The Top 7... alien invasions

Get ready to get your ass handed to you by a twisted menace from across the galaxy... seven times over

Words: Christian_Nutt on November 7, 2006

1. Half-Life (1998, PC)

It wasn't until the late '90s that the pure physical terror of an alien invasion could be communicated in a game. Half-Life captures the utter chaos of a world torn to pieces by aliens pouring into it - and destroying everything in their path. The detailed creatures and their advanced behavior was entirely fresh, and still stands as a high watermark. The epic battles against the invasion forces from the world of Xen are unsettling and extreme.

And, eventually, you become the invader - taking the fight to the alien world. It's a game that managed, through the application of quality writing as well as convincing graphics and gameplay, to really communicate the truly disquieting possibilities that lie at the core of contact with a species that has nothing in common with humanity.

...

Platforms:

Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PC, Wii, DS, PSP, GameCube, Xbox

Topics:

Top 7

19 comments

View as:
Newest first
Oldest first

Blackbird1156 - January 1, 2009 11:31 p.m.

Gears of war wasn't and alien invasion. the Locust was there the whole time. Unless your talking about the humans invading
- Reply
- Report
ryno - January 2, 2009 5:36 a.m.

oh right
- Reply
- Report
Satanshadow94 - May 6, 2009 7:48 a.m.

Jackery22 I hate to do this to a Fellow H.I.M. fan but you have no say in Gears because your a ps3 gamer and don't think I'm not loyal to sony but right now it is about monney so unless sony pulls their head out of there asses anyways PS3 gamers can't coment on the games of 360, PC on the other hand go ahead
- Reply
- Report
RedOutlive10 - June 21, 2009 9:16 p.m.

I really enjoyed how there's a whole story in Half-Life's background, I remember the Nihilanth often mentions unknown parties, and implies there's something else controlling them, as the Combine are a far superior force than what was faced in Xen. Well played, Valve.
- Reply
- Report
jakery22 - May 3, 2009 1:38 p.m.

technically the locust are the good guys in gears of war it was the humans that invaded and the locust just got tired of there war and emulsion stealing so fought back
- Reply
- Report
BeastlyB - June 14, 2009 10:46 p.m.

When I started reading this article I knew HL was gonna b #1
- Reply
- Report
battistaman820 - June 22, 2009 2:34 p.m.

wheres resistance
- Reply
- Report
thebigmo1 - September 5, 2008 8:59 p.m.

first not that i care
- Reply
- Report
thebigmo1 - September 5, 2008 9 p.m.

first not that i care
- Reply
- Report
Smeggs - September 6, 2008 1:39 a.m.

Yay, Half-Life. Y'know, I can't belive this but after play HL1 I belive I liked it more than its sequels O_O...Not that the sequels weren't the bomb.
- Reply
- Report
The_Tingler - September 6, 2008 11:19 a.m.

Halo 2 - yes, but then they screwed it up but then just going to another boring Halo for the rest of the game.
- Reply
- Report
BooyaBuda - September 7, 2008 8:32 p.m.

you forgot earthbound
- Reply
- Report
Predator428 - September 8, 2008 12:17 a.m.

Kind of a short article...
- Reply
- Report
Princeton12 - October 21, 2008 12:49 a.m.

Ummmm... Let's not forget Resistance and Gears of War!!! I mean come on...
- Reply
- Report
BooyaBuda - December 7, 2008 3:35 a.m.

ryno they explain it in the first one it was a virus thing created in russia and i guess the ships are a way of moving thier guys over seas since the new game is all about the cheamara invading north america
- Reply
- Report
Marioninja1 - September 11, 2008 9:09 p.m.

I love Half-life 2 and all the sequels, mostly 2, never played the first though
- Reply
- Report
BooyaBuda - November 8, 2008 9:32 p.m.

Resistance is not an alien invasion
- Reply
- Report
ryno - November 27, 2008 5:55 p.m.

then how do you explain the giant ships in Resistance 2
- Reply
- Report
TR4rules - December 18, 2010 4:37 p.m.

I do believe that Resistance is alien invasion, but I am not sure. Also no way in hell are the Locust the good guys in Gears of War, that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.
- Reply
- Report