Aliens: Fireteam Elite – Suicide Squad might be the best co-op alien game ever, and it’s also a great survival shooter. In fact, it has been one of the best alien co-op games in years, if not the best. Cold Iron Studios and 20th-century Studios developed this third-person shooter game in 2021. The game is available on PS 4 and 5, MS Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Players will find that the world of Alien fits easily into the survivalist genre, creating its own fun atmosphere without compromising the thrills or atmospheric adventures that the franchise is known for.

A Gameplay That Encourages Concentration

Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a fantastic addition to the Aliens franchise, and any fan of the series will find it enjoyable, with added value to be had if you’ve seen the movie it’s based on (or the other films in the series). If you’re new to the franchise and are looking for an intense shooter experience, this game will give you that and more. It also serves as a great sequel to Alien and Aliens, so fans of these films would do well to try it. And yeah, there are lots of return visits that will keep you on your toes all day.

A: FE is about previewing the exploits of the Colonial Marines aboard the UAS Endeavour, a spaceship assigned to respond to a distress call from the outer colonies. Players can immerse themselves in a classic alien story with AI or up to two other players. There are four campaigns to play at launch, each with three missions. Horde mode is also available, but only after all campaigns have been cleared.

All the campaigns are connected linearly, and each mission lasts about 20-40 minutes, which makes the game feel like an adventure that keeps the colonists ahead. The game’s duration is enough to quench the players’ thirst, but it will always leave them wanting more.

So Many Locations, Even More Enemies, and an Intriguing Story

The campaign offers a diverse array of enemies and locations, drawing on the narrative from various elements throughout the Alien franchise. The story is told through conversations on the Endeavour, NPCs talking on comms, and what the player sees during missions. The presentation is genre-appropriate, only rubbing elbows with the game when something needs extra detail or emotion.

Players can explore more informative story snippets aboard the Endeavor between missions if they wish. There’s plenty of additional narrative for players who want humor, but for those who don’t, the need for knowledge flows naturally with gameplay. The game is filled with references to the movies, books, games, and other media that make up the franchise. All are tailored to the taste that fans expect. Above all, A: FE isn’t afraid to leave its mark on Alien lore. Cold Iron’s progression to the main story is full of well-thought-out, heartfelt additions.

Perfect Atmosphere, Stellar Soundtrack

The game feels like something out of an alien world, not just because it’s full of callbacks to previous entries, but because the atmosphere is just right. There is a terrible sense of dread between encounters. Players roam the dark corridors, looking for potential ambushes around every corner, angry about the next ammo crate. Tensions are at home in A: FE.

I must give credit to A: FE’s stellar soundtrack, which provides even more thrills. During the quest, slow, curious sounds change to faster rhythms as a group of enemies approaches. Even with a full team of human players with all the weapons, abilities, and snarky commentary at the ready, everything goes silent when the music changes and the Motion Tracker lights up.

The Visuals Will Wow Any Fan of the Franchise

The game’s use of light and shadow works to stunning effect, and the environments are detailed, sometimes surprising. The effort put into good lighting and environments is more important than making every character and NPC look super realistic. Still, it would be nice if the player characters didn’t look like throwaway figures. Further down that lane, the character creation and physical appearance options are somewhat limited, with only a few possible faces or hairstyles.

Regardless, A: FE is fun to play and separates itself from competitors like Back 4 Blood and Left 4 Dead enough to establish its own identity. Unlike other titles in this genre, A: FE uses a third-person over-the-shoulder perspective with a team of three. You can extend missions by playing challenge cards, thereby introducing strong modifiers to the mission whose effect varies depending on the reward.

Classes Determine Weapons

Players can choose from five available classes (although one must be unlocked) and switch between them at any time before a mission. Each class has its distinct collection of weapons and fighting styles. The Demolisher class, for example, uses the popular M56 Smart Gun and Pulse Rife, best suited for denying territory to a group of aliens.

Characters and Weapons are Highly Customizable Once Created

While aboard the Endeavour, players can change their appearance, customize their weapons, and increase their skills. Appearance changes are purely cosmetic, allowing players to change their clothing and headgear. Weapon customization allows for surface and performance adjustments. Promotions and colors will make the weapon look different, but adding a new barrel or clip will change its stats.

The stats could vary from those to other effects of interest, like speed range. Some of these effects just add a permanent bonus to the weapon, while others involve generating strong enhancements for a short period after completing the requirements. It’s a nice detail that opens the door to different play styles.

Each class has three abilities that can be modified by skill. Each class will have space at the first level to place skill modifiers on their grid. As the class levels up, players will gain additional skill modifiers and space to place them. The gameplay is good, with a few slowdowns and hiccups in performance. A: FE feels solid and responds well to the controller as well as to the mouse and keyboard. The cover system is a welcome addition and generally works well, but in some cases, the cover can block targets too close or in the wrong position. 

Dealing with the Xenomorphs

Xenomorphs are the main threat in A: FE. Even the lowliest xenomorphs can take down unsuspecting marines. Swarms of Xenomorph Runners come in droves, accompanied by Spitters who play the role of snipers and the occasional Drone that emerges from hiding to hit and run.

There are also Xenomorph Warriors, Bursters, and Prowlers. Each type has its function. Runners are weak but outnumbered, Bursters dash and explode, and Heroes are tanks, and so on. Of course, the Xenomorphs are the stars, but other enemies are encountered in all four campaigns with their variants.

Conclusion

From the beginning, Aliens: Fireteam Elite – Suicide Squad had me on the edge of my seat. The game is extremely intense and engaging, with a fast pace that never lets me get bored. I constantly had to make split-second decisions that could mean life or death for my squad. And even though I died a lot, I always felt like I was learning and improving with each playthrough.

After playing the final version, my opinion remains that Aliens: Fireteam Elite is very good. Sure, there are a few flaws, but those are minor annoyances against the backdrop of everything the title does well. All in all, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is an AAA experience in an AA package. The game is fun and stays true to the Aliens franchise.