Alien Breed Evolution: Episode One Review

By Kristan Reed Published 16 December, 2009

Space doubt.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Retro revamps can be a harrowing business. For every Pac-Man Championship Edition there's an Alien Syndrome, and a Golden Axe: Beast Rider, and a Final Fight: Streetwise, usually in those distressing proportions.

The problem is down to the approach. Developers often find themselves caught between two stools, on the one hand trying to retain the essence of what made the original so appealing, while also trying to update it to appeal to modern gamers. They routinely end up failing at both.

Team 17's long-overdue Alien Breed reboot initially takes a no-nonsense approach, avoiding the temptation to tinker too much with the old top-down shooter formula. This 'Evolution' lives up to its title, with most of its central gameplay principles retained, and a suitably lavish, atmospheric setting provided for the alien carnage.

As tends to be the case with any Alien-inspired sci-fi romp, you spend the entirety of the adventure aboard a stricken vessel, wandering its darkened corridors by torchlight with only the omnipresent threat of face-huggers and insectoid Maulers bursting forth at any moment for company. Introduced via a series of stylish comic frames, the game reveals that your spacecraft collided with a much larger ghost ship during hyperspace, and now half the structure is either on fire or in bits.

'Alien Breed Evolution: Episode One' Screenshot 1

Mmm, flame-grilled alien.

Much like the classic Amiga original (itself heavily inspired by top-down eighties arcade games like Alien Syndrome, Robotron and Smash TV), you spend most of your time fending off a relentless assault of aggressive aliens while also trying to hunt down keycards, and rebooting generators and mainframe terminals.

Team 17 has done a fantastic job of delivering the requisite moody atmosphere, the crumbling remnants of the ship awash with delightful incidental detail like gigantic throbbing generators visible beneath the metal gantries. Built with Unreal Engine 3, excellent lighting and particle effects add conviction to an already highly impressive spectacle, and few will have complaints about the overall artistic direction.

The multidirectional combat system is slick and intuitive from the off, too, easily allowing you to move and fire independently. With basic movement (and flashlight direction) mapped to the left stick and shot direction on the right, you're afforded a satisfying degree of precision - aided in part by the red laser sight that points the way.

'Alien Breed Evolution: Episode One' Screenshot 2

Play alien pinball with this bouncy laser rifle.

Enemies often erupt in waves from all sides, so the ability to whip around instantly and take care of new targets is a life-saver. In this sense, the new two-stick controls are a vast improvement on the original, and ensure that the gunplay remains enjoyable throughout the four-hour, five-chapter single-player campaign.

The campaign has been expanded far beyond the scope of the original Alien Breeds, and you'll soon spot a few modern concessions, such as save stations where you can store your progress, and a noticeably more forgiving difficulty curve which ensures that progressing right through the game shouldn't pose too much of a problem.

That said, the decision to leave saving progress up to the player means that you have to be mindful to take advantage whenever save stations appear - lest you get caught off-guard by a sudden ambush and lose 20 minutes of painstaking progress. It does at least ensure a much-needed degree of tension at all times, but the potential for frustration is obvious.

Rather than go for a direct rehash of the original top-down viewpoint, Alien Breed Evolution also opts for an isometric-style approach, with the useful ability to rotate the viewpoint in eight increments via LB and RB. But despite the game occasionally zooming into the action at predefined sections, you can't fiddle with the perspective yourself.

Presumably a stylistic choice, this means the camera sometimes gets a bit too close for its own good, with enemies liable to launch attacks off-screen. The issue is especially relevant in co-op, where the limited freedom of movement often forces you to stay in very close proximity to avoid getting trapped against scenery while your partner wanders off.

One of the more curious decisions is to separate single-player and from that co-op mode. At first this feels like a great idea, but the single-player game would also have benefitted from an optional co-op partner - even if meant breaking the narrative arc. Breed veterans would probably agree that the game was always best played with a buddy, so to force players into riding solo for the bulk of it runs counter to what many players - myself included - would have preferred.

This perhaps wouldn't have been such an issue were the co-op mode itself not such a throwaway exercise. There's rarely enough loot to go around, as it's shared between you, and the gameplay balance is thrown out of whack the moment you realise that death means respawning a few seconds later complete with the default weapons loadout and ammo. It's often beneficial to die so you can resume better equipped than before. With no real need to tread carefully, co-op play quickly descends into a monotonous trudge.

'Alien Breed Evolution: Episode One' Screenshot 3

Why didn't they just use the doors?

Unfortunately, some of the same issues apply to the single-player campaign as well, with a singular lack of variety apparent throughout. The game punctuates the combat with a series of fetch quests, and removes the explorational element by getting you to follow waypoints on the mini-map. But as faithful to the originals as this probably sounds (apart from the waypoints), it doesn't scale particularly well over the course or four or five hours.

