Aliens: Fireteam Elite encapsulates everything Aliens. From the iconic sound of pulse rifles tearing through hordes of Xenomorphs to plenty of “IT'S GAME OVER, MAN” quotes being thrown out in party chats, Fireteam Elite is a ton of fun. Mission variety, a lackluster campaign, and wonky AI teammates bring the game down from being truly exceptional, but it’s undeniable that the moment-to-moment gameplay with friends is worth the price of admission.
We enter through a decrepit blast door, taking in the scene around us. It’s quiet, not a soul in sight. We push forward through the grime-laden hallways that once housed the hopeful and hopeless alike—colonists. We know the foe that awaits us around the corner, the evil that will almost assuredly end our lives, but that’s why we’re there. We’re there to kick their ass.
Further down the hallway, an air duct grate slams to the ground. We’re quick to react, but nothing’s there. But we know we’re close, so we trek onward through the ever-foggy corridors. And then it happens, as clear as day, the voice of my squad-mate rings out through my headset:
“LET’S ROCK!!!”
As soon as the sound of pulse rifle and smart gun bullets ripped through the air, Aliens: Fireteam Elite had my full attention. Cold Iron Studios has crafted an experience that fully encapsulates the aura of Aliens in the form of a co-op horde mode shooter. While Aliens: Fireteam Elite is not without its faults, it’s undeniably fun.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a simple co-op shooter with a heavy emphasis on horde mode style elements. Players team up with two friends or up to two AI teammates as they progress through the campaign and wave after wave of Xenomorph hordes. Fireteam Elite falters in its mission variety, as many of the missions follow the same simple recipe: go from Point A to Point B, kill Xenomorphs, rinse and repeat. While there are segments to collect pieces of equipment to install in control panels that must be defended, each mission felt as though they were simply the same but with more waves of Xenos thrown at you.
That’s not to say the moment-to-moment gameplay isn’t fun. Ripping through hordes of Xenomorphs is entirely satisfying, even in small ways. For example, an iconic Aliens music note plays every time there is a headshot on a Xeno, adding to the tension of the moment. Xenomorphs, while mostly cannon fodder throughout the campaign, do pose a significant challenge based on how many of them are thrown at you at any one moment. There’s significant preparation that needs to be made in certain sections of missions to not be overwhelmed, including placing landmines and portable turrets. Alternative ammo types are also available, like immolation rounds or electricity rounds, that allow players to manage the oncoming waves of atrocities before them.
Speaking of gear, Aliens: Fireteam Elite has a pretty substantial gear and a perk upgrade system. The standard Aliens weapon selection can be found here, from smart guns to pulse rifles, but Cold Iron Studios has dug deep into the Alien franchise to pull some weapons that I was surprised to see and use. Each weapon features attachments that augment different stats on a particular gun, such as increasing effective range or the overall rate of fire. Decals and other collectible sprays can be added to guns as well, allowing players to customize a weapon to their liking. While the gun upgrade system won’t be mistaken for something as in-depth as Call of Duty’s Gunsmith, there’s enough customization here to make it interesting.
The key to Aliens: Fireteam is the co-op nature of the game. The game rewards playing with actual people, as the AI companions leave much to be desired. AI teammates can’t heal you with a med-kit if they have one, and they often find themselves stuck in a position where they are easily overwhelmed by oncoming Xenomorphs. Outside of technical annoyances with AI teammates, the game starts to feel bland compared to when playing with other players. Talking strategy and exciting moments occur more often with other players, adding to the overall effect of Aliens: Fireteam Elite. An effect that becomes less potent with teammates that don’t talk back to you.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite features a campaign comprised of four story chapters, each broken down into three missions. Players can tackle the missions in a wide range of difficulties, each rewarding various gear upgrades and experience bonuses the harder they go up. I have mixed emotions about the campaign, as it’s evident that Cold Iron Studios put a lot of effort into building out their own slice of lore within the Aliens franchise, yet there are many missed opportunities throughout. There are many plot points and story queues you would expect in an Aliens game, and Aliens: Fireteam Elite hits only around half of those. Lore collectibles and mission dialogue are interesting enough throughout the game to pose some fantastic and classic Aliens story beats, but some of the bigger ones you would expect to be there are either nonexistent or presented in a half measure. The moment-to-moment gameplay of Aliens: Fireteam Elite kept me hunting more bugs, but the campaign left a lot on the table.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite looks the part and plays the part, to wonderful effect. Aliens is an action movie at heart, and it’s evident that Cold Iron Studios made a strong effort to capture that ‘80s action movie feel. While the campaign is lackluster and mission variety is sparse, it’s hard to deny that tearing through hordes of Xenomorphs with your friends isn’t fun. While I don’t know if the game has a long-term impact in the way of future content that Cold Iron Studios is going to be putting out in Seasons, there’s enough content here to enjoy for a weekend or two with friends. I know I’ll be going bug hunting again, real soon.
