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BlackSite: Area 51 Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

BlackSite: Area 51 Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

BlackSite: Area 51 doesn’t evolve the crowded FPS genre, but still delivers exciting extra-terrestrial extinguishing fun supported by modern-day, middle-America vibe.

BlackSite: Area 51 sits in the unenviable position of sharing retail space with some heavy hitters this holiday season; Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, BioShock and The Orange Box are all top-tier titles that stand to steal the spotlight from this under-hyped alien invasion shooter. And while BlackSite doesn’t evolve the genre as these other titles all have in some way, it does deserve a hint of that glow they’re gloriously basking in.

BlackSite: Area 51 screenshot

It’s a fast and fun FPS that not only marks most of the boxes on the “what makes a good shooter” checklist, but also adds a couple of bar-raising boxes of its own. Most notably, its clever aliens-attack-earth scenarios, supported by some great level design and set pieces, make it a refreshing alternative to the other offerings gunning for dominance in the genre.

You’re likely wondering what could be so clever and refreshing about yet another alien shooter. We’ve been fighting little green men in our videogames since Space Invaders; hell, we even recently rid the Earth of extra-terrestrials from behind the Spartan visor of Master Chief and the smart specs of Gordon Freeman. So, what kind of alien-blastin’ goodness can BlackSite offer that Halo 3 and The Orange Box haven’t already? Well, this current incarnation of the Area 51 franchise–which has previously seen success as an arcade light-gun game and less so as a David Duchovny-voiced Xbox/PS2 FPS–does a fantastic job of bringing the aliens home; not the futuristic or post-apocalyptic “home” of other such games, but the everyday, present day settings and environments that can be seen right outside your own window. You see, BlackSite’s primary draw is its brilliant blend of rampaging, giant-tentacled threats and middle America settings; from roadside truck-stops and diners to strip malls and trailer parks, if you’ve ever roadtripped through the United States, you’ll relate to the turf your protecting in BlackSite. In fact, think of it as a trek down Route 66 with lots of Earth-eating obstacles. And those ooze and fire-spewing obstacles run the gamut from small and speedy spider-like types to ground-erupting behemoths that’ll only be silenced after several clips have been emptied into their slimy flesh. You’ll also take on plenty of super-soldiers and, more interestingly, half-man, half-machine “reborns” sporting long metallic legs and creepy human faces.

BlackSite: Area 51 screenshot

The game’s opening chapter sees you in the fatigues of a US military man fighting in Iraq. It takes a bit for things to get in gear as this tutorial level feels just like any other been-there-done-that military FPS. But things quickly pick up when the action shifts to the Nevada desert, and creepy-crawly, self-detonating beasties begin rushing you from all sides. From here the aliens-in-Americana fun starts to unfold as you navigate an abandoned–except for all those flaming, black smoke-spitting vehicles–charred highway. You’ll defend against not-of-this-world foes in gas stations, weigh stations, and convenience stores on your journey to a military base, where you hope to uncover some answers. These close-to-home locales look great and support plenty of environmental destruction. You’ll feel like you’re at the local 7-Eleven when you hunker down behind an ice machine–you know the one: white with silver doors and “ICE” stenciled on the side in big, red letters–trying to get a reloading reprieve from the marauding menaces out by the gas pumps. Equally exciting encounters unfold in a trailer park–complete with exploding propane tanks–, a small town court house, and an old drive-in theater. A nice suburban area even has you climbing over a child’s jungle gym to navigate a neighborhood overrun with the alien threat. These moments, and others like them, are what make BlackSite worth playing, especially if you’re a fan of movies like Independence Day and War of the Worlds.

BlackSite: Area 51 screenshot

Aside from this aliens-in-our-own-backyard appeal, BlackSite feels pretty average. Not bad, just not remarkable in any way. The shooting feels good-although we would have enjoyed a few more weapons. The simple squad commands work okay, but seem mostly unnecessary and occasionally forced; we would’ve been okay with opening our own doors and setting our own explosive charges.

BlackSite: Area 51 screenshot

The story offers the usual mix of government conspiracies and human experimentation, and when BlackSite leads you to a military compound or secret government facility to drive this narrative, it ironically feels less interesting than fighting back chemically-engineered super soldiers on Main St. BlackSite also features a morale system that, like the squad commands, doesn’t so much interfere with the experience, but never seems to add to it either. Based on how well you’re fighting your squad will receive a boost or a hit to their morale; on-screen text prompts when this is happening, but we never noticed a significant difference as far as the tide of battle turning in our favor or not.

BlackSite’s audio and visual presentation generally gets the next-gen job done, with the only notable exception being the absence of some ambient sounds; water bursting from pipes and boots trampling over ever-changing terrain are two areas in particular that could’ve upped the immersion with appropriate audio cues. However, the guns and grenades penetrate the ear with meaty pops and explosions, and the summer-blockbuster-like score will keep you hoofing it to the next check point. The graphics are supported by some nice set pieces; an enormous multi-tentacled alien wrapping his many mits around an interstate bridge is a highlight, as are many other moments where screen-filling foes surprisingly pop out of real-world structures. The levels also get injected with a bit of visual variety via fast-moving vehicle segments where you’re patrolling Nevada’s highways in a Humvee and taking to the skies, above the red-canyon landscapes, in a military chopper.

BlackSite is a good shooter, but in a season packed with game-of-the-year caliber FPS offerings, “good” might not be enough to get it noticed; seems Midway would’ve done themselves a financial favor by releasing this during mid-winter when we’re starving for quality titles. If you’re looking for a ground-breaking experience or a robust selection of multiplayer modes- BlackSite’s don’t offer much more than a weekend distraction–this isn’t it. However, if you find the idea of fighting aliens in your own backyard appealing, you won’t do better than BlackSite’s relatable, the-truth-is-out-there experience. Master Chief might be a universe-saving hero with a beam-of-blue-light hottie for a sidekick, but has he ever felt the satisfaction of turning a trailer park into a mass of alien-ooze-splattered twisted metal?

Features:

  • A living, breathing squad–your elite Special Forces squad, assembled from the finest soldiers in today’s military, responds to your orders and your leadership in the most realistic in-game visuals imaginable.
  • Online multiplayer modes–players will have a wide variety of traditional online modes, such as Death- Match, Team-Death-Match, and Capture-the-Flag.
  • Drive, shoot, and ride–drive the latest military HMMWVs, ATVs, and commandeer civilian vehicles, or take a seat in the gunner’s position in daring, low-level helicopter raids against enemy positions.
  • Realistic, fully interactive environments–in the ultimate mission-based, player-driven FPS game, take your Squad down any one of multiple paths to solve problems and defeat enemies.
  • Unique one-button squad command–as Squad Leader, you have the power, the authority, and the duty to command your troops to perform a variety of complex actions, including planting C-4, sniping an enemy in the guard tower, or taking control of various vehicles.

    RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.5 Graphics
    Real-world locales–gas stations, convenience stores, strip malls–look great. 3.5 Control
    Good, but squad and morale system feels unnecessary. 3.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
    Nice, despite some ambient sounds missing. 4.0 Play Value
    Its present-day settings and backdrops are a lot of fun to play-through. Multi-player adds minimal replay. 4.0 Overall Rating – Great
    Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

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