1998 · Mythic Entertainment · First-person shooter · Shooter

Aliens Online

Aliens Online was a massively multiplayer first person shooter released on the GameStorm subscription service. Players could choose to wield a pulse rifle as a member of the Colonial Marines, or stick to the shadows as one of H. R. Giger's iconic Aliens.

Released: 31 March 1998
Platforms: Windows
Genres: First-person shooter Shooter
Developers: Mythic Entertainment
Publishers: —
Series: Alien
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: First person
Themes: Horror
Country: United States
Age ratings: ESRB T

About

Aliens Online is a discontinued 1998 massively multiplayer first-person shooter video game released for Microsoft Windows. It was based on the science fiction horror film Aliens.

›Story

Maps ranged from a loose reproduction of the colony from Aliens, to a derelict spacecraft with an Alien hive in the lower levels. Every map had cramped air ducts or sewer pipes that the Aliens could speedily, and usually securely, make use of - with hatches that allowed the player to drop onto unsuspecting marines and rend them with claw and tail attacks.

Marines carried a selection of long-range firepower based on the weapons in the film. A lone marine only had access to a pulse rifle, pistol, shotgun, and motion tracker (deployed like a weapon, and not part of the HUD). Up to four marines could also band together in a fireteam, unlocking heavy weapons like the flamethrower and the auto-tracking SmartGun. Members of a fireteam could also open minature "helmet cam" windows for each of their teammates, and see a feed of what that player was seeing.

Keywords

based on - movie
cosmic horror
licensed game

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Aliens Online included asymmetric teams, teams consisting of more players than found in most first-person shooters of its era, job/class specialization, and RPG elements. Players could fight on either the side of the United States Colonial Marines or on the side of the Aliens. Scenarios were played in one of six different maps, with three more added over the game's lifespan.

The Colonial Marine faction had the Medic, Scout, Soldier, and Heavy Weapons classes. More advanced weaponry were available when grouping as a "fireteam," and increased hit points became available as a character progressed in rank. Marines' equipment included the motion detector from the film Aliens, which was their sole method to locate Aliens, but would not locate Aliens which were not moving. In later versions of the game, the Marines could also drop proximity mines.

Reception

Aliens Online was well received upon its release. Chris Gregson of GameSpot said, "With so much to gain and absolutely nothing to lose, any self-respecting Aliens fan should give Aliens Online a try." Brooks Peck and Craig E. Engler from Science Fiction Weekly gave the beta version the perfect A score.

Noting the game's bugs, they nevertheless opined, "It's clear that Kesmai has what it takes to satisfy both the Aliens fan and the hardcore gamer. This is one of those titles that cashes in on some of the Internet's promises of multiplayer action, and it's sure to be a hit with SF lovers." However, Next Generation called it "a wonderful addition to GameStorm. We just wish there was more variety so the thrill could last."