I specifically remember saying "they should have kept Area 51 as a light gun shooter". Well after renting this game I can safely say that I should reserve my judgment more often. While this game is lacking in a few areas the gameplay is very reminiscent of good old-fashioned arcade fun.
Gameplay 9/10
Area 51, home to a secret underground compound, flying saucers, aliens, illuminati, alien hybrid soldiers, conspiracy theories and double shotguns. Yes gentle reader this game goes all the way when it comes to discarding realism. You'll wield a shotgun, a sub-machine gun, a pistol, a sniper rifle, grenades, an energy rifle and a weapon similar to the Doom BFG. While this arsenal is seen as standard what makes Area 51 slightly different is the ability to hold two shotguns or sub-machine guns at once. Also all of these weapons are useful right up to the end of the game. A few well-placed shots from the pistol can bring down any enemy with exception of bosses.
The energy weapons are unique to Area 51 and help set it apart from other shooters. The rifle draws energy from the ether and converts it into ammo while the BFG like energy weapon fires a large ball of energy, which lands and sends out arcs of energy to "zap" multiple nearby enemies simultaneously. As for the energy grenades they can be bounced off of walls because they home in on nearby opponents.
As you descend into the bowels of the secret base you'll be tasked with simple objectives that range from finding a security pass to destroying a piece of machinery. As per norm all sorts of opponents will challenge you every step of the way and while a single enemy doesn't pose a threat Area 51 sticks to its' arcade roots by throwing lots of enemies at you. The real threats come from the boss fights that show up later in the game and from large groups of Illuminati soldiers armed with rifles.
My only complaint in regards to the gameplay would be the whole "mutant transformation" aspect. I don't like FPS games that grant you outrageous powers because you morph into something other than a human. When you are in the "mutant" state you must click the right thumb stick to swipe at your opponents. Again I have to mention that I must have crappy hands or something because I found the controls in mutant form a bit tricky to handle. I remedied the situation by simply using the transformation ability as little as possible.
Audio 7/10
The voice acting is weak and the music while good is not that catchy/memorable. The music is somewhere in the vein of "electronica" and gets cued up whenever a shoot out begins. I felt that the choice in music should have been different so as to create a better sense of mood in the game. After all you are exploring a huge base that has turned into a nightmare filled with monsters. However when I reminded myself that Area 51 is going for the whole "shoot tons of guys with music blaring" arcade action I let the music take a backseat to the action. As for the sound effects they were standard fare for an FPS game. The Illuminati soldier's death cry and the sound of both shotguns being fired were my favorite sound effects due to their ability to elicit a sick grin on my face.
Video 8/10
The cinematics are extremely well done and there appears to be no clipping or frame rate issues in game. Area 51 however does not sport the best in game graphics as is evidenced by the mediocre models and occasionally bland looking environments. I found a few of the graphical effects to be well done. Said effects being the anti-gravity on the flying saucer and the cloaked soldiers.
Replay 7/10
The story plays out like an X-file or Outer Limits show and as such it is rife with conspiracy theories, advanced technology and ethical issues. These sort of stories tend to be captivating to those who have open minds however they are hardly worth coming back to multiple times. The incentives for the gamer to come back would be the ability to play on the "hard" difficulty setting and attempting to find more of the collectables to unlock extra videos that compliment the story. For most though playing through Area 51 will be a one-time experience.
Rent or Buy?
If you like FPS games rent Area 51 and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Score
Gameplay 9/10
Audio 7/10
Video 8/10
Replay 7/10
Overall (it is an average) 7.75 rounded up to an 8 for its' fun arcade action.
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