Alien vs. Predator (Capcom)

One of the highest-rated arcade brawlers ever made — hordes of xenomorphs against the legends.

Two icons of horror sci-fi, one cabinet and endless hordes of xenomorphs. Alien vs. Predator from Capcom is one of the highest-rated arcade brawlers ever, one that fans of the genre and of both film series pass on like a treasure. The game blends the brutal atmosphere of cosmic horror with polished early-1990s Capcom action.

The core of the experience is a classic side-scrolling beat 'em up in which you hack through legions of Aliens. The playable team mixes human soldiers with Predators, so you can choose between raw human resilience and the deadly technologies of the alien hunters. Each character has its own combat style, reach and weapons, from blades to firearms to special attacks, which gives the fights against enemies a pleasant variety.

The game draws on what Capcom did best in the genre: excellent animation, a tangible feel of blows and imaginatively designed enemies and bosses. The pace is fast and chaotic in the best sense, especially when teammates join you and the screen fills with action. Co-op is once again the right spice that turns playing into an adrenaline ride.

Visually the title carries a dark, industrial style that faithfully evokes the atmosphere of the film sources. Dark environments, hissing xenomorphs and iconic Predators together create the tension that inseparably belongs to the Alien vs. Predator license. Here Capcom showed that it can handle a brand with respect and craftsmanlike care.

Due to complicated licensing, the game long remained unavailable outside arcades, which made it a sought-after and almost cult title. For many players it is one of the peaks of Capcom brawlers and one of the best ways to experience the clash of these two sci-fi icons.

Why play: For fans of both film series and lovers of arcade brawlers who want a brutal, atmospheric and perfectly polished slugfest in Capcom's style.

The same title elsewhere (1)

Careful — these are two completely different games sharing the same license. Capcom's arcade brawler for the CPS board (1994) is a colorful Final Fight-style action game where players take on the Predator, a soldier, or an android and fight hordes of xenomorphs in up to three-player co-op. Alien vs Predator for the Atari Jaguar, released the same year, has nothing to do with it — it's a game by Rebellion, played in first person as a survival horror with a beeping motion tracker, dark corridors, and tension from an unseen enemy. The Jaguar version ranks among the console's most technically ambitious titles and still impresses with its atmosphere, while the Capcom arcade is pure fast, team-based action — there's no single "better version," since these are simply two different genres.

The same title elsewhere (1)

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