Aliens: Colonial Marines

[MikeGER]

Grimmnirsson, did you had preordered ?

[Grimnirsson]

Yep, I had preordered the game. It was a Gearbox Software game, I love Borderlands, what could go wrong...

[Jarhead0331]

Jar, I'm not bitter, I'm just saying that Gearbox had some great franchise on their table and they had the time, the talent and the chance to make something outstanding. The game has bad gfx, a too short campaign, a ticked on coop, no real story worth listening to, a MP with far too few maps, a horrible AI, a bad matchmaking system and a ton of glitches and bugs. Still, when it works it's kinda fun, it's even better than Medal of Honor Warfighter (which I stopped playing in the SP and MP, it was that bad), but Gearbox Software did everything to hype it to the moon and back. That's why people expected much more than just a playable game that's kinda fun if it works. Again, I'm not saying I don't have some fun with it, but it's not worth the full price I paid. It's not a polished product and the fans feel betrayed. Today I listened to one of Randys interviews again and it's hard to accept that ACM is the game that was presented to us when you listen to his words. The youtube movie that shows the older demo stuff and the released final game side by side is proof something went wrong here...I will play the game with friends in the coop campaign (a couple of hours into it by now)  and will play the MP until I get bored with the maps. And while I am doing that I dream of the game that ACM could have been. I'm not bitter but realistic and as a customer and Gearbox fan I have a bad taste in my mouth, that's all. And I follow the internet discussions about Gearbox and I'm not surprised to read what I read there.

I understand and sympathize with everything you are saying.  for some reason, my expectations just were not that high regardless of what they had shown in the past.  I watched the pre-release trailers and was ready for the worst.  Therefore, my hopes have not been dashed and I'm simply having fun with the final product.  That being said, I can't say I agree with some of your complaints.  I do not think the graphics are bad, I do not think the story is so terrible and most of all, I'm finding the AI to be pretty good.  Aliens act like aliens so far, and the WY mercenaries, use cover, suppressing fire and grenades, and move around dynamically enough to create a challenge.  I'm not really sure what everybody expects in this regard.  Any better, and it would have to be scripted.

I do agree with the the length of the campaign, the co-op issues and the lack of dedicated MP servers, however.  Hopefully that will be added so we can all connect and play a few rounds...

[Grimnirsson]

I do not think the graphics are bad, I do not think the story is so terrible and most of all, I'm finding the AI to be pretty good.

Then you are actually playing a different game than I do. You are playing on the PC? Then of course the gfx is better, the gfx on the 360 with the tearing, bad lighting and no AA is from yesteryear. The AI is non existent in my game, the Xenos run in your direction and die. No flanking attempts, no surprises, they just pop up when I move around a corner and run towards me. They don't feel threatening, the game does not evoke tension, there's no thrill. AvP 3 years ago was a MUCH better experience in this regard and had MUCH better gfx on the 360.

[JasonPratt]

By the way, the video comparing the demo footage with the game footage has now been "fixed" (whatever that means), and can be found at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_588812&feature=iv&src_vid=3z2qVebxlUo&v=6lGXDM3LGnk

[Huw the Poo]

It just means that it's been fixed since the original one mislabelled the demo and release parts for a couple of minutes.

[JasonPratt]

Thanks, Huw.

My impression is that the "Demo" version just features code that they couldn't get to work on the 360 and/or the PS3, so the extra sfx were locked off even for the PC, the devs being contractually obligated to provide simultaneous versions that would run at parity with one another. And reportedly even the 360 and PS3 versions had trouble with what DID ship.

Which leads me to wonder two things:

1.) Did the console versions ship with permanently deactivated code, thus perhaps explaining why what did ship seems so buggy?--portions of code are looking for material that is or was there but isn't accessible anymore leading to glitches? (Including AI problems.)

2.) Did the PC version ship with TEMPORARILY DEACTIVATED code, which will be supplied or unlocked later after a contractual period has passed and the devs can market an improved version of the game (perhaps with a major discount for people who purchased it originally)?

[Jarhead0331]

I do not think the graphics are bad, I do not think the story is so terrible and most of all, I'm finding the AI to be pretty good.

Then you are actually playing a different game than I do. You are playing on the PC? Then of course the gfx is better, the gfx on the 360 with the tearing, bad lighting and no AA is from yesteryear. The AI is non existent in my game, the Xenos run in your direction and die. No flanking attempts, no surprises, they just pop up when I move around a corner and run towards me. They don't feel threatening, the game does not evoke tension, there's no thrill. AvP 3 years ago was a MUCH better experience in this regard and had MUCH better gfx on the 360.

