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Let's Play Aliens versus Predator (Classic) - We're Gonna Facehug Like It's 1999
UltimaGecko
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
The alienated, predator-packed Aliens versus Predator (Classic) Let's Play
AvP Classic is available on Steam for $4.99.
03/04/10 - Now with updated OP and bonus level!
AvP Classic is available on Steam for $4.99.
Perhaps you've heard of Aliens versus Predator for the PC?
No, not that new game that just come out. We're going back through the annals of history - to the days when the USA's greatest concern was that the president couldn't keep it in his pants and the media didn't care about violence in video games because that hyper-violent Matrix movie had just come out.
Aliens versus Predators (versus Marines)
Aliens vs. Predator (AvP for short) is a First Person Shooter created by Rebellion Software and Fox Interactive Studios in 1999.
The game features three playable characters (a Marine, a Predator, and an Alien), each of which have their own unique story campaign (5 missions for the Alien, 6 for the Marine and Predator each), as well as 5 bonus missions for each that are unlocked for beating the game on different difficulties (essentially altered maps that other species got to play in). The engine has quite a few neat characteristics, and the game itself is rather quirky (…and many people will tell you “pants-wettingly scary” (this thread has now officially made it an adjective)).
Although the game may carry the same name as a 2004 movie the only similarity is Predaliens. Except in this game they get killed. And the only time Predators and Humans come together is when a Predator is decapitating a human corpse with his wristblades.
Weyland-Yutani's Next Top Model
So how does it look? Pretty good for its age.
For its time, AvP had brilliant graphics and excellent sound-design. Texture quality tended to be higher than its contemporaries, as did the quality of its level geometry (curves are quite common - something Half-Life didn't do well). The game was vaunted for its use of lighting and sound. It has aged surprisingly well.
Plus giant, geometry-conforming explosions...
Aliens versus Predator: Marines Livin' Large
In 2000 the "expansion" – Aliens versus Predator: Gold Edition – was released (think: "Sims expansion with less content"). It featured 2 new marine weapons and minor bug fixes. It also added the Rebellion staff portraying the marine commanding officers on the in-game video screens. They’re not especially good in this role, and it made no sense why they changed it. The expansion also featured an abundance of multiplayer maps and included the latest patch for the original - adding a much vaunted feature that wasn’t present in the original unpatched AvP: the ability to save mid-level.
That’s right, in a game where you could be torn to shreds by a pack of aliens in a matter of seconds there was no ability to save. This is remedied in the patched version and the expansion by introducing a save feature – the number of saves per level being limited by the difficulty level.
More important than the uselessness of the expansion: it came with great swag.
The Three Contenders
There’s the fun-loving predator, who likes stabbing things with his spear…
Incidentally, you don’t get to use a spear while playing as the predator. The closest you get is a speargun.
There’s the vertigo-immune alien. He’s a lot like ceiling cat, except with more decapitations.
Marines may have been harmed in the making of this image.
And there’s the hapless marine. Fragile. Weak. Panicky… Packing unmatched firepower.
Firepower not pictured.
Incidentally, you don’t get to use a spear while playing as the predator. The closest you get is a speargun.
There’s the vertigo-immune alien. He’s a lot like ceiling cat, except with more decapitations.
Marines may have been harmed in the making of this image.
And there’s the hapless marine. Fragile. Weak. Panicky… Packing unmatched firepower.
Firepower not pictured.
Getting a Decade-Old Game Up and Running
You might be saying to yourself, "But Gecko, this game is so old that it came out when WW2 games were still rare, can I even get it to work?"
Yes, you can! The easiest way is probably with the patch (or buying the Steam version). Multiplayer still worked between the regular exe and the patched exe when I tried it over a LAN (didn't try TCP/IP, Hamachi should work).
Here's an exciting issues and solutions checklist:
If you have DirectX-10 hardware (or the other stuff doesn't work):
You can download a fan-made patch from the thread here (near half-way down). There's also a link to the potentially necessary DirectX files, but the latest patched exe is further in the thread (page 5, I think).
If you run it with the patch you should reinstall the game if you tried new DLLs, since they shouldn't be necessary. You'll run the game with MyAvP.exe instead of AvP.exe.
