Alien vs. Predator: What Did Critics Think in 1994?


Alien vs. Predator (Jaguar)
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Alien vs. Predator sounds like the kind of game that can't lose. It stars two of Hollywood's most ferocious enemies together in one 64-bit Jaguar game, I'm pretty sure we can all do the math. But not every critic was sold on Alien vs. Predator. While some classic magazines gushed, there were more than a few critics that scoffed at the idea of putting these monsters in a single cartridge. Let's find out what Next Generation, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Die Hard Game Fan, GamePro and other magazines thought of Alien vs. Predator on the Jaguar.

(NOTE: Although we occasionally cut for length, no other edits are made to the review. Defunct Games does not change any of the wording, grammar or punctuation use. Also keep in mind that our score is the average of all critics at the time, not just the sample that is reprinted on this page. If you still have more questions, I recommend you check out the Review Crew FAQ, where we address the review guidelines, converting scores, magazine covers and more.)

NEXT GENERATION #1
"Alien vs. Predator is a Doom-like, first-person action game with an interesting twist. On the down side, the game is plagued with ultra-slow load times that really shouldn't be present in a cartridge release. Controls aren't as easy as they could be, but neither quirk stops AVP from delivering some really good play. Definitely the best Jaguar title we've seen so far." (4 out of 5)
ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY #64
"This puppy has been in the works for quite some time now. AVP is a good take on the growing first-person perspective, kill-everything games. Being able to play as an Alien, Predator, or a Marine tremendously helps the replay value. However, the drawbacks come in the form of choppy animation and frequent cheap hits. The levels are huge, which is also a big bonus, but there aren't enough items to interact with." -Danyon (7 out of 10)
DIE HARD GAME FAN (November 1994)
"What an absolute butt-kickin' game AVP is! A couple years ago (when I saw the movies) I would have never imagined playing a game this good. If this is how Atari treats a big license, than [sic] every big movie should go directly to the Jag! Great sounds, great graphics, great controls ... GREAT GAME!" -Skid (98% out of 100%)
GAMEPRO (December 1994)
"The end result is an in-your-face contest and durable game play that doles out a great deal of entertainment. A grin crosses your face just in time to have it flicked off by a speedy Alien attack or a whole battalion of soldiers backing you into a dead end. If Atari can turn out a dozen more games like AvP, Jaguar owners could truly rest easy and enjoy their purchase. Until then, go forth and prevent creatures from multiplying." -Manny LaMancha (4.5 out of 5)
ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY #64
"I'm a big fan of both the Alien and Predator movies, and this game's graphics are good enough to put you right into the game. Unfortunately, the game play was not very well throught out. You almost always take a hit when fighting, and you can't jump over acid. Why do the Aliens leave all the bodies around? That's not like them. Where's the music? Is it an option I missed? It's okay as far as I'm concerned." -Ed (6 out of 10)
VIDEO GAMES (December 1994)
"Congratulations to the entire A.V.P. development team. I'm still in shock from this game, even with the slight directional confusion. It's an experience you will never forget; well worth the long wait. Pick it up, strap yourself in and feel your heart rate increase ... and when you play A.V.P., don't forget to pack an extra pair of B.V.D.s!" -Jim Loftus (9 out of 10)
DIE HARD GAME FAN
"AVP is not a walk through, 3-D shoot 'em-up. I'm so happy! I've waited six months, so I wanted a long game. Well, I got not one, but three! You have to think and map in AVP or you WILL die ... cool. I can't believe this is a 16-meg cart." -Mr. Goo (98% out of 100%)
ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY #64
"I like the whole Alien and Predator idea but this doesn't reflect the action of the comics or other games. The green drab look doesn't really catch your eye and the weapons aren't very impressive. This doesn't seem to capture the elements of Doom or Wolfenstein that became instant computer classics. It doesn't have an addictive quality to the levels, although it does have big levels to map and explore." -Sushi X (5 out of 10)
REVIEW CREW AVERAGE: 79% - There's not much room for middle ground when it comes to Alien vs. Predator on the Atari Jaguar. While all three Die Hard Game Fan critics gave the game a score of 98%, none of the Electronic Gaming Monthly editors seemed especially keen on the game. On the other hand, Video Games (formerly Video Games & Computer Entertainment) and GamePro gushed over the game. Even Next Generation magazine recommended people play Alien vs. Predator. Without EGM in the mix, the Jaguar game would have scored a staggering 92%. However, because EGM exists, the average is brought down to a mere 79%.