Aliens Predator (1997) Board Game

The Aliens Predator board game was released in 1997 by Harper Prism and Precedence Publishing. It is based on the popular science fiction movie franchises Aliens and Predator, where players take on the roles of either the Colonial Marines, the Aliens, or the Predators in a battle for supremacy.

Game Components of Aliens Predator

Card Types: Location, Character, Item, and Event cards.

Starter Decks: Three 60-card starter decks focused on Aliens, Predators, and Colonial Marines, each with 50 fixed cards and 10 random rare and uncommon cards.

Booster Packs: 15-card booster packs.

Additional Components: Decoy tokens for hiding real movement, and six-sided dice for resolving combat.

How To Setup Aliens Predator

To set up the game, players first choose their faction: Aliens, Predators, or Colonial Marines. Each player receives a starter deck or constructs a deck using booster packs. The game involves setting up location cards to build the battleground, and players move their characters and items between these locations. The setup time is approximately 5-10 minutes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turn Order: Players act in a specific order: Colonial Marines, Aliens, and then Predators.

Character Attributes: Characters have Speed and Power attributes, influencing movement and combat.

Combat Resolution: Combat is resolved using a six-sided die, adding modifiers and comparing to the target’s Speed.

Victory Conditions:

Aliens: Win by turning all game locations into part of their hive.

Predators: Win by gathering “honor” from specific types of kills.

Colonial Marines: Win by rescuing a set number of civilians.

Card Uses: Cards can be used to move characters, search for items, activate items, or modify actions.

Player Experience

The game is known for its fast-paced and adrenaline-pumping gameplay, making it endlessly replayable. However, some reviews noted that the rules could be unclear at times, and the card art was subpar and often blurry. Despite these issues, the game’s flexibility in scenarios and ease of learning made it enjoyable for many players.

Pros

Easy to Learn: The game mechanics are straightforward and easy to grasp.

Flexible Scenarios: The game offers a variety of scenarios, making each playthrough unique.

Fast-Paced: The gameplay is quick and exciting.

Adrenaline-Pumping: The combat and strategy elements provide a thrilling experience.

Cons

Poor Card Art: The card art was criticized for being blurry and of low quality.

Unclear Rules: Some rules were found to be unclear or confusing.

Limited Success: The game did not achieve long-term success in the CCG market.

Personal Thoughts on Aliens Predator

This game is ideal for fans of the Alien and Predator franchises who enjoy strategic card games. While it may not have been a huge success in the market, it still offers a fun and engaging experience with its unique mechanics and faction-specific goals. The game’s themes and gameplay make it suitable for those who enjoy sci-fi and action-packed games, but may not be the best fit for those seeking games with high-quality card art or complex, long-term strategies.

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