Played over any kind of extended period, the repetition starts to numb, and minor failures via careless save-game management make you angry. On that basis, Alien Breed Evolution is one of the few Xbox Live Arcade games best savoured one chapter at a time over a week or two, rather than consumed with fervour all at once, and indeed when I started playing it that way I had a lot more fun.

Alien Breed Evolution really could have benefitted from a more progressive design, too. Having nailed the controls and delivered a lavish audio-visual makeover, it then proceeds to give you little more to do than chase waypoints, activate panels and shoot half a dozen types of aliens with the usual array of sci-fi weaponry. Apart from a memorable chase sequence in the early stages, the game waits right until the very end before unleashing another surprise. In between, you're essentially just killing a truckload of aliens and rebooting machines.

'Alien Breed Evolution: Episode One' Screenshot 4

Placing sentry guns on power points lets the ship take the strain.

Had the game perhaps taken a leaf out of Dead Space's book and made the weapons and upgrades integral to the combat, then the issue of repetition would be less of a problem. As it is, there's no real sense that the gameplay moves on from the basic blasting and keycard-hunting that you see in the first 20 minutes, and that initial relief that Team 17 hasn't meddled with the formula eventually gives way to the realisation that, in 2009, this back-to-basics approach isn't enough to carry you for the length of time it demands.

On the face of it, Alien Breed Evolution offers everything that fans of the 16-bit incarnations could wish for, with strong production values and focused design contributing to a sympathetic update that stays true to the source material. But sadly, a flawed approach to co-op play and an inherent lack of variety ultimately count against it. With two more instalments to come, we can only hope there's time for Team 17 to build on the many positive elements in this first episode.

7 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (125) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Ryze #1 2 years ago

    Played this at the Expo. I'll reaquaint myself with the demo...

  • SlackMaster #2 2 years ago

    I missed this at the expo but I played some of the original games on the Amiga and loved them. Can't wait to get back tonight and download it.

    Don't know anyone on my friends list thoguh that will get this game. :(

  • bumgut #3 2 years ago

    Might have to play the demo first.

  • Stompy #4 2 years ago

    I wonder if Team 17 will deny Eurogamer future review copies after this seemingly fair but somewhat scathing review, as they did in their 90s heyday to Amiga Power.

  • linea #5 2 years ago

    Hmmm. I was well excited about this but I was pretty much going to buy it specifically in order to play through the main story with a mate of mine.

    Given the huge torrent of awesome games coming out soon I don't know if I really fancy it for the SP alone...

  • GamesConnoisseur #6 2 years ago

    Still a purchase for me, scathing review yes but perhaps fair and will be prepared for the flaws but dead keen on reliving the wastrel days of my youth. Amiga during my late teen years were pretty exciting!

  • Darren #7 2 years ago

    I have fond memories of Alien Breed from my Amiga days so I'll definitely be checking out the demo. Dunno that I'll be buying the full game though.

  • darkmorgado #8 2 years ago

    Was really looking forward to this game and it was on my must-buy list. Now I'm not too sure though - I had inferred (rightly or wrongly) that there was going to be more depth to this, more of an RPG slant. A relentless top-down shooter sounds like it could get a bit samey after a while, especially if, as the review implies, there are only half a dozen enemy types during the whole campaign. Will need to play the demo and check the price point - I've lost count of the amount of top-down twin stick shooters that have come out recently.

  • linea #9 2 years ago

    Hmmm. I was well excited about this but I was pretty much going to buy it specifically in order to play through the main story with a mate of mine.

    Given the huge torrent of awesome games coming out soon I don't know if I really fancy it for the single player alone...

    Shame.

  • berelain #10 2 years ago

    Instant purchase for me when I get home tonight. I'm actually glad they didn't try to vamp this up with added gubbins and RPG elements- its as pure as it gets. I do find it somewhat baffling how reviewers can slam a retro-remake like this for not doing enough to change the core gameplay, yet heap mountains of praise on New Super Mario Bros, which may as well be the original Super Mario bros for all the innovation it throws into the mix.

    Expecting negative feedback for Mario-bashing here, obviously.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 08:49

  • SlackMaster #11 2 years ago

    I read it was going to be 800msp. Anything more and I'll give it a miss... 800 is the sweet spot for me, which is why I've not got games like MvC2.

  • siro #12 2 years ago

    @EverAfter

    It has been announced as 800 for this episode.

  • wizlon #13 2 years ago

    7 is a good score, still going to try out the demo before I dip though, but I think it's a cert.

  • wellzy4eva #14 2 years ago

    episodic gaming sucks...

  • Midgetcorrupter #15 2 years ago

    For 800pts i'd say its a must buy!

  • JDFreeman #16 2 years ago

    @darkmorgado

    Was hoping for more of an RPG slant too :( oh well it sounds like they have just re-done the original with better graphics, which although not a bad thing and I may well get it. More depth would of been nice.

