Join our Discord! |
If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here. |
Difference between revisions of "Aliens vs. Predator 2"
m |
(→Trivia: Dark Angel Cameo: Text and pictures added.) |
||
Line 145: | Line 145: | ||
=Trivia: [[Dark_Angel_(TV_Series)|Dark Angel]] Cameo= | =Trivia: [[Dark_Angel_(TV_Series)|Dark Angel]] Cameo= | ||
+ | |||
+ | For reasons unknown, the 10th episode of the 2nd Season of ''Dark Angel'', titled "Brainiac," featured a brief gameplay cameo of AVP2 (both the ''Aliens vs. Predator'' franchise and the ''Dark Angel'' TV series are owned by 20th Century Fox). It originally aired on Jan. 11, 2002, not long after the game's original release in reality. A few short clips of ingame footage (from the Marine player character's perspective only) are seen in the episode, with the game itself serving as a minor plot element. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A few unrealistic aspects can be seen here. First, AVP2 was never released as an arcade title, and as such never had an arcade cabinet, as it would be exceedingly difficult to play a fast-paced FPS game with only a joystick and the three side buttons depicted in the episode. Next, the cameo gameplay switches between AVP2's levels and multiplayer/singleplayer modes in the space of a few seconds, something that isn't possible in the actual game. Finally, the series is set in 2019, and AVP2 was released in 2001, which would make it a decidedly "retro" title by that time (and the unnamed arcade it's depicted in isn't specifically labelled a "retro" arcade either). | ||
+ | |||
+ | On a side note, the director of ''Dark Angel'', [[James Cameron]], also directed ''[[Aliens]]'' (which would form half of the basis for the AVP franchise). What role he had in the decision to include AVP2's cameo on his show, or what he thought of such a decision, is unknown. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Dark_Angel_-_AVP2_Gameplay_Cameo_1.jpg|thumb|none|600px|The M6-B Rocket Launcher being used in the AVP2 cameo on ''Dark Angel''. This is actually footage from a multiplayer match, as evidenced by the "kill feed" text at the middle top of the screen.]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Dark_Angel_-_AVP2_Gameplay_Cameo_2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|The M-56 Smartgun being used against Runner and Drone Xenomorph varieties on ''Dark Angel''. This footage is set in the second-to-last level of the Marine singleplayer campaign of AVP2, but apparently the player was just playing a multiplayer match not 5 seconds earlier.]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Dark_Angel_-_AVP2_Gameplay_Cameo_3.jpg|thumb|none|600px|The iconic M-41A Pulse Rifle being used against a pack of Drone Xenomorphs on ''Dark Angel''. Apparently the player then switched to the last segment of the first level of the Marine singleplayer campaign within 3 seconds of the previous clip.]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Dark_Angel_-_AVP2_Arcade_Cabinet_1.jpg|thumb|none|600px|'''Vid Kid (Noel Callahan):''' ''"God, how many times have you played this before?"'' <br> '''Brainiac (Michael Bower):''' ''"Um, never. You might want to move."'' <br> As before, AVP2 was never released as an arcade title in reality, so the arcade cabinet seen here was almost certainly custom-built for this one episode. The depicted control configuration of a joystick and a few side buttons was clearly not designed for an FPS game originally intended to be played with a mouse and keyboard, plus the need to have specific keys mapped for the various ingame functions unique to whether the player character was an Alien, Marine, or Predator. The presence of a child around a game rated for players 17+ years of age in reality was likely a jab at how real-life content ratings do little to keep minors from accessing mature content.]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Dark_Angel_-_AVP2_Arcade_Cabinet_2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|'''Max ([[Jessica Alba]]):''' ''So forget the cheap shots, because, even if that were true, it wouldn't matter. Because this is ''not'' about me.'' <br> '''Alec ([[Jensen Ackles]]):''' ''Max?'' <br> | ||