Yes, I am playing on the PC.  No graphics issues and my AI is definitely better than what you describe. Why did you buy it on a console as opposed to the PC?

[Grimnirsson]

Why did you buy it on a console as opposed to the PC?

Because I'm a console gamer, I only play strategy wargames on my Notebook, all other gaming is done on the 360. And btw the 360 would have no problem to run a better version of the game, it was a poor port over that's all. We have games that look way better than ACM and they run without problems.

[MikeGER]

- first impressions

so i am am about 1.5 hour in the SP (first encouter with humans) , playing all settings maxed-out at 1920x1080 on veteran level,  PC version of course  ...and I want to continue playing further :)

i also tested one single MP round TDM, just to see it once 
...killed 3 Aliens  while experimenting with different loadouts, and when the side switched, well got not so lucky with my aliens avatars. i have to operate much more sneaky  ;-)
There is a lot to explore and master on both sides,  and i like the asymetric-warfare !, unknown to other FPS multiplayer. :)

I am sure i will get the bang (playtime, entertainment) for my euro bucks out of ACM 

i don't thinks the MP servers will be empty soon. There will be sales at different places and with growing price reduction  in the future, and some DLCs thrown into those bundles too ... which should generate a stream of new players, when personal treasureholds to buy the game get reached 

I also hope for a high-res patch/pack for the PC, but that's just hope.   

the background music is done fantastic / sound also good ... feels like in the movie!

The graphic impression is 'Video-Game'-ish (but not shabby) and not the "1:1 movie, allmost photorealistic scene" ...that everybody expected after looking at all kind of media-footage, shown or given to game journalists ...and so to the public.

Some moments in the game are absolute stunning and very immersing!
While other fall behind, or get spoiled by one little detail... like an alien-made-surfce that looks suddenly like wet-plastic when lighted different...  or missing enuf fog to swirl and wave in the corridors...   

IMHO that is the main reason for the shitstorm. Knowingly overheated expectations, that were not met on release ...but could have been met with 2013 PC-technology!... and that's gets everyone, and especially the large Alien fanbase and those who preordered, upset.               
   

[MikeGER]

here are two mods, to  improve the visuals  8)

...we upped the shadows, we saturated the game a bit, we added more blue-ish colors to give that space feeling that was lacking, and we increased the sharpening filter in order to get a better image quality...

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/aliens-colonial-marines-can-look-good-sweetfx-vs-vanilla/

and

...DX 10 on, for better better light...

http://www.moddb.com/mods/aliensdx10-better-grafik-and-light

its reported both mods are compatible

didn't have tested them yet  ...will have to find out about potential Steam Version problems? first 

[Huw the Poo]

and especially the large Alien fanbase and those who preordered, upset.               

Anyone who preorders a game without trying it first has no right to complain in my opinion. ;)

[MikeGER]

-update-

i use the DX10mod in a version 2 which is out ...and liked it  :)
(the SweetFX mod is a little over the edge IMHO with its gamma + contrast corrections ... a percentage slider for the effect of that mod would be a good idea so)

playing in a dark room and settings the brightness slider only 1 step over complete dark ...adds to the atmo now when DX10 mod is installed :)

[Nefaro]

Have they actually announced anything about official multiplayer servers?

I'd think that would've been a priority, as that's usually what first-person shooters are all about, no?

It sounds like it could be some fun, if the Alien control scheme is decent as mentioned.  I recall playing the first AvP long long ago in the far far way and the damn aliens were a pain in the ass to control.  Although that did offer some hilarious laughs when I'd see a buddy running back & forth with an screaming alien engulfed in flames, because it moved so fast he couldn't find the side tunnel to get to cover.  ;D

[JasonPratt]

and especially the large Alien fanbase and those who preordered, upset.               

Anyone who preorders a game without trying it first has no right to complain in my opinion. ;)

Not that I'd ever preorder any game (not in today's environment anyway), but I'd say they have the MOST right to complain: their money was an expression of trust based on promises made by the devs.


Anyway, our long national nightmare is finally over, as Yahtzee at Zero Punctuation has at last gotten around to reviewing Al:ColMar --

First of several favorite quips from his typically testy review: [observing that people in the comments were asking him to review it and expecting him to flame it] "Well, how do y'know I wouldn't actually like 'Colonial Marines'? I don't, it's f-ing atrocious, but you'd've looked pretty silly if I had!"

(Note: he apparently reviewed it on PS3.)