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A review of Aliens: Colonial Marines reviews

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AliensColonialMarines

The big news piece last week was a bit of an odd one, instead of it being about a rumoured new game or hardware it ended up being about how absolutely awful a game was. Aliens: Colonial Marines was nearly universally panned when it was released… but some people loved it and we’re going to take a look at them now.

We’ve always known that reviews are subjective and while some people love a title others can hate it. There are tons of examples of divisive games but never before have I seen a game release to near universal disdain and yet some people thought it was great

EGM – 9/10

Brandon Justice posted his review on the international embargo drop and shocked the industry with a score of 90%

Like most successful license-based games, Aliens: Colonial Marines is much more than a loving homage; it serves as one of the most robust story-driven co-op experiences to date. The concept definitely has room to grow, but as maiden voyages go, Colonial Marines is a clear winner.

Guardian – 4/5

Nick Cowen wasn’t as happy with the game as Nick and did point out some of the problems with the game but did in the end think recommending this game was a fantastic idea

But here’s the thing; if we take it as read that this review is simply a lengthy opinion proffered by a thundering nerd, all the score rating rests on is whether or not the person writing consistently enjoyed the game they were covering – and on that scale, Aliens Colonial Marines is a success.

All Things Xbox – 8/10

Iain Culverhouse also appeared to have experienced a different title to most when he reviews Aliens giving it a solid 8/10 and stating

Overall Aliens: Colonial Marines is a refreshing title, dodging the seemingly ever-growing list of average-poor movie themed video games.

Gaming Bolt – 8.5

John Capoza wrote how the graphics were pretty poor and the AI was abysmal and yet still thought that 8.5 was a fair score stating

It’s about time there’s an Aliens game worth playing. Aliens Colonial Marines does a great job with bringing the focus back to the original story and expanding on it. For fans of the series, Gearbox puts plenty of nodes to the movies to make you feel right at home. The art is perfect, and the game play is pretty solid, especially with the custom load outs. The performance is a little hindering but by no means a show stopper.

IT News Africa – 7.9 (now changed to 6.9)

Us locals weren’t immune to strange scores on this title with local journalist, Charlie Fripp, accidently breaking the embargo with his eye watering 7.9 for Aliens: Colonial Marines. However Charlie then committed the ultimate sin for a reviewer and changed the score after seeing everyone else’s score…

Aliens: Colonial Marines is not a horrible game, but it is definitely not going to win any awards this year. Once players get over the frustrations, drop the difficulty a notch and figure out how to work around the Unreal engine’s shortcoming, the title should keep them busy for a couple of hours.

So the reason for this post is quite simple. With an industry constantly being accused of being on the take and willing to sell out at a moments notice do you view these reviews suspiciously? Or does this just showcase exactly how subjective reviews are?

So did you spot any other reviews out there that thought this game was incredible that I missed?

Last Updated: February 18, 2013

83 Comments

  1. OVG

    February 18, 2013 at 09:09

    • Sean Carbutt

      February 18, 2013 at 09:54

      Eeeish, apperently there is an abundance of stupidity out there.My mate bought the game, so i tried it. Then 5 minutes later, we stopped.My personal score is about a 4/10

      Reply

      • OVG

        February 18, 2013 at 10:01

        Kind of makes one feel like these :p

        Reply

    • umar bastra

      February 18, 2013 at 10:17

      *shoots gun* *shoots gun* *shoots gun* “YOU F**KED IT UP” lol

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief Erwin

    February 18, 2013 at 09:14

    Lot of people on crack these days.

    Reply

  3. Trevor Davies

    February 18, 2013 at 09:15

    Those reviews do not fill me with confidence. It seems like they’re pleading that the game isn’t so bad really, which then means it’s average at best, and therefore not worthy of anything more than 5/10.

    Reply

    • GTO

      February 18, 2013 at 09:33

      The thing is 5/10 is terrible. It is not average. This is how I see the scoring system working

      <= 5 – game is incomplete/almost unplayable or made for children and an adult is playing it as an adult

      6 – The game was bad, bad story, buggy as hell, graphics are from PS2 era.

      7 – game is average, if you like this type of game you might enjoy

      8 – good game most people will enjoy, buy it if you like the genre

      9 – We reccomend this game, buy it regardless of genre

      10 – We have been paid to give this game a perfect rating.

