ShareThis"Aliens: Infestation"
Platform: DS
Genre: Shooter
Publisher: Sega
ESRB Rating: T, for Teen
Grade: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
I didn't have much interest in playing "Aliens: Infestation." Then I saw the leaked trailer for Ridley Scott's upcoming "Prometheus" film.
It looks every bit the "Alien" prequel that fans have been hoping for, which meant I had to strap on the pulse rifle and dive into the depths of the Sulaco and LV-426. It's not a long journey, but anyone who loves the movie franchise will enjoy this game.
You command a team of four Marines (controlling one at a time) and investigate strange goings-on about the Sulaco (for the uninitiated, it's the spaceship from the "Aliens" film). It won't take long before the xenophobes start scurrying from the ceiling, the floorboards and all over to tear you limb from limb.
What makes the game fantastic is its unapologetic ode to 1980s side-scrolling games like "Metroid." Like those games of the 16-bit era, "Infestation" is filled with miles of corridors, requires tons of backtracking to unlock new areas and is rarely without hordes of blood-lusting creatures hell-bent on your death. Little winks and nods to the film franchise abound, which gives you reason to explore every nook and cranny.
My biggest gripe is that this thrill ride doesn't last long enough. I finished the game in less than six hours, and once you are done there is nothing else to do. No new game mode, no online competitive play, nothing. As the "Alien" poster said, "In space, no one can hear you scream." Limited play makes this game more suitable for renting than owning, but it shouldn't scare anyone away from playing this excellent nod to the old days.
"Tekken Hybrid"
Platform: PlayStation 3
Genre: Fighting
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
ESRB Rating: T, for Teen
Grade: 1.5 stars
This is not a singular release; it's actually three "Tekken" properties crammed onto one disc for the fight fan in your life. I'm not convinced, though, even the most die-hard of "Tekken" followers will relish putting money into this release.
First up, in descending order from best of the bunch to least, is "Tekken Tag Tournament HD." This is nothing more than the PS2 game of the same name with a fresh coat of high-definition paint. Once a great game, it holds up over time.
The second piece of the package is "Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue." This is nothing more than a demo of the upcoming game of the same name. It features only four playable characters, making it the shallowest game demo I've played in some time. There is little to whet your appetite for the full game release.
The final piece of the triumvirate is the CG movie "Tekken: Blood Vengeance." It didn't take long to see that this movie was shallow on plot and dialogue, so I skipped ahead to watch the fight sequences. Impressive as the fights were, the game's hardly a posh dessert in this "Tekken" meal.
Outside of the decent update to a classic PS2 game, there is little in "Tekken Hybrid" that should compel you to drop even the "bargain" $40 price on this title.
(Follow Chris Campbell at twitter.com/campbler or email him at game_on_games(at)mac.com.)
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