Alien Breed 2: Assault - Xbox 360
Picking up where it’s predecessor left off, Alien Breed 2: Assault, starts off with a flashback recounting the events of the previous game, Alien Breed Evolution.
Stepping into the shoes of Theodore J. Conrad once more, you’re only hope of survival is reigniting the space crafts engines – but of course, the catch is that there are hundreds of alien nasties on board, all intent in making Conrad mince meat.
There’s also the small matter that the ship that Conrad is on, the Leopold, is collapsing all around him and on top of the aliens, he also has to contend with exposure to fire, radiation and explosions.
An isometric game, Conrad can run and shoot in all directions and naturally, the game is controlled with the dual analogue sticks – one for movement, the other for aiming direction.
The game pretty much consists of travelling around the Leopold, switching on various power terminals, restoring power and escorting various innocents that you may bump into. All of this is clearly marked out and the ships main computer, Mia, keeps you up to date with what task is next.
Along the way, Conrad will find various items such as guns, first aid and grenades. One of the more interesting items that you may find is a gun turret, which are particularly handy when fighting off the hordes of alien nasties.
Most of the loot is randomly left on the floor, but you can also loot corpses – a dark little touch that brings a sense of horror to the proceedings.
Also, a nice mechanic incorporated into the game, is the ability to rotate the camera angle by pressing either LB or RB. It’s a neat little trick that opens the game in many ways and reveals plenty of hidden secrets that are scattered through the Leopold.
Aside from the standard auto save feature, your progress can be recorded at the various Intex terminals. Handy places that give Conrad the opportunity to upgrade his weapons and purchase items such as ammo and first aid.
Graphically, the game is very solid for a 800 Microsoft points game and developers, Team 17, have done a terrific job in using the Unreal3 Engine.
The game is very dark and naturally has a high contrast rate. The darks are dark and the lights are very bright – all of which add to a very claustrophobic experience during the more tenser moments.
The sound design also does a good job in recreating that whole Alienesque feel that was established in the first game. Alarms going off, creatures scurrying in the dark, machinery malfunctioning – you get the idea.
If there are gripes to be had with the game, they’re somewhat minor.
Initially, the shaky cam during some sequences can give you a headache after a while and the auto save can dampen the whole experience by making you go through sequences several times, but on the whole, Alien Breed 2: Assault is a worthy addition to both the series and the X-box live market place.
Verdict: 7 out of 10
The Good:
Atmospheric
Graphically solid
The Bad:
Auto saves aren’t great
Annoying shaky cam
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