  • anomagnus #17 2 years ago

    The lack of variety seems an unfair complaint to me, especially give the fact the reviewer spends the opening paragraph discussing how developers can move to far away from the central idea of the original game.

    At the core of Alien Breed, is the 90's 16 bit game, which was as advanced and varied as a game could be at that time. All they've done is expand the original game as much as they could, without changing it into something else.

  • KujiGhost #18 2 years ago

    I loved the original so I'll be getting this tonight. I thought the review was extremely fair and rightfully pointed out the faults where they existed. Team17 are a clever bunch of lads so I'm sure they'll address everybody's concerns.

  • Retroid #19 2 years ago

    The originals were always at their best when played co-op, hopefully the demo allows this and I'll see if it's worth a purchase based on that.

    edit: I'd somehow missed the part about co-op being separate, who the hell thought that was a good idea?! If we can have two Master Chiefs in Halo (which does crap on the narrative in that game, but it doesn't matter) then I can't see a reason (other than technical, which I find a little hard to believe) why they're taken the route they have with it in this.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 10:17

  • kipper #20 2 years ago

    I'll be buying this as soon as it appears on marketplace. 800points for 4 or 5 hours of fun sounds fine to me.

    @ Darkmorgado - "A relentless top-down shooter sounds like it could get a bit samey after a while, especially if, as the review implies, there are only half a dozen enemy types during the whole campaign."
    Um, thats pretty much how the original Alien Breeds were. The fun came in the relentless combat, exploration, and atmospheric level design.

  • hiddenranbir #21 2 years ago

    Single player story thing is split off from co-op mode? Co-op an afterthought that isn't as fun as original? Ouch! :(

    Must get still perhaps.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 09:56

  • kipper #22 2 years ago

    Ok, I'm downloading the game onto my xbox as we speak. The only odd thing is, the game isn't listed under Arcade New Releases. I had to search for it alphabetically. If anyone from Team17 reads this, I hope that they can get MS to sort this out quickly. If the game isn't listed under new releases, how is anyone going to stumble across it and try it? The game needs exposure or nobody will find it.

  • thegamesthething #23 2 years ago

    "Ok, I'm downloading the game onto my xbox as we speak. The only odd thing is, the game isn't listed under Arcade New Releases. I had to search for it alphabetically. If anyone from Team17 reads this, I hope that they can get MS to sort this out quickly. If the game isn't listed under new releases, how is anyone going to stumble across it and try it? The game needs exposure or nobody will find it. "

    Happens pretty much every Wed morning on XBLA - the content goes up on time (9 am I think) but the links in New Releases etc appear later. Usually fixed by the end of the day.

  • bad09 #24 2 years ago

    Might nab the trial off live while I wait for the PC version. Can't buy on Live as I'm not renewing my gold so I need to wait for the PC to play co-op.

    Hurry up T17!

  • kipper #25 2 years ago

    It's 1200 points! I thought Spadge had promised it would be 800 points.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #26 2 years ago

    Loved this at the Expo. I play all games - whether XBLA or full-price - over a long period of time anyway, so tackling this in half hour increments sounds good.

    Will be buying on the Marketplace website later today...!

    Edit 1: how on Earth is a 7 a scathing review?

    Edit 2: if it is 1200 points, it'll have to wait till after Xmas :-( don't have enough left now...
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 10:28

  • spadge #27 2 years ago

    Deffo 800pts, or should be. We can't see the game live yet, if there's a problem we'll be onto it - although any error is at MS' end.

    [link url= http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/a/alienbreedevoxbla/
    ]http://ww w.xbox.com/en-US/games/a/alienb...[/link]

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #28 2 years ago

    "Can't buy on Live as I'm not renewing my gold"

    Um, you don't need a Gold sub to buy XBLA games.

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #29 2 years ago

    "Edit 1: how on Earth is a 7 a scathing review? "

    Well, basically because it's a 5/10 review with a 7 on the end to keep the publishers happy.

  • Irien #30 2 years ago

    I too was expecting to insta-buy this as a co-op game to play with the missus. I'd just assumed that a game like this would be campaign-co-op like Resi 5 or (more relevant in terms of style) Marvel Alliance.

    What do we lose by playing co-op? Is it the same levels minus the story sections, or is it a different game altogether?

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #31 2 years ago

    @ spadge

    Two quick questions!

    1) Any chance of main campaign co-op (local at least if not Live) in DLC or future episodes?

    2) Are the achievements easy? ;-)

    Cheers!

  • bad09 #32 2 years ago

    @ Rev. Stuart Campbell

    Put your glasses on old fella and read the rest of the very sentence you quoted ;)

  • Hobo #33 2 years ago

    Anyone have a web marketplace link for this?

  • vegard #34 2 years ago

    will download demo later today, will probably end up buying this. but can't help but wonder how T17 are going to convince me to buy all three episodes. episode 2 and 3 better have some gameplay variatian for that to happen.

