Alien Breed Evolution

Alien Breed Evolution is an episodic video game, and the latest in the Alien Breed series by Team 17 and the first new title in the series for over 14 years. Episode One was released digitally on Xbox Games Store on December 16, 2009. An updated version, called Alien Breed: Impact, was released on the PlayStation Store and through Steam on PC on June 3, 2010. The game has single player and a two-player cooperative mode which can be played either online or offline. Minimum requirements can be found here.

In June 2010, the second episode in the series, Alien Breed 2: Assault, was rated by the ESRB.

Gameplay
The games are top-down isometric shooters set onboard futuristic space craft. In each level, the main character is set a series of tasks, such as collecting key cards, restoring power or escorting innocents, which he must complete before finding that level's exit. Standing in his way are several different types of aliens who will attack, generally en masse. He can also suffer damage from explosions, fires, electrical disturbances and enemy turrets. The main character can run and shoot in all directions, and can collect a number of different guns, grenades, turrets and health packs. To help navigate the levels and discover hidden secrets, the camera angle can be rotated manually in 45 degree increments.

Each episode has five single player levels and three multiplayer levels.

Episode One
Theodore J. Conrad is an engineer on the spaceship Leopold when it has a collision with a mysterious ghost ship. Alien creatures cross over from the ship and overwhelm the Leopold, devastating the crew. Conrad must take arms against these invaders and fight to save his life. He is assisted by the android Mia, who provides advice and navigation, helping Conrad find the keys, consoles and power supplies he needs to escape each level.

At the end of the fourth level, Conrad must cross over from the Leopold to the Ghost Ship. While there, he encounters the Moss creature, the final boss for the first episode.

In the Co-Op Assault multiplayer levels, two men, Barnes and Vance, are trying to locate Conrad by storming through sections of the Leopold. When each section is complete, the characters take an elevator to the next level, detonating the previous stage and moving on to the next.

Alien Breed: Impact
The version released on PlayStation Network and Steam was renamed Alien Breed: Impact. This version was expanded to include a 'Prologue' section (available in single and multiplayer), redesigned aliens and an Upgrade Shop.

Reception
The game received generally positive reviews, although many reviewers found the game repetitive and complained about the lack of variety. It achieved a Metacritic average of 69%.

IGN commented that "Anyone who played the original Alien Breed back in the day will find their simple top-down shooter is all grown up with great lighting effects, an atmospheric soundtrack, and affecting cinematic events -- but the gameplay itself is rooted in 1990."

EuroGamer praised the production values, but added that "a flawed approach to co-op play and an inherent lack of variety ultimately count against it."

Edge gave a scathing review, stating "Repetitive and simplistic, Alien Breed Evolution may remain true to its inspiration, but this first episode does no more than reinforce Team 17's reputation for serviceable but uninspiring updates of past glories."

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