If you have pre-DirectX 10 hardware:
Set Compatability to Windows 98/ME
Find up-to-date versions of smackw32.dll and binkw32.dll and put them in your AvP directory
If you have skipping/persistent intro movie audio:
Try renaming avp.exe to something else (such as avpgold.exe); there's a potential conflict with an XP file of the same name.
If your game runs slowly or pauses frequently:
Put an audio CD in your drive; it's looking for the soundtrack. You can just set the Music Volume to zero in options if you don't want to hear it.
Game Specifications
The box clearly states "3D Accelerator Card Required," so if you're still living in 1999 and don't have any semblance of DirectX capable hardware you won't be able to run it. Otherwise:
200MHz processor
32Mb of RAM
200Mb HDD space minimum
The old intro paragraphs if you're nostalgic:
Sparked by the recent announcements regarding Aliens: Colonial Marines, I've dusted off my ancient copy of AvP and attempted to get it working on modern hardware to bring you the scariest LP ever. More likely scary because I'm making it, and not because the aliens sneak up on you and attack you in confined spaces...because that will be happening to me.
So, you want to learn about Aliens and Predators? All the PoliSci majors and Biology majors can leave the room right now, because we’re not talking about immigrants and lame African wildlife that spends half of its life sleeping. Let’s begin with some background information (we’ll get to the exciting decapitations, glowing blood, thrashing alien bodies and tension-filled motion trackers in a bit).
So, you want to learn about Aliens and Predators? All the PoliSci majors and Biology majors can leave the room right now, because we’re not talking about immigrants and lame African wildlife that spends half of its life sleeping. Let’s begin with some background information (we’ll get to the exciting decapitations, glowing blood, thrashing alien bodies and tension-filled motion trackers in a bit).
The facehuggers want to play with you in the AvP LP. Facehuggers also want you to check out the TF2 cards here. View the in-progress RE mansion recreation for L4D here.
People respect a man who might do science at any moment.
UltimaGecko on
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Bonus Level Listing:
(Now in convenient checkbox format).
Bonus level unchecked that you want to see? Throw in your request for the next video.
Alien Bonus Levels:
[ ] Invasion [Marine Level]
[ ] Derelict [Marine Level]
[ ] Tyrargo [Marine Level]
[ ] Caverns [Predator Level]
[ ] Fury 161 [Predator Level] - has alien ally bots
Marine Bonus Levels:
[ ] Temple [Alien Level]
[ ] Vaults [Predator Level]
[ ] Ferarco [Alien Level]
[ ] Gateway [Alien Level]
[ ] Waterfall [Predator Level] - has marine ally bots
Predator Bonus Levels:
[x] Invasion [Marine Level]
[ ] Escape [Alien Level]
[ ] Temple [Alien Level]
[ ] Earthbound [Alien Level]
[ ] Tyrargo [Marine Level]
Bonus bonus levels (through the AvPLauncher - same level, new species):
[ ] Colony for the predator [Marine Level]
[ ] Orbital for the predator [Marine Level]
[ ] Waterfall for the alien [Predator Level]
[ ] Area 52 for the alien [Predator Level]
(unfortunately there aren't any bonus bonus levels for the marine because he relies on pick-ups and he jumps like a cow so he'd be stranded pretty quickly in other species' levels - if I can find a version of the launcher that allows the jetpack we'll be in business).
Intro movies to each of the campaigns:
Predator Intro
Alien Intro
GameVee links have been removed because it's now defunct and none of the links work. On the plus side, my original YouTube uploads are high quality, so they've had the HD option ever since YouTube allowed it.
Alien Campaign:
In the time it takes to get there they'll know if it's a warning.
Escape
All you have to do is crawl in the vent with it...
Ferarco
...and hope it's afraid of fire.
Gateway
How're they going to impound it if they don't know about it?
Earthbound
...if one of those things gets down here then that will be all!
Marine Campaign:
You sent them out there and you didn't even warn them...
Colony
They mostly come out at night, mostly.
Invasion
Fall in at the incinerator?
Orbital
Looks like love at first sight.
Tyrargo
Man, this floor is cold.
Hangar [Contains spoilers about Aliens and Predators]
Predator Campaign:
Whatssa matta? CIA got you pushin' too many pencils?
Area 52
I ain't got time to bleed.
