SGF: Hands-On With One Of The Best Alien Games In Years - MCE Notices | California State Portal

Aliens: Fireteam Elite came out in 2021 and surprised pretty much everyone, Alien fans included. It’s rare that we see a pretty much universally-liked Alien game, and the idea of a co-op shooter fits so well when your enemy is a horde of Xenomorphs.

The thing is, a lot of those same fans felt like it didn’t live up to its full potential. The lack of a true four-player squad was one of the most-requested features, as well as a wider variety of enemy types, and more customization options.

Having played the sequel in a full four-player group, it’s evident that all of that feedback was taken into consideration for Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2. I had the chance to really dig into the game and the new systems, and came away more impressed than I was with the original.

Any Aliens: Fireteam Elite fan will tell you that the first game really needed two things: a fourth co-op player slot, and more enemies. Well, now we have them. After picking the Medic class (Hunter, Marauder, Machinist, Duelist, and Specialist classes are also available) and loading up with three other squadmates, we took on a mission that was roughly “one third” of the way through the game, and battled through droves of Xenomorphs and angry Synths as we attempted to thwart the Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

Immediately, the game felt so much more action-packed and deliberate at the same time. Adding a fourth player might not sound like much, but seeing it in action, and making sense of the ballet of chaos, was something special. As a Medic, I had the opportunity to heal up my squad and buff their shots, while still being able to pack a punch. The marine rifle and shotgun combo was still devastating, and the sound effects were impactful and clear.

While the atmospheric screenshots convey a lot of darkness (which there is plenty of in this ostensibly action-horror themed franchise), combat is very easy to follow, which is fantastic since a lot of areas have been completely revamped. Levels are now much more vertical, lending themselves very well to the skittering nature of the Xenomorphs, who can crawl on walls and ceilings to take you out faster.

Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2‘s other secret weapon is the specialist class. A new concept for the sequel, the aim of this class is to allow more player freedom, because in essence, the specialist is like a blank slate. You’re able to mix and match a ton of different weapons, gear, and perks to create your own canvas of killing, which is a great way to add replay value to a game ostensibly centered around missions (as well as a horde mode with multiple maps, which is due at launch).

Based on my time with it, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 is shaping up to be everything you’d want a sequel to be. The visuals, sound effects, and everything else coalesce into an impressive romp through a classic film universe. It’s due out later this year on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, as part of the 40th anniversary of James Cameron’s Aliens. Wild how quickly time flies.