  • kipper #35 2 years ago

    @ Spadge "Deffo 800pts, or should be. We can't see the game live yet, if there's a problem we'll be onto it - although any error is at MS' end. "

    I just downloaded and played the demo direct from my xbox and its definetly listed as 1200 points. I live in netherlands. I can't see it on xbox.com yet.

  • Hobo #36 2 years ago

    If you look at your purchase history on xbox.com you'll be able to get a link from there if you've downloaded it :)

  • Midian #37 2 years ago

    Marketplace is FUBAR'd - says its 800 points on one screen, and 1200 when you go to buy :(

    I'll wait till they sort that out before buying, but it is a defo purchase!

  • spadge #38 2 years ago

    Seems its listed as 1200 on Holland and Sweden. We're currently trying to get this rectified at MS. Bit of a cock up at their end and we're obviously disappointed.

    As for the review, the great thing about XBLA is that the trial is there and people can happily judge for themselves. I'm too old and battle-hardened to get embroiled in review arguments any more. Worms got 6 on here and is one of the best selling XBLA titles, as an example, so I don't feel they're terribly important on our digital titles, its user rating and download to purchase conversions that matter for us.

    We're just a bit miffed that the price has been cocked up and it's unfortunately not something we can fix ourselves, so you can imagine the phone/mail fervor that's going on right now.

  • Hobo #39 2 years ago

    ALIEN BREED Live Arcade Price Confirmation

    Title incorrectly priced on launch.

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    Team17 have received early reports that the pricing of ALIEN BREED EVOLUTION (Episode 1) released today for Xbox Live Arcade is at 1200 Microsoft Points. This is an error outside our immediate control.

    Team17 would like to state that the correct price is just 800 Microsoft Points and this will be rectified as soon as possible.

    The listing on Xbox.com stipulates the correct price:
    http://ww w.xbox.com/en-US/games/a/alienb...

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #40 2 years ago

    "Put your glasses on old fella and read the rest of the very sentence you quoted"

    You've lost me. I quoted the entire sentence, there is no "rest of" it.

    I believe what people were pointing out is that the REVIEW is scathing, while the mark isn't. Hence, "scathing review", not "scathing score". If you took the number off the end are guessed at the score just by reading the words, my bet is most people would read it as a 5.

  • aids #41 2 years ago

    spadge do you know when this will be released for Australia?
    It hasn't shown up on Live =(

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #42 2 years ago

    @ Rev Stuart Campbell

    I don't think the review is scathing though - the first page seems pretty gushing, the second page criticises repetition and the co-op mode. Reads like a 6 or 7, which it got - which is a good score IMO.

    Anyway, never mind. Still gonna be buying it when MS sorts out the price :-)

  • Hobo #43 2 years ago

    [link url=http://marketplace.xbox. com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410964/? of=7
    ]http://ma rketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/...[/link]

  • spadge #44 2 years ago

    No idea, sorry. Not quite sure how the titles servers are populated. We still can't see it here.

    However, we've been told that the price issue is being resolved as I type.

    @Hobo, I checked that earlier and it was 800pts... it should be all sorted within the hour. FFS
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 11:37

  • Dumas #45 2 years ago

    Yup...Acey Bongos @ MS confirmed they're on it via his Twitter a while back...

    <a href="http://twitter.com/Acey Bongos">

  • bad09 #46 2 years ago

    "You've lost me. I quoted the entire sentence, there is no "rest of" it. "

    eh? what about the "....so I need to wait for the PC to play co-op." bit at the end? Read this chart for me please Rev..

    SHOULD
    HAVE
    GONE
    TO
    SPECSAVERS

    :)
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 11:41

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #47 2 years ago

    @bad09:

    Whoops, confused your post with BriteSparc's. I do need to go to Specsavers. :D

  • bumgut #48 2 years ago

    Definitley listed as 1200 MS pts (I'm from the UK)

  • Darren #49 2 years ago

    So this game *is* supposed to be 800 MP then not 1,200 MP?

    If so then that's much better value IMO and makes the game a more attractive purchase. I may even buy it myself if I like the demo.

  • Skeletor #50 2 years ago

    It's 1200 in Germany...what a dissapointment. Seriously, how can such a thing happen. You build up hype, tell everybody that it's 800 points...and then this:-(
    This is exactly the reason why I hate the points system. I only have 1000 points and wanted to play the full episode TODAY.

  • spadge #51 2 years ago

    Skeletor, it will be fixed shortly. It's an error at MS end. Game is 800pts.

    Our apologies, but it was a mistake at Microsoft's dashboard team.

  • berelain #52 2 years ago

    @ Skeletor

    Suggest you read the other posts first matey, the problem is explained ^^

  • chiz #53 2 years ago

    Just played the demo. 7/10 my arse. it's easily 9/10

  • Retroid #54 2 years ago

    Oi! Spadge!

