Parents' Guide to Aliens: Fireteam Elite

It was the first Alien movie that claimed "In space, no one can hear you scream," but since then, the sleek onyx murder machines have been nightmare fuel for generations of sci-fi fans. Aliens: Fireteam Elite gives players a chance to team up and take the fight straight to the xenomorphs in a squad-based shooting gallery, with swarms of the bloodthirsty creatures pouring out from every vent, cave, and other shadowy corner. The game lacks a lot of the suspenseful horror elements that the franchise has been known for, but it doesn't feel like the license has just been tacked on. The story, along with the extra bits of intel that players find along the way, weaves an interesting side chapter to the Aliens universe for fans of the films, books, and other franchise lore. Meanwhile, the action in the gameplay is strong enough to draw in gamers looking for a fun and familiar shooter.

It's hard not to compare Aliens: Fireteam Elite to games like Left 4 Dead. Both games have players make a mad dash from Point A to B, fending off waves of creatures before making a stand against one last big push against the ravenous horde. Still, as formulaic as it seems, it still works for the most part. Each class feels distinct from the others and can serve a strong role in team play, whether it's the Demolisher laying down covering fire or the Doc giving a quick stim boost to power through a fight. One frustrating thing, though, is that the game mentions five playable classes, but leaves out the fact that only four are available at the start. To use the Recon class, players must first complete all twelve chapters in the Campaign mode. The Horde mode is also locked until players complete the campaign. While it's understandable to want to reward players' efforts, this feels less like a reward and more like players are being forced into an incomplete experience. Despite this, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is still a good game to enjoy with friends looking to scratch that sci-fi shooting itch.