      That said we shouldn't even be using scores for reviews.

      Reply

      • Trevor Davies

        February 18, 2013 at 10:18

        I want to live in a world where the numbers 1 – 4 exist when rating something on the scale of 1 – 10 damn it. It’s like 30% being a pass mark ;D

        All I want from a review is what’s good about it, what’s bad about it & whether the good outweighs the bad in the reviewers opinion & if it’s fun to play. I never pay much attention to the number other than when the review is a long moaning piece about how everything is terrible and then it gets a 7/10.

        Reply

  4. Admiral Chief Erwin

    February 18, 2013 at 09:17

    Also, changing review score person needs to have big foam cluebat applied to jugular.

    Reply

    • Charlie Fripp

      February 18, 2013 at 09:55

      I’ll send you my address :p

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Erwin

        February 18, 2013 at 09:58

        Heh, but seriously dude, why did you do it?

        Reply

        • Charlie Fripp

          February 18, 2013 at 10:07

          Because I’m entitled to my own opinions, and opinions change. It is what it is…

          Reply

          • Banana Jim

            February 18, 2013 at 10:15

            Yeah, I don’t agree with changing scores post-pub, but the most honest thing to do, would be to post an addendum. A post where you state that “on second thought…” and list all the reasons why you’ve changed your mind, or even better… get a guest reviewer to give a second opinion, and then write an editorial where you contrast the two views and then give your “on second thought…”.

            The reason you do that is because your readers aren’t dumb. People have already seen the first review, and when you change it after the fact, it diminishes your credibility and it’s actually very insulting to your readers.

            But hey I’m Banana Jim Lenoir, what the fuck do I know…

          • Admiral Chief Erwin

            February 18, 2013 at 11:34

            Typical Banana style, you rant, very validly, and you jest at the end to ensure upvotes.

            Well trolled sir, I do believe its tea time!

          • Banana Jim

            February 18, 2013 at 11:37

            I have honed the Banana-style over years of online trolling, from my days as a young tadpole, to a brief stint as a circus clown, and then as a serious political commentator and columnist, to eventually a burnt-out video games nut. By the way, I was thinking of recording a Banana podcast, but I fear my munchkin voice would be too munchkin-like.

          • Admiral Chief Erwin

            February 18, 2013 at 11:47

            If its any consolation, I’ll watch it!

            Heck, I’d even voice over for you (since its me anyway :P)

          • Wtf101

            February 18, 2013 at 11:37

            Apparently you know a bit more than Ramjet.ZA…

          • Banana Jim

            February 18, 2013 at 11:38

            On the contrary, Ramjet taught me all that I know, even if he doesn’t -quite -recognise the current nick. 😛

          • Wtf101

            February 18, 2013 at 11:46

            So where did he forget his own teachings then? 🙂

          • RamjetZA

            February 18, 2013 at 10:15

            Ah yes, nail on the head, dude. It is your opinion. We all have one. And people trying to point out that your opinion is ‘wrong’ is pretty much sensationalist journalism…

          • BeatzByChrisBrown

            February 18, 2013 at 10:56

            He thought his own opinion was wrong.

          • RamjetZA

            February 18, 2013 at 11:02

            Oh, I am sorry… I thought that as human beings we were allowed to change our opinions, review them and adjust them. I forgot that when you’re a game reviewer you’re supposed to be some kind of robotic automaton who has to sit back and get trashed when people don’t agree with you. My bad.

          • BeatzByChrisBrown

            February 18, 2013 at 11:12

            I accept your apology. Just don’t let it happen again!

          • RamjetZA

            February 18, 2013 at 18:38

            Ahahaha. Ok.

          • Banana Jim

            February 18, 2013 at 11:15

            Here’s my take on this.

            You’re free to have an opinion, you’re also free to have a mutable one.

            However, if you’re journalist, or even if you consider yourself to be a journalist, once you publish an opinion, that piece has to remain as is. Now you can change your opinion after it’s been published, and you can even discuss it in a follow-up piece, but I think it’s highly unprofessional to alter pieces to fit the zeitgeist. If you change pieces willy-nilly then it definitely diminishes your credibility. After all, the next time you might write something, what guarantees do I have as a reader, that you won’t change it, to suit your purposes, or write flamebait pieces purely to get hits, and then change them afterwards.