    Give the person who made the decision on co-op a slap for us, please! :)

    As for Worms, that was great on XBLA. Loved it, and have completed all-but-one Challenge levels.

  • Beano #55 2 years ago

    Looks pretty ok... but only at 800p. No way at 1200p.

  • spadge #56 2 years ago

    I think the decision to have separate co-op levels was for quite a number of reasons to do with how the levels are designed and how the narrative/story works really, it's not quite as simple as just bunging on a 2nd player. There's also management of the frame-rate with tons of particles & lighting. Co-op tends to play very differently. The game is also much better and tense on the tougher difficulty mode btw.

  • KDR_11k #57 2 years ago

    Was really looking forward to this game and it was on my must-buy list. Now I'm not too sure though - I had inferred (rightly or wrongly) that there was going to be more depth to this, more of an RPG slant.

    I'd suggest the Alien Shooter games then (fairly cheap on Steam IIRC).

  • Skeletor #58 2 years ago

    @spadge
    All right, played ther trial...and calmed down a bit. Blasting some nasty aliens definitely helped:-)
    Haven't read the review yet but I enjoyed the trial A LOT. Alien Breed is back and it plays and looks just marvelous. I'll buy it as soon as they fix the price.

  • Darren #59 2 years ago

    @chiz - You might want to revise your score once you've played the FULL game like the reviewer has? After all he did mention lack of variety as being one of the reasons the game didn't score higher and that's not something you can gauge from a short demo. ;)

  • Retroid #60 2 years ago

    Well, as I said on the previous page I accept there mayhave been technical reasons for shifting co-op over, but I'd happily accept less shininess for the sake of two players through the main game. That is, after all, how most people I know played through the original Alien Breed(s).

    Narrative... Halo's co-op was much praised in the day, no-one cared that there were two Spartans running around when it was said several times that MC was the last one :)

    Co-op through the campaign *is* a selling point for me with games, I'm sure it is for many people here.

  • drumbaby #61 2 years ago

    Hopefully the PS3 will get the improved version...

  • klem578 #62 2 years ago

    "Hopefully the PS3 will get the improved version... "

    Leave now...

    Where are these fucktards coming from ? N4G ? Christ...
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 12:50

  • geeza2020 #63 2 years ago

    hmmmm... are MS just trying to scam MORE money out of people with the pricing thing? Just a mistake at their end eh? Well excuse me if i dont believe anything MS say about their pricing system or policies. I remember a similar "mistake" happening with the Crash Course pack for L4D. LOADS of people instantly downloading the game as soon as it is available only for MS to make an announcement of "woops we charged y'all too much, hyuk hyuk, but watcha gonna do huh?" Do they refund people that buy the game at the more expensive price? I doubt it...... but i cant say for sure.

  • chiz #64 2 years ago

    @Darren

    You could argue that the original Alien Breed had a lack of variety too. It didn't stop me playing the game to death. This has the exact same feeling, so 9/10 and 50 bananas from me.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 12:53

  • berelain #65 2 years ago

    @geeza2020 - in my expeirence, yes, MS do give refunds to those that paid the wrong price. I bought Stan Bush's "The Touch" for Guitar Hero / Rockband (whichever one of those it was released for, it all blurs into one for me) when it came out for 80msp, only for it to be corrected to free later on that day. I got the points refunded to my account in a week or so.

  • kipper #66 2 years ago

    @ geeza2020
    Never attribute to malice what can adequately be explained by incompetence. ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 13:00

  • HuggyAtHome #67 2 years ago

    Looks like MS are looking to milk the early adopters with a bit of 'accidental' price gouging - shocking mistake . Count me in tonight for 800pts though

  • klem578 #68 2 years ago

    @Geeza : Mate, although i see what you're saying, suggesting that the whole thing is done on purpose is just silly to say the least...

    C'mon , all this speculation is getting out of hand , we're talking about a company here , not an indy shop owned by some random hack.

    PSN has cocked-up on the price thing a couple of times too ,it was no biggie though , you just had to wait a couple of hours until everything got fixed :)

    Still , i do agree that this kind of shit shouldn't happen , so...

  • Hobo #69 2 years ago

    Huggyathome: "Looks like MS are looking to milk the early adopters with a bit of 'accidental' price gouging - shocking mistake . Count me in tonight for 800pts though"

    Oh please shut up. They'll refund the early purchasers like they have every other pricing error there's been.

  • Gearskin #70 2 years ago

    Do I get a points refund, considering I splurged on Xbox.com and have it in my download que already :(

  • spadge #71 2 years ago

    We'd rather there was no mistake and it was just 800msp. Put rather a dent on our release day.

  • Bonders99 #72 2 years ago

    Poor ol Spadge. Having to come here and explain to gamers what's happening and keeping folks informed. Way to go old soldier ;-). It's actually nice for a dev to come on these boards and keep people updated. Well done Spadge

  • Retroid #73 2 years ago

    Agreed; it is extremely great of Spadge to come here, it's always fantastic to get direct feedback from a dev! \o/

  • Skeletor #74 2 years ago

    "C'mon , all this speculation is getting out of hand , we're talking about a company here , not an indy shop owned by some random hack."