Vaults
There's something out there waiting for us, and it ain't no man.
Fury 161
...no killin' what can't be killed.
Caverns
Did you find Hawkins?
Battle [Contains spoilers about Aliens and Predators]
Predator Bonus Levels
See you at the party, Richter.
Ending Videos [inherently filled with spoilers]
That's because I blew it out the goddamn airlock.
Alien Campaign Ending
Do you really think you can get a dangerous organism like that past ICC quarantine?
Predator Campaign Ending
[...Will be up once I can manage to get the audio loud enough. Suddenly my computer hates the videos' sound.]
Non-Level Bonus Videos
Facehugger pie, nom nom nom.
Mirror Cheat Mode and the Übermenu
Edit: okay the third screen. Is there no exaggeration allowed on the internet today or something?
I still love AVP! I played the shit out of this more than any other FPS. Ripping things apart as an alien is relaxing.
Yes, AVP was awesome. I can't remember, but it was either AVP or AVP2 that had a co-op campaign mode. It was fun playing as the marines with friends.
Beep.
Aliens campaign would probably be the best to start with.
(i vote for the marine campaign)
You got time to duck?
Predator campaign, I never finished that one
Destiny Profile : http://www.bungie.net/en/Profile/254/7028016
Handmade Jewelry by me on EtsyGames for sale
Me on Twitch!
Hardest difficulty.
Echoing screams request!
Weyland-Yutani Bioweapons Research Facility on LV-426
2154 - Ten years after Hadley's Hope incident
Massive Biocontainment Failure
Scientific and Civillian personnel evacuation complete
Everyone around here seems to be well-versed in their Aliens knowledge, but for anyone not up to date:
LV-426 is the planet designation from Alien and Aliens with the derelict 'Jockey' ship.
Hadley's Hope is the name of the colony in Aliens (fairly sure you only get to see it in the Aliens Special Edition)
Weyland-Yutani is 'the Company' from the Aliens movies. It was also stolen for use in a 2004 movie which shall remain nameless.
The Marine does not constitute scientific or civillian personnel...
He's sweet, sweet alien food.
(No, I do not know how to pronounce failure)
...also, remind me not to bother with good compression, since YouTube butchers it anyway (any sound problems and muttering - that's all me, though).
That first alien actually made me scream.
I can't wait for alien: colonial marines now.
If there's one thing I've learned from my first LP here, it's that Penny Arcade forum frequenters absolutely love to see a man driven to the brink... and then pinky-pushed off of it.
Perhaps the same can be said for all forums...
Funny, I thought that was the only way to do a Let's Play. :P
UltimaGecko, you've got some serious courage going on. Those Aliens were fast, and you calmly destroyed them whilst still commenting on what was going on. Keep doing what you're doing!
It's relatively powerful against aliens, but there's not an extreme abundance of ammo, either. There's also not as many aliens in the first level as the later levels. If you run out you basically try to beat them down with your pulse rifle as you go down in a blaze of glory (i.e.: a big bloody mess surrounded by aliens). I've never actually had that happen in single player, but only because you usually have another gun to switch to. It's usually only effective versus aliens, and only if there's only one or two of them at a time (since it chews through bullets).
Almost all of the guns in the game are 'powerful'. The only weapon that isn't explicitly 'awesome' is the pistol, but it's a pistol, so it's only okay (one or two headshots kills aliens). Generally you end up with pulse rifles, smartguns and flamethrowers (like the Aliens movies). Orbital is my favorite level, since it allows you access to the rocket launcher, the grenade launcher and it's a nearly fully realized space station (but you can also plow through it within a minute or two if you know where to go). Plus it has predators. The minigun only pops up once during single player (that I know of), and it's fairly easy to overlook.
It's more about going through the levels than upgrading your guns (you get reverted to just a pulse rifle at the beginning of each level, anyway). The Predator is cheap in that respect, he gets his pistol and disc on the third level and keeps them through subsequent levels.
How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?
Still though, as someone who never owned this (but always wanted to) and never even managed to get the demo going, I shall watch eagerly.
Beep.
"Wait."
Beep.
"20ish meters."
Beep. Beep.
"10 meters. I should see it by now."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Where is it?"
BeepBeepBeepBeep.
"WHERE THE FUCK IS IT?"
