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Aliens: Colonial Marines info blowout! New screens, concept art, interviews and details

Features
By Justin Towell published 4 April 2012

These details mostly come out at night. Mostly...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Welcome to our Aliens: Colonial Marines info blowout!

Welcome to our Aliens: Colonial Marines info blowout!

Sega's upcoming Xenomorph-splatting action fest is gearing up for release on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC this autumn and we've got screenshots, concept art and loads of info. Click through the gallery using the 'Next' button above for the images, then scroll down for even more Aliens content in the form of video footage and interviews.

Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of 12
The game is canonical, continuing from the events of James Cameron's 1986 classic, Aliens

The game is canonical, continuing from the events of James Cameron's 1986 classic, Aliens

Gearbox's head of studio, Randy Pitchford, says 20th Century Fox is treating the game "almost like a movie sequel". Of course, Gearbox itself IS treating it as such. Incidentally, this screenshot shows the HUD from the Smart Gun, complete with temperature gauge. Sweet.

Page 2 of 12
Page 2 of 12
You start off in the Sulaco, motion tracker in hand

You start off in the Sulaco, motion tracker in hand

The game kicks off exactly where Aliens left off and you'll even see the aftermath of events from the movie littered around the level. This image is concept art named 'Sulaco Breach'. Are we going to see the ship crash land on to the planet?

Page 3 of 12
Page 3 of 12
The game has a unique game engine, focused on lighting

The game has a unique game engine, focused on lighting

Textures in rooms are drawn in before you enter them, and when you do, the real-time lighting kicks in, delivering deep shadows and bright spotlights. Also, note Bishop's severed legs there on the right. Nice touch!

Page 4 of 12
Page 4 of 12
The team had access to the original movie's concepts

The team had access to the original movie's concepts

Including some which weren't even used! This enabled the team to create 100% authentic areas that weren't even featured in the original movies. The game is literally an extension of the film in this respect.

Page 5 of 12
Page 5 of 12
Gearbox spoke with Ridley Scott

Gearbox spoke with Ridley Scott

Scott created the entire Aliens universe in 1979, sketching out storyboards by hand. Some unexplained inclusions in the movies are actually remnants of broader ideas - ideas which can be (and are) used in the game.

Page 6 of 12
Page 6 of 12
You're not alone, Marine

You're not alone, Marine

Your fellow marines are in radio contact with you and chatter in your ear, offering helpful advice. Most likely 'Look out, it's eating your face'.

Page 7 of 12
Page 7 of 12
Aliens have a hive mind... very useful in multiplayer

Aliens have a hive mind... very useful in multiplayer

This is more concept art, but it highlights an interesting fact. In 8v8 multiplayer, you can play as the Aliens. And their shared consciousness means you can see the location of fellow xenos through the walls, a bit like Batman's detective vision.

Page 8 of 12
Page 8 of 12
The multiplayer is linked to single-player

The multiplayer is linked to single-player

Gearbox's intention is for you to feel like you're the same person in single-player and multiplayer. To help, you get to modify your own weapon and carry it with you across modes. Interestingly, at this stage, you can only play as the Aliens in third-person view.

Page 9 of 12
Page 9 of 12
Dozens of aliens come at you...

Dozens of aliens come at you...

Again, this is concept art, but you can see how deep the shadows are here in the cargo control room. It's not the kind of place you'd want to be alone with a bunch of aliens... but from our point of view it's EXACTLY the kind of place we'd want to be alone with a bunch of aliens. And there are plenty of them!

Page 10 of 12
Page 10 of 12
Aliens can break through glass

Aliens can break through glass

In a classic Resident Evil dogs-style, the Aliens are capable of breaking through windows, like this one. And you thought it was safe to keep your back to it...

Page 11 of 12
Page 11 of 12
Excited? We are

Excited? We are

Gearbox is taking this game incredibly seriously. In their eyes it is an actual Aliens sequel. In our eyes, it's looking like everything it should be. It's still relatively early in development, but our interest has been more than piqued. Expect more on this one as soon as we can get it.

Page 12 of 12
Page 12 of 12
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Aliens: Colonial Marines Aliens: Colonial Marines
Justin Towell
Justin Towell
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Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.

Seen everything in the gallery up there? Good. Now let's delve deeper into the game's development and even get some glimpses of the game in action.

We've got four videos for you. First up, there's an interview with Gearbox Software's Chief Creative Officer, Brian Martell:

Now Design Director, John Mulkey:

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And the game's Producer, Brian Belleson:

And, finally, Chief Creative Champion Mikey Newman who wrote the script for the game:

Like the look of what you've seen? Us too. Feel free to enthuse wildly about the potential of this promisingly authentic addition to the Aliens universe in the comments.And if all of the above still isn't enough to satisfy your hunger for info, CVG's hands-on preview can be found here.

See more PC Gaming Features
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