    Well, speculations or not you have to admit that it's kinda funny that after telling everybody and their dog "Look! It's just 800 points!" they suddenly forget about it themselves. Especially because such "mistakes" always happen to the most popular releases...

  • templar-wizard #75 2 years ago

    How much for the next few episodes or is that an easy way to get the to 1600MSP?

  • Matfink #76 2 years ago

    Mr Spadge, while you're here, any news on fixes for the many bugs in Worms?

  • BillyBrush #77 2 years ago

    Are the aliens later in the game like 'aliens'?

    as per the original Alien breed, or are they insect like thingys the whole way through?

    I'm guessing maybe Fox don't take kindly to the H R Geiger type baddie....but it'd be a shame if they're not there as that was one of the cool things about the original...aliens without the liscence!

  • Skeletor #78 2 years ago

    @BillyBrush

    Guess, they're more like the ones in Starship Troopers now...though the big things in the trial reminded me of the "potato-creatures" from the Invasion from Mars remake:-)
    Besides, why going for Giger-type aliens when there's another AVP game around the corner?
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 13:33

  • Hobo #79 2 years ago

    For what it's worth, and to hopefully shut a few people up...i seem to have already been refunded the extra 400pts i'd paid.

  • othelaatko #80 2 years ago

    spadge: Just an idea. For me: it Would be nice if the controled character would say something, when he shoot all the enemies. Something like: "Die U motofoko, yeaaah, that showed him etc." One of the best thing about Worms are those funny little sentences and noises their doin while they blowin everything and eachother out. The demo made a good impression anyway.

  • berelain #81 2 years ago

    Skeletor - "Well, speculations or not you have to admit that it's kinda funny that after telling everybody and their dog "Look! It's just 800 points!" they suddenly forget about it themselves. Especially because such "mistakes" always happen to the most popular releases..."

    It was Team 17 that promised the 800msp price, not Microsoft. And it was Microsoft that made the pricing cockup, not Team 17.

  • BillyBrush #82 2 years ago

    @Skeletor

    just wondering really....i like the trial, very much, so it's not the end of the world if it doesn't feature some things that just so happen to look like face huggers and aliens...but i do find em scary, so it'd be cool if they do turn up (perhaps they could be known as 'leg huggers' and 'zenomorphs' or something, to get round the legal shite)...the insects, all well and good, but they don't make my spine a shiver

  • spadge #83 2 years ago

    Price is updated and will take a while to propagate through the servers etc (they did this at 10am and it can take up to 4hrs).

    Re: Worms fixes, there was a major update for XBLA recently, if you have issues, please report them - [link url=http://www.fac ebook.com/team17software
    ]http://www.fac ebook.com/team17software
    [/link]

    We'd be happy to read comments, feedback and stuff if people wish to post on the facebook page. We can't promise to fix/add things but we'll certainly read them.

  • sneetch #84 2 years ago

    @Hobo
    Oh please shut up. They'll refund the early purchasers like they have every other pricing error there's been.

    But then there's no big conspiracy theory and that's no fun. :(

    Unless... wait I got one, Microsoft - sorry, I mean Micro$oft - will take those extra points and play the money markets with them. They'll make billions then refund shoddily made second-rate Microsoft - dammit, Micro$oft, ok... I got it, Micro$oft - Points onto your accounts!

    These Micro$oft (hah! in your face 's' key!) Points don't work properly, they don't come with a proper guarantee and violate European laws against the importing of non-EU electrons into Europe without a Class 4 Electron Importer Licence!

  • Beano #85 2 years ago

    Great - at 800p it's quite tempting... just wish I had more time :)

  • jimboton #86 2 years ago

    "The game punctuates the combat with a series of fetch quests, and removes the explorational element by getting you to follow waypoints on the mini-map"

    This alone puts me off completely. I'm so tired of following waypoints in minimaps. Let me be lost in my game already.

  • Harmonica #87 2 years ago

    Another fan of the original giving this a pass. Missed opportunity to make a great new version of the original. Not worth paying for the same game with a fancy graphics engine.

    Good coop would have sold me.

  • Waldo #88 2 years ago

    I'll just play Shadowgrounds again while I wait for a price drop. ;)

  • spadge #89 2 years ago

    It is now 800pts, after a pretty frenetic day of mails, calls and foot-stomping. Rather took the edge (sorry Langdell) off our release excitement. Anyway, for those that do d/l, hope you enjoy.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 15:18

  • Phattso #90 2 years ago

    I'm a bit pissed off at the moment because the demo did nothing for me. I can't see anything wrong with it, it just doesn't appear to be pushing the right buttons for me and I wasn't enjoying it. :(

    I'm going to put it down to me having a bad day and try it again tomorrow.

