Genre: Third-Person Shooter | Developer: Cold Iron Studio | Release Date: 2021
Published by Cold Iron Studio and Focus Home Interactive, the game was released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows.
Campaign
Aliens: Fireteam Elite positions players in the boots of a Colonial Marine, fighting through xenomorph swarms across four story campaigns, each divided into three missions. Set 23 years after the original Alien trilogy, the story builds upon the franchise’s lore by weaving together nods to Alien, Prometheus, and Aliens. You’ll traverse derelict space stations, alien temples, and Weyland-Yutani facilities while unraveling secrets tied to the xenomorphs and synthetic experimentation. On paper, it sounds engaging. In practice, however, the narrative rarely takes center stage. Most of the story is drip-fed through mission briefings, radio chatter, and supplementary lore pickups rather than dramatic in-mission storytelling or cutscenes.
There’s no character development to speak of—your player-created Marine is a voiceless avatar, and the NPCs back on the USS Endeavor serve mainly as mission dispensers and voiceovers. The plot never builds the tension or dread typical of the Alien franchise. That said, the campaign does offer enough variety in enemy types—standard xenomorph drones, exploding bursters, armored warriors, synthetic androids, and more—to keep things moving. Still, even with this enemy diversity, each mission quickly falls into a predictable loop of “go here, activate objective, fight off waves of enemies, repeat.”
The campaign is fully playable in co-op with up to three players, and that’s arguably the best way to enjoy it. Solo players are forced to rely on AI-controlled bots, who range from mildly competent to outright useless. They’ll occasionally help with revives and fire support, but they often stand in open fire, fail to prioritize threats, or lag behind, leading to unnecessary frustration. Even enemy AI behavior swings from mindless rushing to intelligently flanking—sometimes in the same encounter. While the campaign length is respectable, repetition and weak AI hold it back. Overall, it’s a serviceable but unremarkable story mode best experienced with friends.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Gameplay
Aliens: Fireteam Elite offers fast-paced, third-person shooter action that blends arcade-style combat with light RPG mechanics. You’ll choose from a roster of distinct classes—Gunner, Technician, Demolisher, Doc, Recon, and Phalanx—each offering unique abilities and loadouts that cater to different playstyles. From explosive sentry turrets to team heals and crowd control, there’s a clear focus on squad synergy and role fulfillment.
The gunplay is satisfyingly punchy, with tight controls and a decent array of weapons ranging from pulse rifles and shotguns to flamethrowers and smartguns. The moment-to-moment combat can feel exhilarating, especially during intense horde attacks. However, that same loop becomes repetitive fast. Missions all follow a formula: move through tight corridors, hold a position while fending off waves, repeat until mission end. The lack of dynamic mission objectives or significant environmental interaction makes every sortie feel like déjà vu.
Gear upgrades and class customization add some longevity, as players can earn currency and attachments to tweak builds. The perk board allows ability modifications, encouraging experimentation. However, the grind for cosmetics and better gear can feel unrewarding due to the loot system being both stingy and uninspired.
The AI, both friendly and enemy, remains inconsistent. Xenos will sometimes display cunning tactics like ambushes or flanks but will just as often mindlessly charge into chokepoints. Bots are unreliable, providing weak support and often failing to revive or engage properly. Fireteam Elite is at its best in co-op, where players can actually coordinate and use class synergies. Solo play feels like a compromise. There’s enough depth here to enjoy in bursts, but the gameplay loop begins to show cracks by the third mission.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Production
Cold Iron Studios delivered a decently polished experience when it comes to production, albeit one that doesn’t break new ground. Visually, Aliens: Fireteam Elite faithfully captures the look and feel of the franchise. From the flickering corridor lights and damp industrial interiors to the grotesque organic architecture of the hive, the atmosphere is nailed with precision. The lighting is appropriately moody, and effects like muzzle flashes, acidic blood sprays, and fire from flamethrowers all look fantastic. Enemy models, particularly the xenomorphs, are intricately detailed and animated fluidly.
The audio design is one of the game’s stronger suits. The iconic pulse rifle crack, the screech of a Warrior, or the booming stomp of a Crusher all contribute to the tension. The soundtrack stays true to the Aliens tone—low, throbbing ambient tracks that rise into pounding beats during heavy firefights. Sound effects are effective and satisfying, adding to the immersive combat.
Voice acting, while sparse, is competent. NPCs like Herrera and Park give professional performances, even if the script doesn’t give them much to work with. Most of the lore is hidden in audio logs or text entries found between missions, which is a missed opportunity for richer storytelling in-mission.
Unfortunately, the game’s repetitive nature is reflected here too. Cutscenes are minimal and largely static. Mission briefings and dialogue are reused frequently, reducing the emotional impact of what should be desperate survival encounters. The environments, while visually distinct, are used multiple times, giving players a feeling of déjà vu. It’s a technically solid game that hits the right Alien beats, but it’s clear the production budget was modest.
Rating: 4 out of 5
The Verdict
In the end, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a solid squad-based shooter for fans of the franchise, best played with friends. While it nails the atmosphere and delivers tense firefights, its repetitive structure, shaky AI, and limited narrative keep it from greatness. Worthwhile for co-op action lovers, but solo players may want to pass. Aliens: Fireteam Elite gets 3 out of 5.
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