The Alien franchise is one of the most beloved collections of films in all of science-fiction and horror. The design of the Xenomorph alone is iconic and a masterclass at inducing fear and representing earth's best attempt at what an interstellar apex predator may look like. Over the years, the Alien films have inspired other shows and movies to pay homage to some of the franchise's best moments. Sadly, the brand has remained relatively dormant in terms of new visual media being released.
Thankfully, that rut looks to be ending with the announcement of Aliens: Fireteam, a third-person cooperative shooter that lets players and their friends work together to kill hordes of Xenomorphs. The game itself looks to be pulling from multiple corners of the Alien universe to deliver the best horror/action shooter that the franchise has ever seen. Its potential for success could even revive the long-dormant game franchise.
The last time colonial marines were seen in an Alien video game was Gearbox's failed release of Aliens: Colonial Marines in 2013. The first-person shooter tried to give players an immersive experience as a soldier stalked by hungry Xenomorphs. However, the game failed due to its countless bugs and lackluster graphics. It would be only the most recent in a long line of failed attempts to bring the franchise to video games. Aliens: Fireteam, on the other hand, is in a unique position where the desire for nostalgic properties is at its peak, and fans are starved for more Alien content.
The tonal issue with Colonial Marines was that it failed to adequately blend horror and action. However, if Fireteam can integrate its bombastic action approach with horror and jump scares, it could break the mold of lackluster Alien shooters. Thankfully, another game within the franchise already pulled this off.
2014's Alien: Isolation sought to rectify Colonial Marines' mistakes. This meant taking a step back from action shooters and aiming more for atmospheric survival-horror. As a result, Alien: Isolation became one of the most terrifying and technologically advanced games of its time. It also managed to integrate small action scenes that helped break the horrific tension that permeates the title.
For Aliens: Fireteam to not feel like another run-of-the-mill Alien game, it will have to break the mold just as its predecessor did. Cooperative play is a fantastic start, but the integration of horror is what will set it apart from the rest. The trailer shows promising moments where tensions run high as players are chased by the Xenomorphs. If the game can capture and meld the same atmosphere as the previous game and the early films, it would not only revive the franchise, but keep players' attention for a long time after it releases.
So far, Fireteam looks to capture all of James Cameron's Aliens' fun, scares and action -- but it also looks like it's making a name for itself in the action-horror genre. Lately, games like this have been getting more recognition, and that makes now the perfect time for this title to be announced. Aliens: Fireteam appears to be making all of the right moves to revive the franchise, but only time will tell if the game sticks the landing.