  • Harmonica #91 2 years ago

    The demo was solid enough but not anything we haven't seen before. Authentic Alien Breed, but like the review says in as many words, that's not really enough these days.

    They'd have to have taken advantage of coop over Xbox Live, and offered drop in drop out coop that meant something, to make it a definite purchase. Playing with friends online is what it's all about - and that's why the original game was so good. For me that's why I'll be rebuying Serious Sam for the nth time, that's why I already bought Team 17's Worms XBLA games, and I'm disappointed that I won't be buying Alien Breed XBLA.

    Sidepoint: who goes through these comments pages downvoting anyone who says they're not buying it? Too much time on their hands, much?

  • Lawlost #92 2 years ago

    Had a very quick go on the demo (5 mins) looks nice and shiny on the Unreal engine etc. Cannot say I am convinced yet but need to give it a proper go. If you get all the eps it works out fairly expensive considering we are now picking up AAA titles for £17.99 a few months after release (Batman AA for example).

  • waggy79 #93 2 years ago

    Dont understand the EG bashing here, played the demo and was bored by the repetitiveness already, 7 seems very fair.

    Also I never played the original but this seems worlds different, the people with their rose tinted specs on may get a surprise when they actually play it.

  • Stoatboy #94 2 years ago

    Sidepoint: who goes through these comments pages downvoting anyone who says they're not buying it?

    Spadge, probably. ;)

  • Hobo #95 2 years ago

    "If you get all the eps it works out fairly expensive considering we are now picking up AAA titles for £17.99 a few months after release (Batman AA for example)."

    Well then don't purchase, and wait however long it will be for Microsoft to offer it as a deal of the week. Same principal.

  • nottingham01 #96 2 years ago

    load of shit m8 just cost me 1200 ms pts .refund me now

  • beastmaster #97 2 years ago

    Can't wait to play this. Going to have to wait till after I see Avatar tonight.

  • Hobo #98 2 years ago

    "load of shit m8 just cost me 1200 ms pts .refund me now"

    Says on Live when you're buying that refunds aren't available. So as eloquently as possible...fuck off.

  • spadge #99 2 years ago

    we believe that anyone who paid 1200 (right after launch) will get pts refunded. It was amended at 10am but took a few hours to go through the system. Whilst it wasn't really anything to do with us (the pricing error) we're sorry for those messed around.

  • TruSmiles #100 2 years ago

    When I work out how to get the 800 points I won on 1 vs 100, I'll be spending them on this no doubt ^^

  • JonFE #101 2 years ago

    spadge, sorry to hear about the price cock-up ruining ABE's release date. I will certainly try it later tonight and probably purchase it, if nothing else for old times' sake.

    However, like Retroid, I do wish that your team reconsiders the whole co-op scenario and introduces it (even in a less shiny way) to the campaign...

  • septimus #102 2 years ago

    "One of the more curious decisions is to separate single-player and from that co-op mode" - shame, that has killed an instant purchase for me. If you have this fixed for the PS3 release I would bite.

    After reading this I would have preferred a straight port of AB 1, 2 and Tower Assault

    -edit- Okay maybe not a straight port as I still own all of the above. But it does seem a step back when the Amiga could do it ;)
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 21:12

  • Lawlost #103 2 years ago

    "Well then don't purchase, and wait however long it will be for Microsoft to offer it as a deal of the week. Same principal."

    When was the last time you saw MS discount within 3 months of release?

  • Waldo #104 2 years ago

    Sidepoint: who goes through these comments pages downvoting anyone who says they're not buying it? Too much time on their hands, much?

    Yeah, I can't figure out why I got negative votes just because I said I was going to wait for a price drop.

  • FuseNet #105 2 years ago

    Oh dear oh dear... to not include a serious coop but instead focus on single player was an utterly goony decision at least. Therefore not buying it, sorry. :o(

  • alcolepone #106 2 years ago

    bit dissapointed so far with the game, only played the first chapter, but ended up looking at the map to follow way points, without much clue as to why i was going there. Not getting the same atmoshpere as the old alien breeds.

    will carry on though

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #107 2 years ago

    "played the demo and was bored by the repetitiveness already, 7 seems very fair"

    [facepalm]

  • Murton #108 2 years ago

    i was originally disappointed by the fact that I would have to wait in order to get my hands on this as I've been looking forward to the new Breed for some time, but there are a number of issues raised in this review that I must say have put me off a little. The lack of proper co-op gameplay being the main thing.

    I suppose I could hold onto the insane hope that these problems are remedied in the PC or PS3 releases and perhaps in a patch or later instalment for the 360 guys but this is very, very unlikely so I think I'll just get something else when they finally get round to releasing it on the platforms I use.

  • Hobo #109 2 years ago

    "When was the last time you saw MS discount within 3 months of release? "

    Not my problem. With sales in the shops, you live in hope that the game you might want will be featured. Same here.

