Deep within the layers of a long-forgotten planetoid, a dormant space hulk harbors remnants of a bygone era—desiccated hand monsters, shorn dreadlocks, and long-abandoned Pulse Rifles. This vessel, while mostly silent, occasionally stirs as an ancient server awakens, sending out an eerie signal into the cosmos. The chitinous corridors resonate with the sounds of flamethrowers, squelching stabs, and the unmistakable echoes of frantic screams, accompanied by the delightful chirping of Steam achievements.
Reviving a Classic
The vessel in question is none other than Alien Vs Predator. Not to be confused with Rebellion’s original three-way first-person shooter from 1999, this is the 2010 sequel that faced its fair share of criticism upon release. Yet, despite the naysayers, it appears to possess a certain charm, as evidenced by the continued engagement of a dedicated player base even 15 years later.
This past weekend, the seemingly lifeless game experienced a remarkable resurgence, with concurrent player counts soaring to around five thousand, thanks to a community-run server. Many players were drawn by the allure of earning one of the game’s rarest achievements, The Six Pack, which requires participation in a ranked match alongside six Steam friends. With only 2.2% of players having achieved this milestone, it’s clear that the original multiplayer scene struggled to maintain momentum. However, the current efforts to rally players together are commendable, hinting at a potential revival—perhaps we’ll reach version 3.0 in another 15 years.
This resurgence serves as a testament to the positive outcomes that can arise when publishers take proactive measures to keep their online games alive, even after official support has waned. Moreover, it provides a delightful opportunity to revisit Rebellion’s Alien games. The 1999 installment was a frenetic shooter, renowned for its atmospheric lighting that often concealed the lurking Aliens until illuminated by a burst of gunfire. It also featured meticulously crafted adaptations of iconic film sets, allowing players to traverse them as agile xenomorphs. While the game fell short in its portrayal of Predators, it’s worth noting that no Predator game has ever truly captured the essence of the franchise—an assertion that might spark a lively debate among Yautja enthusiasts.
The 2010 iteration has often been met with disdain. In a review, Alec Meer (RIP) described it as “not a terrible singleplayer shooter,” but rather “just a very ordinary one,” suggesting that the multiplayer aspect nearly redeems it: “when a couple of adept players are stalking random panickers like myself, this really threatens to be the game we hoped it would be.” I, too, found little to admire when I reviewed the title, yet the community’s push for Six Pack achievements has rekindled my interest in the dropship.
This initiative has sparked a wave of overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam, with one particularly amusing comment arguing that the game should more accurately be titled “Marines vs Aliens vs Predator.” This playful suggestion hints at the notion that human players—who likely make up about 70% of the community, based on the typical RPS comment—might feel overlooked. It’s worth noting that Marines aren’t a species, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from launching a Change.org petition. While you’re at it, why not advocate for a rebranding of Godzilla vs Kong to include the everyday commuters caught in the fray?
Ancient Aliens vs Predator game briefly resurrected by Steam player thirst for Six Packs
Deep within the layers of a long-forgotten planetoid, a dormant space hulk harbors remnants of a bygone era—desiccated hand monsters, shorn dreadlocks, and long-abandoned Pulse Rifles. This vessel, while mostly silent, occasionally stirs as an ancient server awakens, sending out an eerie signal into the cosmos. The chitinous corridors resonate with the sounds of flamethrowers, squelching stabs, and the unmistakable echoes of frantic screams, accompanied by the delightful chirping of Steam achievements.
Reviving a Classic
The vessel in question is none other than Alien Vs Predator. Not to be confused with Rebellion’s original three-way first-person shooter from 1999, this is the 2010 sequel that faced its fair share of criticism upon release. Yet, despite the naysayers, it appears to possess a certain charm, as evidenced by the continued engagement of a dedicated player base even 15 years later.
This past weekend, the seemingly lifeless game experienced a remarkable resurgence, with concurrent player counts soaring to around five thousand, thanks to a community-run server. Many players were drawn by the allure of earning one of the game’s rarest achievements, The Six Pack, which requires participation in a ranked match alongside six Steam friends. With only 2.2% of players having achieved this milestone, it’s clear that the original multiplayer scene struggled to maintain momentum. However, the current efforts to rally players together are commendable, hinting at a potential revival—perhaps we’ll reach version 3.0 in another 15 years.
This resurgence serves as a testament to the positive outcomes that can arise when publishers take proactive measures to keep their online games alive, even after official support has waned. Moreover, it provides a delightful opportunity to revisit Rebellion’s Alien games. The 1999 installment was a frenetic shooter, renowned for its atmospheric lighting that often concealed the lurking Aliens until illuminated by a burst of gunfire. It also featured meticulously crafted adaptations of iconic film sets, allowing players to traverse them as agile xenomorphs. While the game fell short in its portrayal of Predators, it’s worth noting that no Predator game has ever truly captured the essence of the franchise—an assertion that might spark a lively debate among Yautja enthusiasts.
The 2010 iteration has often been met with disdain. In a review, Alec Meer (RIP) described it as “not a terrible singleplayer shooter,” but rather “just a very ordinary one,” suggesting that the multiplayer aspect nearly redeems it: “when a couple of adept players are stalking random panickers like myself, this really threatens to be the game we hoped it would be.” I, too, found little to admire when I reviewed the title, yet the community’s push for Six Pack achievements has rekindled my interest in the dropship.
This initiative has sparked a wave of overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam, with one particularly amusing comment arguing that the game should more accurately be titled “Marines vs Aliens vs Predator.” This playful suggestion hints at the notion that human players—who likely make up about 70% of the community, based on the typical RPS comment—might feel overlooked. It’s worth noting that Marines aren’t a species, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from launching a Change.org petition. While you’re at it, why not advocate for a rebranding of Godzilla vs Kong to include the everyday commuters caught in the fray?