Welcome to our Aliens: Colonial Marines info blowout!
Sega's upcoming Xenomorph-splatting action fest is gearing up for release on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC this autumn and we've got screenshots, concept art and loads of info. Click through the gallery using the 'Next' button above for the images, then scroll down for even more Aliens content in the form of video footage and interviews.
The game is canonical, continuing from the events of James Cameron's 1986 classic, Aliens
Gearbox's head of studio, Randy Pitchford, says 20th Century Fox is treating the game "almost like a movie sequel". Of course, Gearbox itself IS treating it as such. Incidentally, this screenshot shows the HUD from the Smart Gun, complete with temperature gauge. Sweet.
You start off in the Sulaco, motion tracker in hand
The game kicks off exactly where Aliens left off and you'll even see the aftermath of events from the movie littered around the level. This image is concept art named 'Sulaco Breach'. Are we going to see the ship crash land on to the planet?
The game has a unique game engine, focused on lighting
Textures in rooms are drawn in before you enter them, and when you do, the real-time lighting kicks in, delivering deep shadows and bright spotlights. Also, note Bishop's severed legs there on the right. Nice touch!
The team had access to the original movie's concepts
Including some which weren't even used! This enabled the team to create 100% authentic areas that weren't even featured in the original movies. The game is literally an extension of the film in this respect.
Gearbox spoke with Ridley Scott
Scott created the entire Aliens universe in 1979, sketching out storyboards by hand. Some unexplained inclusions in the movies are actually remnants of broader ideas - ideas which can be (and are) used in the game.
You're not alone, Marine
Your fellow marines are in radio contact with you and chatter in your ear, offering helpful advice. Most likely 'Look out, it's eating your face'.
Aliens have a hive mind... very useful in multiplayer
This is more concept art, but it highlights an interesting fact. In 8v8 multiplayer, you can play as the Aliens. And their shared consciousness means you can see the location of fellow xenos through the walls, a bit like Batman's detective vision.
The multiplayer is linked to single-player
Gearbox's intention is for you to feel like you're the same person in single-player and multiplayer. To help, you get to modify your own weapon and carry it with you across modes. Interestingly, at this stage, you can only play as the Aliens in third-person view.
Dozens of aliens come at you...
Again, this is concept art, but you can see how deep the shadows are here in the cargo control room. It's not the kind of place you'd want to be alone with a bunch of aliens... but from our point of view it's EXACTLY the kind of place we'd want to be alone with a bunch of aliens. And there are plenty of them!
Aliens can break through glass
In a classic Resident Evil dogs-style, the Aliens are capable of breaking through windows, like this one. And you thought it was safe to keep your back to it...
Excited? We are
Gearbox is taking this game incredibly seriously. In their eyes it is an actual Aliens sequel. In our eyes, it's looking like everything it should be. It's still relatively early in development, but our interest has been more than piqued. Expect more on this one as soon as we can get it.
Seen everything in the gallery up there? Good. Now let's delve deeper into the game's development and even get some glimpses of the game in action.
We've got four videos for you. First up, there's an interview with Gearbox Software's Chief Creative Officer, Brian Martell:
Now Design Director, John Mulkey:
And the game's Producer, Brian Belleson:
And, finally, Chief Creative Champion Mikey Newman who wrote the script for the game:
Like the look of what you've seen? Us too. Feel free to enthuse wildly about the potential of this promisingly authentic addition to the Aliens universe in the comments.And if all of the above still isn't enough to satisfy your hunger for info, CVG's hands-on preview can be found here.