            Editors do change articles post-pub, but they also have to inform their readers why they’ve done so. You can’t just change a review score and hope no one notices.

          • BeatzByChrisBrown

            February 18, 2013 at 11:20

            Bravo dude!

            Reviewer: “It’s good”
            Reader: [buys the game]
            Reviewer: “Wait, sorry, it’s actually crap”
            Reader: “Grrrrrrr!”

          • Banana Jim

            February 18, 2013 at 11:33

            Wow, I think you put it better than me… and with less words 😛 Bravo

          • Tateboetie Malaaitie

            February 18, 2013 at 13:29

            Yes Cris Brown isn’t a man of many words , just ask Rihanna.

          • Admiral Chief Erwin

            February 18, 2013 at 11:29

            The banana has spoken!

          • Gavin Mannion

            February 18, 2013 at 18:28

            Never thought his opinion was wrong. It’s a subjective opinion it cannot be wrong but I do think it’s wrong to change a published review without comment.

            Also, this was a post on the amazing scope of scores for this game and not a local witch hunt

          • RamjetZA

            February 18, 2013 at 18:39

            Thanks for the feedback, Gavin.

  5. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    February 18, 2013 at 09:20

    Yeah, game reviews should also be based on promises made on what the game can do. Those promises were not really met (especially on the graphics side of things) so this is all real suspicious. Either that or they were all high at time of reviewing.

    Reply

  6. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    February 18, 2013 at 09:20

    Yeah, game reviews should also be based on promises made on what the game can do. Those promises were not really met (especially on the graphics side of things) so this is all real suspicious. Either that or they were all high at time of reviewing.

    Reply

  7. Uberutang

    February 18, 2013 at 09:21

    Coop on PC review: 7/10

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Erwin

      February 18, 2013 at 09:58

      Coop? As in Megas XLR? He gave it 7/10?
      (trolololol)

      Reply

      • Uberutang

        February 18, 2013 at 10:23

        LOL no. As in what I rate it as a coop game.

        Reply

  8. Uberutang

    February 18, 2013 at 09:21

    Coop on PC review: 7/10

    Reply

  9. Guest

    February 18, 2013 at 09:21

    null

    Reply

    • umar bastra

      February 18, 2013 at 10:12

      LOL

      catch(Exception e){
      System.out.println(“Kak Reviews”+e);
      }

      Reply

      • GTO

        February 18, 2013 at 12:03

        Exception in thread “main” java.lang.Error: Unresolved compilation problems:
        Syntax error on token “catch”, delete this token
        Syntax error on token(s), misplaced construct(s)
        e cannot be resolved to a variable
        Syntax error, insert “;” to complete BlockStatements
        e cannot be resolved to a variable

        at Lz.LazyGamer.main(LazyGamer.java:11)

        🙁

        Reply

        • umar bastra

          February 18, 2013 at 12:20

          LOL you making my code SNIPPET throw some serious exceptions, just assume everything is right ontop but when any of those reviews are inserted into the following method you will get a bullsh*t exception.

          public void determinReviewBullshittiness(String review,int score){
          if(score > 4){
          throw new bullshitException(“this review is bullshit [“+review+”]”);
          }else{
          System.out.println(“don’t buy this game :)”);
          }
          }

          Reply

        • umar bastra

          February 18, 2013 at 12:20

          LOL you making my code SNIPPET throw some serious exceptions, just assume everything is right ontop but when any of those reviews are inserted into the following method you will get a bullsh*t exception.

          public void determinReviewBullshittiness(String review,int score){
          if(score > 4){
          throw new bullshitException(“this review is bullshit [“+review+”]”);
          }else{
          System.out.println(“don’t buy this game :)”);
          }
          }

          Reply

          • GTO

            February 18, 2013 at 12:55

            I like, but I would amend the code my own 5 second BS code.

            public class LazyGamer {

            private static String[] reviewList = {“EGM”, “Guardian”, “All Things Xbox”, “Gaming Bolt “, “IT News Africa”, “GTO’s Brain”};
            private static double[] reviewScore = {9, 8, 8, 8.5, 6.9, 2};
            private static double expectedScore = 4;

            public static void main(String[] args){

            for(int i = 0; i expectedScore){

            System.out.println(“This site’s review was kak: ” + review + “, it’s score was too high by: ” + (score – expectedScore));

            }else{
            System.out.println(“This site’s review was great!: ” + review + “, Your should use this site”);
            }

            }
            }

            Can you tell it is a slow day at work?

