explores the [[Sulaco (fictional spacecraft)|U.S.S. Sulaco]] as well as LV-426 and [[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]] in order to investigate the Union of Progressive Peoples (UPP) and Weyland-Yutani's involvement in [[Alien (creature in Alien franchise)|Xenomorph]] development. The game incorporates a permadeath mechanic. If a marine falls in battle, another in the party will take their place. The player loses if the entire party is wiped out. Fallen characters can be replaced with any of fifteen displaced marines found throughout the game, each with their own unique dialog.


==Plot==
==Plot==
Line 27: Line 27:


{{clear}}
{{clear}}

== Development ==
''Aliens: Infestation'' was developed by WayForward Technologies and Gearbox Sofware and was originally intended to be a tie-in to the PC and console [[Aliens: Colonial Marines]] game. When doing their research, Game Director, Adam Tierney, focused heavily on [[Ridley Scott|Ridley Scott's]] [[Alien (film)|Alien]] and [[James Cameron filmography|James Cameron's]] [[Aliens (film)|Aliens]] as inspiration. To capture the films' ''slasher'' appeal, while still keeping you emotionally invested, the development team created 20 unique characters, with the game's dialogue carefully re-written 20 times, to make sure it offered the biggest 'gut-punch' when one dies. In conjunction with the game's 'party of four' mechanic, the developers wanted players to grow attached to their favorites, which in-turn, increased the likelihood of getting one killed.<ref>{{Cite book|title=A Profound Waste of Time|last=Tierney|first=Adam|publisher=A Profound Waste of Time|year=2018|isbn=977251595800801|location=UK|pages=19}}</ref>


== Reception ==
== Reception ==

Revision as of 00:19, 21 August 2018

Aliens: Infestation
Developer(s)WayForward Technologies
Gearbox Software
Publisher(s)Sega
Director(s)Adam Tierney
Producer(s)Brian Burleson
Designer(s)Adam Tierney
Cole Phillips
Programmer(s)David Wright
Artist(s)Marc Gomez
Writer(s)Adam Tierney
Cole Phillips
Jeff Pomegranate
SeriesAlien
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • AU: September 29, 2011
  • EU: September 30, 2011
  • NA: October 11, 2011
Genre(s)2D Side-scrolling
Mode(s)Single-player

Aliens: Infestation is a 2D sidescroller game for the Nintendo DS handheld console. It was developed by WayForward Technologies and Gearbox Software. It is a tie-in to the Alien franchise. The cover art as well as the character designs and avatars were drawn by renowned comic-book artist Chris Bachalo.

Gameplay

Gameplay of Aliens: Infestation is comparable to the Metroid and Castlevania video games, where players are encouraged to search and backtrack for weapons, upgrades, and keys. The player controls one of a party of four marines and explores the U.S.S. Sulaco as well as LV-426 and Phobos in order to investigate the Union of Progressive Peoples (UPP) and Weyland-Yutani's involvement in Xenomorph development. The game incorporates a permadeath mechanic. If a marine falls in battle, another in the party will take their place. The player loses if the entire party is wiped out. Fallen characters can be replaced with any of fifteen displaced marines found throughout the game, each with their own unique dialog.

Plot

The USS Sephora has discovered the USS Sulaco adrift in space after the events of Aliens and Alien 3. The Colonial Marines are sent aboard the Sulaco to investigate and recover the life form detected aboard the ship.

Development

Aliens: Infestation was developed by WayForward Technologies and Gearbox Sofware and was originally intended to be a tie-in to the PC and console Aliens: Colonial Marines game. When doing their research, Game Director, Adam Tierney, focused heavily on Ridley Scott's Alien and James Cameron's Aliens as inspiration. To capture the films' slasher appeal, while still keeping you emotionally invested, the development team created 20 unique characters, with the game's dialogue carefully re-written 20 times, to make sure it offered the biggest 'gut-punch' when one dies. In conjunction with the game's 'party of four' mechanic, the developers wanted players to grow attached to their favorites, which in-turn, increased the likelihood of getting one killed.[1]

Reception

Aliens: Infestation received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2]

The A.V. Club gave it a B+, saying, "It's a shame that Aliens: Infestation peters out by the end. In the push toward the conclusion, the upgraded weapons you've collected lessen the threat, and the thin plot culminates in a boring fight against a big alien queen."[13] Digital Spy gave it four stars out of five, saying, "In many ways, it feels like the Aliens game we should have been given back in the 16-bit era when the movie series was still relatively new. Whether it has been worth the wait is debatable, but this is certainly a worthy addition to the DS library." However, The Digital Fix gave it seven out of ten, saying that "It can be uneven at times in terms of quality but it is highly enjoyable, especially if you are fan of either the franchise or even if you are just a fan of 'MetroidVania' games."[15]

References

  1. ^ Tierney, Adam (2018). A Profound Waste of Time. UK: A Profound Waste of Time. p. 19. ISBN 977251595800801. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  2. ^ a b "Aliens: Infestation for DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  3. ^ Sterling, Jim (October 12, 2011). "Review: Aliens: Infestation". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  4. ^ Schilling, Chris (September 30, 2011). "Aliens: Infestation". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  5. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (October 11, 2011). "Aliens: Infestation: The Metroid Formula Infests The Alien Franchise". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  6. ^ Meunier, Nathan (October 17, 2011). "Review: Aliens: Indestation (DS)". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 19, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Schaller, Kevin (October 20, 2011). "Aliens: Infestation Review". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on April 16, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Walton, Mark (November 17, 2011). "Aliens: Infestation Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  9. ^ "Aliens: Infestation Review". GameTrailers. Viacom. October 27, 2011. Archived from the original on December 29, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ George, Richard (October 11, 2011). "Aliens: Infestation Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  11. ^ Fletcher, JC (October 11, 2011). "Aliens Infestation review: Bursting with flavor". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  12. ^ "Aliens: Infestation". Nintendo Power. Vol. 272. Future US. October 2011. p. 85.
  13. ^ a b Agnello, Anthony John (October 17, 2011). "Aliens: Infestation". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Archived from the original on October 19, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Langshaw, Mark (October 13, 2011). "'Aliens: Infestation' (DS)". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  15. ^ Gallagher, Gareth (October 25, 2011). "Aliens: Infestation". The Digital Fix. Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Aliens_Infestation&oldid=855808904"