  • Synthesis #110 2 years ago

    Just thinking of Alien Breed has my ears ringing with the sound effects of the doors, the keys, the money, the ammo packs, the aliens and the music.. oh and the elevator at the end of a level..

    I applaud Team 17 for remaking the classic, I just wish it was closer to a carbon copy, because that to me would be worth more than the new one they've made.

    Either way, it's still better than plenty of other nonsense that you could buy for 800 points and ambitious remakes of legendary games like this do deserve support.

    Now spadge, about that Project X remake.. can you leave it just the same please + another 50 levels of insane carnage?

    Thank you and everyone else at Team 17 (mostly for the Amiga times and a little bit for remaking Alien Breed)

    Edit: oh yes and waypoints = suckage, let us get pissed off at walking around in circles trying to find our way around, getting frustrated by the endless spawn noises of our alien foes and alarmed by the rapid depreciation of our limited ammunition supply.

    Not everything has to be remade into easymode for todays retarded gaming community.
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 04:48

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #111 2 years ago

    Far too busy wrapping presents and decorating trees to play this last night. Hopefully will get a chance tonight! I'm sure I'll get some time in over the Xmas hols however. Looking forward to it.

  • septimus #112 2 years ago

    That's it. I'm setting up the CD32 to play the originals tonight. My wife will just have to give me filthy looks while she misses some random TV programme she will want to see.

    /sad I know, but all the talk of the originals makes me want to play them again; and then lament at how bad I am and how hard Tower Assualt is.
    Edited by 1 at 17/12/09 @ 12:02

  • headrush #113 2 years ago

    Alien Breed was only fun in coop and they obviously fucked this up in the remake. I hate to say it but this is real dealbreaker for me.

  • Midgetcorrupter #114 2 years ago

    Developers really cant win with some of you guys can they, if they make a game identical to the original you feel cheated because its the same, and if they make a new version thats not exactly like the original you complain.

  • SomeRandomGuy #115 2 years ago

    there is MP co-op its just done differently in this game.. AFAIK you have a single player game set specifically set up to increase the single player experience. And then there is a multiplayer co-op game where u then play maps specifically set up for 2 players. Therefore it should be a win-win.. As for the dying model panned in the review, its exactly the same as Halo's an no one complained there.. Its not the best game in the world but its a pretty damn good XBLA game..

  • headrush #116 2 years ago

    Well, I am not complaining that the single and coop are separated. My point is that according to the review the coop is way to easy because you dont get punished for dying.

  • cheeky_Greenman #117 2 years ago

    @ headrush

    From what I've played, you do get punished for the co-op! Dying affects your score for the level, the more you die the less you score, plus you're not re-equiped with ammo when you do die. I've found the co-op to be fun, still I am sure you've tried it to make an informed opinion on it :)

  • CaptainQuint #118 2 years ago

    Can someone please clarify whether or not the whole game can be played in co-op mode, since the IGN review does state that it can. I will buy if the answer is yes.

  • headrush #119 2 years ago

    @ Greenman:
    I haven't tried it yet, I was referring to the review. Thanks for your opinion though, I guess I will check it out during the holidays. Alien Breed used to be one of my favorite games back in the 90s, together with speedball2 and chaos engine. Damn, I hope they bring chaos engine to xbla, too.

  • Shinetop #120 2 years ago

    So, a Eurogamer embargo from Team 17 now that EG gave their Leisure Suit Larry Redeemer 'only' a 7?

  • kipper #121 2 years ago

    @ Captain Quint
    The campaign is single player only. There is 2 player co-op on different, specially designed maps.

    I have just completed the first SP level on medium difficulty, picked up 3 achievements, and I must say I enjoyed it a lot.
    For those who complain about waypoints making it too easy, I should say that exploration is essential anyway otherwise you will soon run out of ammo, health packs etc. The waypoints simply stop you getting lost. Ditto the automap.

    Also, thank goodness the aliens don't spawn continually any more. Occasional , limited spawns are much better for pacing, and survivability. I loved Tower Assault but it was just impossible to get very far in single player. Difficulty in ABE is much more forgiving, and so you can play more of the game.

    I didn't find the save point system a problem, once I realised you can find the savepoints on the map.

    I'm looking forward to trying the co-op later on.

    All in all, 800 points well spent. If you think it's overpriced I suggest you see what other games you can get for the price. Feeding Frenzy anyone?

  • Matfink #122 2 years ago

    Cheers for the reply, Mr Spadge!

  • Sharzam #123 2 years ago

    I can imagine that if they did the co-op correctly it could be like assault heroes but on UE3, i think will hold off this game as i would prefer that.

  • Xarius302 #124 2 years ago

    played through this first episode, thought it was awesome. its not supposed to be revolutionary, its just a revamp of an old game. no more, no less. good fun!!!

  • bumgut #125 2 years ago

    When's episode 2 coming out?