Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, the latest co-op shooter from developer Cold Iron Studios, is now available on consoles and PC. This sequel expands upon the foundation of its 2021 predecessor, offering a more robust experience with an increased player count and a greater emphasis on narrative. However, the abundance of dialogue and narrative choices, even when inconsequential, frequently interrupts the game's otherwise enjoyable alien-blasting gameplay.
The core gameplay loop of Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 remains a satisfying third-person co-op shooter focused on completing missions, fending off hordes of Xenomorphs, and upgrading player characters. The sequel accommodates four players, up from the original's three, and introduces a wealth of new features and improvements. Players can now fully customize their marines, apply extensive decals to their weaponry, and access more nuanced gear and character progression systems. The addition of a crouch mechanic, new enemy types, and a sidearm with unlimited ammunition further enhance the combat experience.
Visually, the game presents a sharp and clear presentation, faithfully recreating the aesthetic of the Alien films. The weapons feel impactful, particularly once players unlock more advanced armaments like the classic pulse rifle. The thrill of mowing down waves of aliens is amplified by excellent sound design and visuals that evoke the cinematic universe. The increased four-player co-op capacity is also a welcome addition, allowing more friends to join in on the bug hunts.
Despite these improvements, the game's narrative elements prove to be a significant detractor. Players spend considerable time in the in-game hub between missions engaging with NPCs, but the writing is often lackluster, with some conversations devolving into mundane topics. The inclusion of dialogue trees, which are baffling in a co-op shooter context, is particularly problematic. These choices have no impact on the narrative's progression, leading to a feeling of wasted time as conversations inevitably conclude the same way, pushing the player toward the next mission.
This issue is exacerbated when playing with friends. The constant NPC chatter can drown out player communication, and attempting to read dialogue prompts while friends are eager to resume gameplay proves frustrating. Coordinating play sessions becomes even more challenging when players are at different points in the story, requiring separate NPC interactions. The repetitive NPC dialogue during missions, a carryover from the original game, also becomes tiresome, especially given the emphasis on replaying missions for gear and upgrades. While the first game's replayability was supported by its fun combat and less intrusive dialogue, the sequel's constant chatter, even when attempting to disable in-game sound effects, interrupts the flow. Some players resort to mashing buttons to quickly skip these segments to return to the core alien-shooting action.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 offers a solid co-op shooting experience that should appeal to fans of the franchise. The core combat mechanics and authentic Alien atmosphere are strong points. However, players should be prepared to navigate the game's intrusive dialogue and occasional performance hiccups, particularly in the opening tutorial mission, to fully enjoy the alien-slaying action.