Aliens: Infestation for the Nintendo DS is a thrilling sci-fi action platformer that aims to capture the essence of the classic Aliens film franchise. Developed by Gearbox Software and WayForward, this game offers a nostalgic journey back to the golden era of side-scrolling adventures. However, while it certainly has its moments, it falls short of achieving greatness, earning a rather average rating of 4 out of 10.
One of the standout features of Aliens: Infestation is its beautiful pixel art style, reminiscent of the 16-bit era. The attention to detail in the environments and character sprites is truly commendable, immersing players in a world that feels authentic to the source material. From the dimly lit corridors of the space station to the grotesque alien creatures that lurk in the shadows, every visual element exudes a sense of dread and impending danger.
In terms of gameplay, Aliens: Infestation blends exploration, combat, and platforming elements to create an engaging and challenging experience. Players will navigate through various levels, searching for survivors, collecting weapons, and facing off against waves of relentless xenomorphs. The controls are tight and responsive, providing a satisfying level of precision required for success in this unforgiving alien-infested universe.
One of the game's highlights is its emphasis on permadeath, a feature that adds an extra layer of tension and risk-reward mechanics. Losing a character means losing all their progress and starting over with a fresh recruit. While this can be frustrating, it adds a sense of realism and urgency, keeping players on their toes and fostering a genuine fear of losing their beloved squad members.
However, where Aliens: Infestation falls short is in its lackluster storyline and repetitive gameplay. The plot, while attempting to stay true to the Aliens universe, fails to captivate and engage players on a deeper level. Missions can often feel repetitive, with the gameplay loop of explore, fight, collect, and repeat becoming stale over time.
Additionally, the game suffers from technical issues, including occasional frame rate drops and awkward hitbox detection. While these may not be game-breaking, they do detract from the overall experience and could have been addressed with more polish and fine-tuning.
In conclusion, Aliens: Infestation for the Nintendo DS offers a nostalgic journey into the world of retro side-scrolling platformers. With its beautiful pixel art style and challenging gameplay mechanics, it certainly has its moments of greatness. However, its lackluster storyline, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues hold it back from achieving true excellence. Despite its flaws, fans of the Aliens franchise or retro gaming enthusiasts may still find some enjoyment in this sci-fi adventure, but it may not be the standout experience they were hoping for.