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| By Brad Cook Some things just complement each other perfectly. Burgers and fries. Ross and Rachel. Aliens and Predators. |
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 Sneaking up on human quarry through the eyes of a Predator. |
Yes, Aliens and Predators, as in the names of two very successful science-fiction film franchises from the 80s and 90s. Their eponymous stars have squared off in several popular comic book series (see the sidebar, “Galactic Adversaries,” on page two), and the Aliens vs. Predator 2 game will soon be available exclusively for Mac OS X, thanks to your friends at MacPlay.
“We had originally planned on Aliens vs. Predator 2 being released for both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9,” explains MacPlay president Mark Cottam, “but when we started the porting process it quickly became apparent that Mac OS X was the only way to go.
Watch out — the Aliens’ acid blood can be
dangerous in tight spaces.
dangerous in tight spaces.
“MacPlay has made a commitment to supporting Mac OS X,” he continues, “and porting the game to Mac OS X only allows us to release the finest product that we can. The OS allows us to create a more graphically robust game as well as flawlessly manage memory issues.”
Three For the Price of One
He adds that purchasing a copy of Aliens vs. Predator 2 is like getting “three different games in one box,” thanks to its unique three-way storyline. This tale takes place on planet LV1201, a research station where scientists are studying some captive Aliens. The situation gets out of control when one of the Aliens escapes, and soon a hunting party of Predators shows up to stake a claim on the Alien colony. It’s up to the Colonial Marines to answer the scientists’ distress beacon and save the day.
A new way to frag your enemies — with razor-sharp
claws and powerful jaws.
claws and powerful jaws.
You can experience the plot from the point-of-view of an Alien, a Predator,
or a Colonial Marine (like the ones seen in the film Aliens); like such
exciting titles as Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, this game is a
first-person shooter, which means that you view the action through a
particular character’s eyes. When you finish all 21 missions as one
character, you can play them again twice as the other two characters and
experience the game differently. Each of them has their own unique
strengths, weaknesses, and weapons (for more information, see “Cast of
Characters” on page two).
No matter which character you choose, be prepared for plenty of dark corridors and eerie red emergency lighting.
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Mark Cottam thanks the game’s use of the latest version of the Lithtech visual graphics engine (which was also used in The Operative: No One Lives Forever) for this dynamic visual flair. You won’t know what’s around the next corner.
“If you thought the first game was scary,” says Cottam, “wait until you play the Mac OS X version of Aliens vs. Predator 2. You’ll want to leave the lights on.”
The Lithtech engine: your ticket to
incredible 3D environments.
incredible 3D environments.
The Ultimate Gaming Experience
Multi-player mayhem is a major part of most first-person shooter titles, and Aliens vs. Predator 2 is no exception. The game uses the [x] service [MacPlay is uncertain how Internet multi-player will work at the moment] and offers 10 characters, 12 levels, and the following modes:
- Survivor: Last one standing is the winner.
- Deathmatch: Everyone for themselves in a frag-fest.
- Team Deathmatch: Everyone joins a team and lets loose.
- Hunt: Someone assumes the role of hunter and tries to take out the other players.
- Evac: There are two teams in this one; each of them tries to reach an evacuation point and survive there for 10 seconds to win the match.
- Overrun: Another two-team game where one group defends a position and the other group tries to overrun it.
Keep track of your ammo — the Aliens will
waste no time making short work of you.
waste no time making short work of you.
Look for Aliens vs. Predator 2 at the online Apple Store, a Apple retail store, or a certified Apple reseller near you. Just remember to leave the lights on when you get home and install it on your Mac.
How three completely different races came together for one great game. 
   
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