+ | '''Max:''' ''What?'' <br> '''Alec:''' ''Or maybe it ''is'' about you.'' <br> In this shot, Max and Alec are about to discover Brain's "calling card" on the AVP2 arcade machine. The two "sub-screens" underneath the large main screen are very unconventional for an arcade cabinet. Furthermore, the background of the "score screen" is actually just the view of the Marine player character looking up at the sky of the multiplayer level seen in the first clip, while holding a combat knife. The text on the sides of the cabinet reads "SHOW DOWN" but in a vertical orientation, with the AVP2 logo beneath it.]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Dark_Angel_-_AVP2_Arcade_Cabinet_3.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A close-up on the AVP2 arcade cabinet and its score screen (the real AVP2 did not have a score screen outside of multiplayer, and even that was not recorded for future reference like arcade machines do). The highest score left by Brain is what tips off Alec that someone is trying to get Alec's and Max's attention. In the background is a drawing of what appears to be a "Geodude" from the monstrously popular ''Pokemon'' media franchise, which started in 1998. This means that by ''Dark Angel'''s setting of the year 2019, this arcade is ''really'' "retro."]] | ||
{{Alien/Predator Series}} | {{Alien/Predator Series}} |
Revision as of 07:24, 9 February 2014
Developed by Monolith Productions, Aliens vs. Predator 2 (AVP2) is the sequel to the original Aliens versus Predator released in 1999, and itself a prequel to the Aliens versus Predator title released in 2010. Set in the years 2330-2331, the game chronicles the insidious and explosive interactions between the species of Xenomorphs, Predators, and Humans on the planet LV-1201 after a smuggling accident sets off an alien outbreak on the human Weyland-Yutani facilities there.
This article will mostly cover the human weaponry depicted in the game, along with those introduced in the Primal Hunt expansion pack. All weapon names and calibers come from the original game manual.
The following weapons appear in the video game Aliens vs. Predator 2:
Human-usable Weaponry
M-4A4 Pistol
Unlike their movie counterparts, human characters in this game use this olive-drab-finished weapon as a sidearm.
It is apparently based off the Heckler & Koch Mk 23 Mod 0 pistol, the only differences from the normal Mk 23 is the lack of a threaded barrel and the olive-drab finished frame and slide. It sports a magazine that holds 12 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition (like the MK 23) and is capable of firing both prefragmented anti-personnel ammo and APCR bullets, the latter of which sport a tungsten core that detaches from the main projectile body on impact and goes on to penetrate armor. It is a good sidearm but a lousy primary weapon barring headshots against certain opponents. The gun sports a laser aiming module that is unfortunately unusable ingame. In singleplayer it is most commonly seen among the orange-suited Weyland-Yutani containment team personnel.
All human character classes can use this weapon in multiplayer, and the Dunya character of the Corporates faction in the Primal Hunt expansion pack can use two at the same time in both singleplayer and multiplayer. Along with the shotgun, it is one of the few weapons available to human characters that ejects spent casings.
Unknown Shotgun
This pump-action shotgun (possibly based on the Mossberg 590) can use both buckshot or armour-piercing slugs, and has a tube magazine capacity of 6 rounds. It has an attachment point near the muzzle (a bayonet lug?) that cannot be used, a large heat-shield on the barrel, and olive-drab furniture. It is effective for close-range fighting, but as with the movie, Aliens that suffer almost any kind of injury will spray acid blood in all directions in a short radius (in reality, barring high pressure, the blood would follow a bullet or blade's path out back), giving them another advantage at point-blank range, so caution is advised when using this gun against Aliens.
Several character classes from both human factions in multiplayer carry this as a secondary weapon. It is also the personal weapon of Dr. Eisenberg, one of the main antagonists of the game. Strangely enough, the weapon's inventory icon depicts a version with a pistol grip, which the ingame model does not actually have.
