Midway brings you Area 51, a first person shooter game packed with baddies, ammo and a solid storyline that guarantees hours of fun and heart stopping action. For those UFO and aliens freaks out there... this is one title you`re going to love.
The gamer is Ethan Cole, a member the US Government Special Forces, sent into the research facility to investigate a viral outbreak that has taken place in a secret military base in the Nevada desert.
Cole soon discovers the deadly virus has spread and turns the infected into walking dead mutants.
Soon, Cole is thrown deep into a conspiracy theory and pulled into the plot of what has "really" happened in Roswell and what the effects will be, now that the contamination seal has been breached. The game`s mood is well set with broken staircases, burning furniture, dead bodies and blood on the walls... basically everything that could be thrown in to show the chaos that occurred.
Cole is thrown into the heat of battle, with the backup of a team. As the game progresses, more and more of Cole`s teammates get taken down, leaving him alone with the problem.
It`s a great tension builder, hearing the panicked screams of teammates in a pitch-black room, as Cole yields only a torch and a gun.
There are countless creatures to keep hearts pumping and the adrenaline rushing, as mutants of all sizes pour through open doors and break through windows to attack - who could forget the hundreds of face-sucker type aliens scurrying all over the floor trying to find their next meal.
Later in the game the virus infects Cole, but all is not lost as he finds a doctor that helps control the mutation - thus giving him the ability to change between states.
In the mutant state weapons can`t be used, but that doesn`t mean Cole doesn`t wreak havoc!
The mutant Cole fires life-sucking parasites at his enemies. These bad boys replenish his health while draining the enemies`. Cole also gains life force by breathing in contaminated bodies.
This part of the game reminded me a lot of The Suffering, where Torque could switch from human to his grotesque state to rip through his enemies like paper. A nice touch but it could have been played on a bit more.
The game`s AI works considerably well: it`s great seeing monsters firing weapons while trying to duck and dodge when fire is returned. The monsters also call out "Grenade", giving warning that something is coming that will result in Cole-soup if he doesn`t back up and take cover.
Aiming does take a bit of getting used to: a successful shot requires that the enemy is struck dead on target. Once aiming is under control, it`s a walk in the park.
My favourite part of the game was finding the sniper rifle and eliminating aliens while taking cover behind protective coverings. I`d play the game again just for this part. It`s a true feeling of power plugging enemies that are waiting in ambush.
Cycling through weaponry was bit of a pain. An on-screen graphic which specified the location of each weapon would have been a good addition. Scrolling through every weapon in the arsenal to find the right one also becomes tedious and time consuming. At least there is the option of R3 if in a panic - it causes Cole to hit the aliens with the butt of his gun - although I didn`t want those bad boys getting THAT close.
The Cut-scenes are put together effectively and voice acting is strong. As the game progresses a few unexpected twists are encountered which require vigilance. The game holds no real puzzles, other than finding buttons to open specific doors, or looking for key cards on dead bodies to activate doors and elevators. Also, video files and pictures can be unlocked by scanning special objects in selected rooms and secret locations.
Up to 16 game players can join the game online, but if playing offline, the game only supports a one-on-one death match.
Graphics are smooth and loading times aren`t too bad. The game as a whole, I think, is well worth its money.
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