Beepbeepbeepbeep
*crying...death*
I wasn't very old when I first played.
I used rocket launchers to kill the things. They outright terrified me.
Watching you sprint through that level completely blase about what's going on makes me sad.
Also, you're not going with the CD audio? It's probably better for atmosphere, but it did have some goooood music.
Edit:
Just watched the whole thing. Man, I forgot how grrrrrrrrreat the lighting is. It's like what Doom 3 attempted, only successful. It actually doesn't look that outdated, because very few modern games use lighting that well; it's almost part of the gameplay. I might have to reinstall it myself.
I never played Gold, but I completely forgot you couldn't save in the vanilla version. So you're stuck with some of the most aggressive enemies you've ever faced, who could come from anywhere in an environment where you really can't see shit. They can kill you very fast, and you can't save. This is why the game is so highly regarded; the sense of danger is almost unparalleled.
Also, the Rebellion staff don't seem to be much of an improvement over the guy they used in the original.
Anyway...
Weyland-Yutani Scientific and Civilian Support Installation
Severe xenomorph infestation
Research teams and support engineers evacuated
Power generators offline
How could they cut the power, man? They're animals.
Alternate link for people with bandwidth.
Warning: may feature poorly performed Aliens quotes. And Predator quotes.
...Although I'm not sure if quoting the predator actually constitutes a quote.
So, I've iron-manned it so far, but Invasion and Tyrargo may tax that ability (invasion isn't so bad, but Tyrargo has a ...vast abundance of aliens, including praetorians at the end of the level. We'll see how many times I need to replay it before I break out this fancy new "sah-aive" feature when we get there.
[edit]Looking into a different site for some hosting so you can actually see what's being shot at (the secret of my mediocre aim will be unleashed upon the world), we'll see how that plays out.
I've also realized it sounds like my opening audio is read from a script...just pretend I work at Rebellion.
(recording trouble let me practice it a few times...and it's still bad; remind me not to become a voice actor)
My only quarrel is it sounds like you're whispering into the mic. Nothing to do with quietness, just your tone. I'm eagerly awaiting screams!
He's staying frosty.
Zeboyd Games Development Blog
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire, Facebook : Zeboyd Games
It depends on your hardware, but it can take as little as changing the compatability mode, to downloading a fan made patch and DirectX files.
An exciting checklist:
Set Compatability to Windows 98/ME
Find up-to-date versions of smackw32.dll and binkw32.dll and put them in your AvP directory
If you have skipping/persistent intro movie audio:
Try renaming avp.exe to something else (such as avpgold.exe); there's a conflict with an XP file of the same name.
If your game runs slowly or pauses frequently:
Put an audio CD in your drive; it's looking for the soundtrack. You can just set the Music Volume to zero in options if you don't want to hear it.
If you have DirectX-10 hardware, or that other stuff didn't work:
You can download a fan-made patch from the thread here (near half-way down). There's also a link to the potentially necessary DirectX files, but the latest patched exe is further in the thread (page 5, I think).
If you run it with the patch you should reinstall if you tried new DLLs, since they shouldn't be necessary. You'll run the game with MyAvP.exe instead of AvP.exe.
It's not too hard to get working. The easiest way is probably with the patch. Multiplayer still worked between the regular exe and the patched exe when I tried it over a LAN (but through TCP/IP)...but I make no guarantees that you'll be able to connect to the ...other people not playing it online.
The specifications clearly state "3D Accelerator Card Required", so if you're still living in 1998 and don't have any semblance of DirectX capable hardware you won't be able to run it (other exciting specifications: 200MHz processor, 32Mb of RAM and 200Mb HDD space).
Third video is coming along as soon as it's processed.
Weyland-Yutani Atmosphere Processor
Extreme Xenomorph infestation apparent.
Civilian support personnel missing - presumed infected.
Control mechanisms damaged - systems critical.
better quality video
Listen Apone, we can't have any firing in there...
...we could, but apparently it doesn't help.
Aliens! 3 o'clock!
Aliens! 5 o'clock!
More ALIENS!
AHHHHH!!!! ::constant gunfire:: ::disc whirls from nowhere and slices 3 aliens in front of him::
Thanks man! AHHHHHH!! DID YOU JUST DISC ME?!
Whoops!
great LP