M-41A Pulse Rifle
The iconic M-41A Pulse Rifle makes an appearance in this game. Chambered for M309 10x24mm Caseless ammunition, with an implausibly large 100-round magazine, downgraded to 99 to prevent stoppages and an underslung grenade launcher firing M40 30mm grenades, this firearm can be found among all human factions (Colonial Marines, Weyland-Yutani security, and the Iron Bears mercenaries) throughout the game, both in singleplayer and multiplayer. The pump-action grenade launcher is never seen reloading, and the LED round counter is non-functional in this game. Unlike the movie, its rounds are less useful against armoured opponents such as Praetorian Aliens or other armoured humans in this game.
M-56 Smartgun
The M-56 Smartgun appears in this game. It is chambered for M250 10x28mm caseless rounds, and draws from a single ammo pool with a maximum capacity of 750 rounds. Thanks to its motion sensing guidance system it automatically locks onto moving targets, and can see through a Predator's cloaking device. It is however limited to unguided fire when using night vision, and takes a moment to start firing. It is also a terrible ammunition-hog and is fairly inaccurate even with the lock-on enabled.
The Smartgun is used by all human factions in singleplayer (and is commonly issued to Combat Synthetics), but is available only to the Harrison character of the Marine faction in multiplayer. Considered a "heavy weapon," players can only walk while this gun is equipped in multiplayer.
M-240 Flamethrower
The M-240 Flamethrower appears in this game, and is among the most effective weapons against Xenomorphs (the game itself takes a moment to remind the player of this when playing as an Alien). Using napalm from a single ammo pool it strangely never needs to change canisters. Originally it could carry up to 600 units of napalm, but fan outcry caused it to be patched, with the result being that directly hitting opponents with the flame stream was now more damaging than the damage over time from burning, and the maximum ammo capacity was lowered to 150. Additionally, while the inventory icon for the weapon shows the original M-16 carry handle on the top, no such carry handle is visible on the ingame models.
In singleplayer it is a favourite among Weyland-Yutani Hazmat containment troopers. In multiplayer only the Johnson character of the Marine faction, along with the Dunya and Ivan characters of the Corporates faction, can use it if character classes are enabled.
M-92 Grenade Launcher
This revolving grenade launcher has a 6-shot capacity and may be reloaded by removing and replacing its entire ammunition drum. It can load 4 types of munitions: timed fuse grenades, proximity mines that stick to most surfaces and detonate when something comes near, EMP grenades that stun any living creature caught in its radius, and spider mines that use miniature robotic legs to scuttle towards anything moving nearby, of which the first of these is the only non-fictional type. It seems it could be based on the RG-6 grenade launcher.
M-6B Rocket Launcher
An anti-vehicular weapon, this rocket launcher has a tube capacity of three rockets, and can fire unguided or tracking rockets, the latter of which require a short period of time to acquire a target. While seemingly out of place in game with almost no vehicular threats, the rockets have an excellent splash damage radius and can clear small groups of advancing Aliens with one shot. Contrary to what the game manual claims, tracking rockets can also track stationary targets (unlike the M-56 Smartgun).
This weapon is used in one location by Combat Synthetics in the Predator campaign. In multiplayer only the Jones character of the Marines faction can use this weapon. Considered a heavy weapon by the game, players using this weapon in multiplayer can only walk when it is equipped.
M-90 Minigun
A fictional tri-barrelled Gatling gun with a joystick trigger and M60-style handguard, it fires armour-piercing ammunition from a single ammo pool of up to 900 rounds (which it can deplete in about twenty seconds, translating to a firing rate of around 2700 rounds per minute). It offers an unparalleled damage-per-second ratio for a ranged weapon ingame, but its enormous muzzle flash obscures a player's crosshairs in first person view when fired. Despite the M60-style handguard, ingame characters will not actually hold the weapon by the handguard, but by a nonexistent "chainsaw grip." This is due to the animations for the Smartgun being reused for the Minigun.