          • umar bastra

            February 18, 2013 at 12:57

            ROFLOL!!!! indeed it’s the very same here … just eating chips and amusing myself with random internet surfing

            http://server.dzone.com/articles/reality-developers-life-gifs

            Maybe this will lighten your day 🙂

          • GTO

            February 18, 2013 at 13:10

            “When you run your script the first time after several hours working on it:”

            I think we all know this feeling for that one. I am not great with php (not much experiance) but I have been using it a lot lately, sadly this has been common.

          • umar bastra

            February 18, 2013 at 13:42

            Indeed hey, Know the feeling, worked with php back in my student days and remember being excited loading up my page and bam…nothing 🙁 thank god for firebug nowadays

          • GTO

            February 18, 2013 at 14:21

            Sadly I skipped the student days when it comes to programming. I went the self taught (aka I was an idiot in high school, messed around to much and didn’t get the points for the relevant university course) route. At least I got firebug!

          • umar bastra

            February 18, 2013 at 14:37

            not sadly, who cares 🙂 but hey you got firebug!awesome people use firebug

      • GTO

        February 18, 2013 at 12:03

        Exception in thread “main” java.lang.Error: Unresolved compilation problems:
        Syntax error on token “catch”, delete this token
        Syntax error on token(s), misplaced construct(s)
        e cannot be resolved to a variable
        Syntax error, insert “;” to complete BlockStatements
        e cannot be resolved to a variable

        at Lz.LazyGamer.main(LazyGamer.java:11)

        🙁

        Reply

  10. Guest

    February 18, 2013 at 09:21

    null

    Reply

  11. GTO

    February 18, 2013 at 09:23

    You should not have scores in reviews. I understand they are useful but here is the perfect example why they are just bad.Tell us what is wrong with it, tell us what is right about it. At the end where you would put the score say the game was great or not, but reviewing a game is very subjective and you are forcing a non subjective scoring system onto it.

    Reply

    • Mathias

      February 18, 2013 at 10:25

      Exactly the only reason why Metacritic is so popular. People got so used to scores than most just scroll down to see it and forget about the written review, no matter how good it is.

      Make everyone actually read what you have to say about the game, and we’ll start evolving.

      Reply

      • OVG

        February 18, 2013 at 10:45

        READ????? 😛

        Reply

  12. GTO

    February 18, 2013 at 09:23

    You should not have scores in reviews. I understand they are useful but here is the perfect example why they are just bad.Tell us what is wrong with it, tell us what is right about it. At the end where you would put the score say the game was great or not, but reviewing a game is very subjective and you are forcing a non subjective scoring system onto it.

    Reply

  13. Sir Captain Rincethis

    February 18, 2013 at 09:43

    Clearly these reviewers were paid in free lobotomy vouchers.

    Reply

  14. Charlie Fripp

    February 18, 2013 at 09:54

    Really? Sold out? On the take? What exactly did I get out of this? Am I not allowed to change my opinion after I actually finished the entire game? Why don’t you drop me a line so that we can discuss your issues, insinuations and allegations…

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      February 18, 2013 at 10:00

      Hahahaha!!! He is asking if we as the readers find these scores suspicious not if we think, like him, that they are…… Dude just relax and have another cup of coffee…. All reviews are subjective to the person playing the game, I have played many games that had terrible reviews and liked the game… Sniper V2 comes to mind, the graphics was horrible but the gameplay was amazing and the best sniper game I have ever played. It’s Monday and way too early for an all out comment war on LG!!

      Reply

      • Sir Captain Rincethis

        February 18, 2013 at 10:06

        What you said 🙂

        Reply

        • OVG

          February 18, 2013 at 10:17

          I concur.
          Whats happening? where are we?

