While video game news and reviews are pretty commonplace, few pieces of gaming multimedia merchandize have had the kind of sway over us as Alien: Infestation. And why is that, do I hear you ask? Well, let’s just say that apart from being part of an iconic movie franchise that has shaped popular culture, Alien: Infestation just might be the last Nintendo DS game ever. It is also a very good one,with Wayforward Technologies collaborating with Gearbox Software to produce what seems to be a Metroidvani adventure set in the Alien universe.
The Beginning of Alien: Infestation
The Alien: Infestation adventure starts aboard the Sulaco, with a squad of Colonial Marines arriving to investigate what’s going on there in the aftermath of the events seen in James Cameron’s Aliens. It’s not the only environment you’ll see over the course of the game, but it’s definitely where the bulk of the big moments unfold.
In just about any story-driven game you can think of, death is a worry but never an outright fear. More often than not, your character will simply be whisked back to the nearest save or checkpoint. That’s not the case in Aliens: Infestation. Death is very much a permanent thing here.
Alien: Infestation Gameplay
You start with a squad of four marines, though only one of them is ever under your direct control. The rest pop up and can be switched between whenever you enter one of the game’s save rooms, where you can also resupply and swap weapons. Each marine represents one of your “lives” in the game. If the one you’re controlling bites the dust, you select a new marine to spawn in wherever you died, full up on ammo and fresh for the fight.
The natural response for many gamers will be to simply reload an old save, but it’s better to just roll with it in Alien: Infestation. There are 19 playable marines in Alien: Infestation, which will be more than enough for most to get through the six-or-so-hour adventure. Each one has his or her own dialogue too, so swapping soldiers actually serves to inject freshness.
You can only have a maximum of four marines in your squad. Any stragglers you find while you have a full crew will just stay where they are until you can pick them up. It’s a remarkably clever way of giving you multiple “lives” in the game while imbuing each with its own, unique personality.
The environments are easily recognizable as 16-bit(-ish) reinterpretations of what you’ve seen in the films. Light and dark is used to good effect in Alien: Infestation, and there are some great moments in which you actually feel some tension building, a rare thing for a small-screen game such as this.
Alien: Infestation Controls & Game Atmosphere
True to the Aliens vibe, you never really feel in Alien: Infestation like you’ve got a handle on things. Even as you find upgrades for your weapons — which unfortunately cannot be swapped, so be sure you’ve got the gun you want to boost in your hands before you collect an upgrade — you’ll still frequently find yourself low on health and scuttling back to a save or searching for a pickup.
The controls of Alien: Infestation feel a little clunky, especially if you happen to be playing on a Nintendo 3DS and using its analog nub. The D-pad offers a more precise set of inputs, though you’ll still find cursing as something attacks you that could have been avoided with smoother controls. The touchscreen inputs used for swapping between gear can also be a pain in the heat of a battle, particularly with some of the tougher boss fights.
In the future, there shall be many a game reviewed, and there will be exciting exciting video game news, so keep reading! Till then, try and get your hands on a copy of Alien: Infestation.