It is another commonly deployed weapon among Combat Synthetics in the game, and is exclusively available to the Dmitri character of the Corporates faction in multiplayer. Considered a heavy weapon by the game, players can only walk in multiplayer when this weapon is equipped.
WY-102 Sniper Rifle
A fictional weapon based loosely (but obviously) on the Walther WA 2000 with a huge barrel extension. It is the only human weapon with a zoom feature ingame, this sniper rifle can have up to 30 rounds in reserve and does not need to change magazines, though it is also limited to semiautomatic fire only. Because of its extreme power (capable of killing all multiplayer characters in 2 shots or less) and generous ammunition capacity, fan outcry eventually caused the developers to reduce the rifle's maximum ammunition capacity to only 10 rounds, as well as to remove the ingame crosshair when a player is not using the scope. These changes were only of limited effectiveness, however, as the rifle's long barrel acted as a "pseudo-crosshair" allowing players to use it unscoped with reasonable accuracy at short to medium range.
Only the Ichiro and Dunya characters in multiplayer, of the Marines and Corporates factions respectively, can use this weapon in multiplayer if character classes are enabled.
Other
APC-mounted Miniguns
The APC seen in Aliens makes an appearance in this game, and its twin-linked turreted miniguns appear as well. In this iteration they actually fire (unlike the movie) and provide valuable fire support in one mission. If the player makes the mistake of antagonizing an APC in one of the missions in the Predator campaign, they will find that the APC's miniguns are just as effective against Predators as they are against Xenomorphs.
Several detached APC turrets are also seen as heavy-duty sentry guns around the perimeter of the Forward Observations Pods ingame as well. Unlike the movie, the APC's upper turret will not drop down to the rear of the APC when entering low-clearance areas.
Minigun Turret
A four-barrelled minigun mounted on a stationary platform, this weapon is mounted in certain levels of the game and comes with a 900 round capacity. Its capabilities are similar to the M-90 Minigun though its muzzle flash is not as extreme.
UA571-C Remote Automated Sentry System
The UA571-C Remote Automated Sentry System makes an appearance as the Sentry Gun ingame. In addition to the standard tripod-mounted version, several ceiling-mounted variants are seen. While fragile and unable to defend themselves against attacks from behind, they are capable of seeing through a Predator's cloak and do rapid damage. In the Primal Hunt expansion pack, players using human characters can take up to two tripod-mounted Sentry Guns with them. In this version they carry limited ammunition and are capable of overheating, requiring a cool-down period every so often.
Enfield L85A2
Scattered through the levels are a variety of magazines, and one of them features a Enfield L85A2 with a Susat scope on the cover.
Trivia: Dark Angel Cameo
For reasons unknown, the 10th episode of the 2nd Season of Dark Angel, titled "Brainiac," featured a brief gameplay cameo of AVP2 (both the Aliens vs. Predator franchise and the Dark Angel TV series are owned by 20th Century Fox). It originally aired on Jan. 11, 2002, not long after the game's original release in reality. A few short clips of ingame footage (from the Marine player character's perspective only) are seen in the episode, with the game itself serving as a minor plot element.
A few unrealistic aspects can be seen here. First, AVP2 was never released as an arcade title, and as such never had an arcade cabinet, as it would be exceedingly difficult to play a fast-paced FPS game with only a joystick and the three side buttons depicted in the episode. Next, the cameo gameplay switches between AVP2's levels and multiplayer/singleplayer modes in the space of a few seconds, something that isn't possible in the actual game. Finally, the series is set in 2019, and AVP2 was released in 2001, which would make it a decidedly "retro" title by that time (and the unnamed arcade it's depicted in isn't specifically labelled a "retro" arcade either).
On a side note, the director of Dark Angel, James Cameron, also directed Aliens (which would form half of the basis for the AVP franchise). What role he had in the decision to include AVP2's cameo on his show, or what he thought of such a decision, is unknown.