I don't think a game has captured the Aliens franchise this well since AvP (2010). Highly recommend for any fan looking to grab a pulse rifle and go on a bug hunt.

Game is rough around the edges, but still worth the price for any Aliens fan who also enjoys the occasional XCom experience. I picked up the game about two weeks after launch and didn't face any game breaking bugs other reviewers mention. I did have some bugs that required a reload to fix, but otherwise finished the game in about 30 hours. The campaign is relatively short, but I think it ended at about the right time for how limited the game play loop / evolution is - by the time the game is getting a bit stale it ends.

This doesn't excuse the ending though, which while thematic and cool unceremoniously dumps everything you've been building up for the sake of narrative. That could have been much better handled. That's probably my biggest gripe. Second to that is how repetitive some of the voice lines are for command acknowledgment. Game has scant customization of the marines, barely enough depth to the character development pathways; limited weapons (all the iconics are here) and enemies/xenos; no customization of the ARC/APC; Soldier management / doom clock racing are the only strategic element outside of combat. Feels like a solid rough draft of a great game.

Otherwise I found Dark Descent set a very strong base for a future expansion / sequel to further flesh out systems, story, and missions. I truly hope this game does well and we see further development on it - especially if they tie in some of the more popular Dark Horse story lines. The game engine and squad mechanics look primed for a Beserker unit story - which could naturally address the most common request from the community after removal of the doom clock: replayability / mission randomization.

I don't think a game has captured the Aliens franchise this well since AvP (2010). Highly recommend for any fan looking to grab a pulse rifle and go on a bug hunt. Game is rough around the edges, but still worth the price for any Aliens fan who also enjoys the occasional XCom experience. I picked up the game about two weeks after launch and didn't face any game breaking bugs other reviewers mention. I did have some bugs that required a reload to fix, but otherwise finished the game in about 30 hours. The campaign is relatively short, but I think it ended at about the right time for how limited the game play loop / evolution is - by the time the game is getting a bit stale it ends. This doesn't excuse the ending though, which while thematic and cool unceremoniously dumps everything you've been building up for the sake of narrative. That could have been much better handled. That's probably my biggest gripe. Second to that is how repetitive some of the voice lines are for command acknowledgment. Game has scant customization of the marines, barely enough depth to the character development pathways; limited weapons (all the iconics are here) and enemies/xenos; no customization of the ARC/APC; Soldier management / doom clock racing are the only strategic element outside of combat. Feels like a solid rough draft of a great game. Otherwise I found Dark Descent set a very strong base for a future expansion / sequel to further flesh out systems, story, and missions. I truly hope this game does well and we see further development on it - especially if they tie in some of the more popular Dark Horse story lines. The game engine and squad mechanics look primed for a Beserker unit story - which could naturally address the most common request from the community after removal of the doom clock: replayability / mission randomization.