Alien is one of 20th centry's all-time classic movies. In that typical Hollywood style it's spawned sequels, a prequel in the shape of Prometheus - so what was that all about? - and, of course, its fair share of video games.

Faithful alien character design; original score and sound effects; interior ship levels wonderfully lit; first-person shooting thrills; when the game opens up and explores stealth and exploration mid-campaign it becomes original and engaging; play as aliens in multiplayer

AI can be dumb; lacks the required scares; repetitive gameplay; levels often based in same landscape; story lacks engagement; some character and checkpoint glitches

I personally waited two years to get my hands on a copy of this game. As a huge fan of the Aliens franchise, there was no questions that this was a definite purchase for me. I think the game is satisfying for those who were curious to see what Gearbox had to offer in respect to a follow up to 1986's...

" Aliens: Colonial Marines " has been some six years in the making. Is this more Borderlands from Gearbox, or more Duke Nukem Forever ? I'm a pretty big fan of the Aliens films, with Aliens being my particular favourite.

If you look at any top 100 movie list, universally and without fail you'll see the James Cameron-fueled scarefest Aliens.  It represents the highest point in the franchise, it's the go-to movie when you think about the series, and it has the most memorable characters, environments, and quotable...

All movie-specific sounds are represented; Multiplayer is a lot of fun – we'll see if it sticks; Michael Biehn and Lance Henriksen lend authenticity to the game

Muddy graphics and bland textures across the board – clearly all released screenshots were from the PC version; (including the ones in this review!, Jagged shadows and lighting, Spastic and inconsistent voice work from supporting cast, Very dated gameplay mechanics, Poorly-placed challenges, No...

Has the Alien franchise become cursed when it comes to telling a good story? Released a full 27 years after the iconic film Aliens hit theaters, Colonial Marines is intended as the movie's true sequel.

+ The superior multiplayer modes may be worth the cost of admission alone; + Cooperative mode lets you tackle the story campaign with up to three pals

? If Weyland-Yutani had its own strike team; why'd they send in the marines in the first place

It's difficult to think of another concept that's spawned so many spinoffs from just two good movies. Alien 3 and 4, Prometheus, the AVP series, not to mention the games that have hit the shelves in various formats, have all gestated our hopes before exploding them like a gory chest burst.

Aliens: Colonial Marines is a disappointing return to Cameron's action-packed Alien sequel. With so much of the gameplay missing the mark, both technically and conceptually, there's very little reason for fans of the film or FPS fanatics to seek out what is a decidedly lacklustre game all round.

A lot of people will want to hate Aliens: Colonial Marines, and Gearbox don't do a lot to prevent that, but there are glimmers of a fine game in there. The story is hammy, but I was entertained for every minute that I played; the shooting mechanics don't do the universe any justice, but those are...

Aliens: Colonial Marines boasts one of the most iconic and evocative landscapes in cinema - but what's the use if there's nothing interesting to do there? If Colonial Marines were a film it would be one of those quiet indiscretions sent directly to video, but instead it's a game, one in which every...

The Alien franchise deserves better than this. Aliens: Colonial Marines is a disappointing exercise in bland corridor shooting, dragged down by laughable dialogue and cooperative play that makes the game worse than when you adventure on your own.

Online multiplayer offers some fun; anxious moments; Interesting stealth level brings some suspense to the single-player campaign

Campaign is mostly devoid of tension and challenge; Static pace and lack of variety lead to boredom; Tacked-on cooperative play completely negates the narrative; Dated visuals and assorted bugs