Review of Aliens vs. Predator

AVP 2010 is playable in DX 11 and 9 (11 by default) for those that don't know DX 11 gives you more realistic graphics but can severely hinder nVision 3D quality. The game is playable in 3D straight out of the box but there are shadow issues and it looks quite uneven. There is a Helix wrapper fix but for the first time the fix does not 'fix' all issues. It does fix quite a lot of the issues but there is a weird bending of the rifle (weapon) butt rather than it sticking out of the screen at you at 90 degrees. In very high convergence a weapon butt in other games can easily hover over your keyboard but in AVP 2010 it bends to the right instead of emerging from your screen which is a very strange thing indeed. Yes the 3D is working but a bit of tweaking as well as the Helix wrapper will make it look much better. You certainly want to turn Shadows and blurring (as with most games) off altogether.. Once you launch the game in STEAM make sure you select DX 9 if running in 3D nVision. The gameplay in 'Marine' was very lacklustre at times and much the same as Aliens Colonial Marines however the tension can seriously build at any one of those Boss fights especially when you have just moment s too (again) throw a switch. One thing the devs have done is added 'Ragdoll' to a few static items but the textures are surprisingly poor. It seems that giving a player something to do other that shoot and kill may increase the level of enjoyment in a game. Even doing something quite mundane such as throwing a switch ("good one Gordon I can see that your MIT training really pays off!") Entering an elevator makes it automatically head off in any direction giving the protagonist one less thing to do. This is reminiscent of an old Simpsons episode where Marge has all her housework done for her but becomes increasingly bored. The ability to fire down ones sights has also been removed leaving the player at a distinct disadvantage. There is a very retro sounding Sci-fi ping sound that came straight out of Forbidden Planet but that grows old rather quick. Many times an area has been scouted and you may appear to have completed your mission and you decide to go back just for the adventure of exploring but you soon find quickly that the way is barred, doors locked. Surely half the fun of these games is the exploration? Turning your torch (flashlight) on or off sounds like lift doors opening. Why not a simple click like a switch? When something like that happens you can tell that the devs were just trying too hard. Lets hope Isolation does a better job. 3D nVision 5/10 game rating 5/10 - email me at ratcat17@hotmail.com if you want a game reviewed for 3D worthiness.