          Reply

      • Banana Jim

        February 18, 2013 at 10:10

        I loved Sniper V2, even scored that pretty high when I was doing reviews at xboxgaming. I loved Dragon’s Dogma, it got slammed here. I rated Spec Ops very high at a time when the media was slamming it for being ‘generic’ (yeah generic my ass). I enjoyed Warfighter and scored it decently, and that was slammed by the mass media. I think what Charlie should have done was “Troll this page with Alien phallus pictures, and take it on the chin”.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Erwin

          February 18, 2013 at 11:28

          Dragons Dogma ist dafuq 😛

          Reply

    • Banana Jim

      February 18, 2013 at 10:06

      When I read your review I thought, this guy saw the good in the title, no harm in that. I’ve liked games the mainstream hated. I’ve even hated games that the mainstream adored. That probably makes me a little contrarian, but seriously… fuck people. The sheep are dumb and they smell like pork.

      However, being overly defensive doesn’t help. There’s nothing more suspicious.

      Reply

    • Yolanda Green

      February 18, 2013 at 10:24

      So, what you’re saying is, that you reviewed the game without finishing it, which ultimately renders your review null as you’re opinion has now changed?

      Reply

      • Sir Captain Rincethis

        February 18, 2013 at 10:34

        Who reviews a game when they haven’t finished it? That’s like reviewing a movie without seeing the ending. I am pretty sure that most people would have thought 6th Sense was a well made movie if they hadn’t seen the ending. But WITH the ending it’s a bloody brilliant movie. What a half-arsed attempt if you can’t even finish a FIVE hour game, and then critic it? That’s journalism is it?

        Reply

        • Yolanda Green

          February 18, 2013 at 11:19

          *Shrugs* I guess some people don’t have a problem with it or admitting it in public. Each to his own… the rest of us however, can only have our opinions about the subject, I think the general consensus is pretty obvious though.

          Reply

    • Wtf101

      February 18, 2013 at 11:26

      Just shot yourself in the foot right there ole’ buddy!

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      February 18, 2013 at 12:27

      I never implied you were on the take, I just said you were wrong to change your review after it went live… That’s wrong. Also not completing a game before posting a review… not good.

      Reply

      • Charlie Fripp

        February 18, 2013 at 13:47

        I absolutely love it when people become all self-righteous – it truly makes me smile. *this will be my last commentary on this matter*

        Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      February 18, 2013 at 12:27

      I never implied you were on the take, I just said you were wrong to change your review after it went live… That’s wrong. Also not completing a game before posting a review… not good.

      Reply

  15. umar bastra

    February 18, 2013 at 10:16

    “drop the difficulty a notch and figure out how to work around the Unreal engine’s shortcoming” …………………Why drop the difficulty?it’s easy as hell and why should any gamer learn to workaround something….

    ” Aliens Colonial Marines does a great job with bringing the focus back to the original story and expanding on it” the story was poor as F**K…ARE YOU SERIOUS??? there was zero focus in the story, nothing but a bunch of haphazard scenes with stiff characters!!!!!

    I can’t say if they are selling out or being subjective but those reviews makes no god damn sense, it really sounds like they were bought off, but I hate making accusations so will rather just say they kak dof

    Reply

  16. OVG

    February 18, 2013 at 10:31

    7.9 to 6.9???? Is Charlie crazy? Nobody can take him seriously anymore…He should have changed it to a 0.9 for the effort that went into the box art. :p

    Reply

    • Wtf101

      February 18, 2013 at 11:47

      That has to be the ugliest cover I had seen in years!

      Reply

      • OVG

        February 18, 2013 at 11:49

        0.4?

        Reply

        • Wtf101

          February 18, 2013 at 11:56

          -2.5 for the assrape of one of the coolest sci-fi franchises ever

          Reply

    • umar bastra

      February 18, 2013 at 12:46

      A good Aliens game

      Reply

  17. Lardus

    February 18, 2013 at 14:23

    Read the IT News Africa review. It is a good review until you get to the score. In my opinion the words written and the final score do not match up, whether it is 7.9 or 6.9 it doesn’t match. Maybe a 5.9 or a 6.

    Reply

  18. Willem Swanepoel

    February 19, 2013 at 08:09

    I watched AngryJoe’s review, I almost cried. We both were so disappointed … so disappointed … *sniff*

    Reply

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