Alien Swarm is a heavily co-op based top down shooter. Right off this game scores a few points with me because its sci-fi one of my weaknesses (If it had mechs I would be sold) However the lack of levels and the absence of random alien spawning does drag down my liking of the game.
Intro
Alien swarm is a remake of the Alien Swarm mod for Unreal Tournament 2004. And keeping to its roots the remake is developed by the same team after they where hired by valve.
You are placed in the shoes of one of 8 marines who where deployed to Vereon XII (Mm yes gotta love that strong back story) To investigate a colony that was overwhelmed by aliens. The game lets you pick from “Techs” or engineers “Medics” “Officers” “Or “Special weapons” Then tosses over 40 different weapons your ways and multiple “Equipment” items to play with and mow down the hordes across seven different maps.
Gameplay.
If you have played any kind of top down shooter you know how Alien Swarm handles. Move with WASD and aim with the mouse. Left mouse to shoot and middle button for alt fire. Alien Swarm also offers a “Offline Practice” mode that allows you to learn the controls and the levels (Which do not change. And the spawning of the aliens does not either) But does not reward you with achievements.
Controls where tight enough that I easily was able to mow down the nasty buggers with little effort. But loose enough that making a 180 turn (which you will do A LOT) easy. I enjoyed most of all that all keys you use were close to each other. Ranging from the “1” key to use your persons special item to “V” To yell a follow command.
Graphics
The game it self looks great. From the puss green pops of and alien to the flames of your flamer thrower. The game shows its polish and hard work (Which Steam nicely gave us for free...did I mention the game was free?) Care was also taken into making the place look like it had been attacked by a horde. In some areas bodies are piled in what looked like “Last stand” Areas adding a sense of sadness...when you arnt blowing a aliens brains out with your shotgun
User made content!
YES! The SDK was included in the game. Which easily means that you could make your own content or someone else might (And most likely will) The SDK included wile not major allows for tile based level designing. Allowing for users to prefabricate rooms and hallways that they can set up how they like. Or randomly arranged based on generation rules. (Which I will admit I have no clue what that means)
Final tally
4/5
Wile the SDK was included and the game was free. I feel like that the game was just to short. I was able to buzz though it on normal in about an hour. And the difficulty often just randomly shoots up. Then flat lines. One moment you could be near death and saving those last few bullets. To just running down a hall and slamming the butt of your gun into an aliens face and taking no damage.
But the game IS free. So pick it up and enjoy some aliens killing fun.