Awesome!
A comment though...
explosions... I don't know how big they are so I don't know how to watch out for my guys dying as a result of them. Could you make an indicator for that?
Reviews for "ALIENS the Board Game"
homedrone responds:
Marines are injured up to 6 squares away from the target square. Also the grenade might deviate one square (about a 30% chance). So to be absolutely safe, keep your marines 8 squares away.
True Homage To The Original Board Game Version.
I saw the prototype for this game in a gaming magazine called Galaxy (if I remember correctly). They had a hex-based reactor room map with rules and charts with marine names, aim times, weapons, etc... all based on the Leading Edge (out of print) combat system. I seem to recall it went by the name Phoenix or something of that sort. After the magazine version, someone decided to make a board game version. I purchased it at a comic book shop at Charlotte, North Carolina back around 1990 or so. I was in college at the time and my buddies and I played it so much that I still cannot believe we all graduated. This flash version is an excellent rendition of a classic board game. Thank you so much for taking the time to make it. This is a part of the natural evolution of this game from a magazine article, to an actual board game, to the contemporary internet version. I am truly beside myself. How do you guys make your money? Do you take donations? I am truly that grateful.
IMPROVEMENTS
The Map;
The black sections of the map (solid obstructions) are a little hard to figure out at times. You may consider a white trim (or other color) around the perimeter of a solid area to help it stand out. Also, the grated floor is a little too real. You may consider superimposing a faint white grid (I think the board game used light blue) to help individual squares stand out a little better.
The Marines;
It is a little hard at a quick glance to tell the marines apart. Vasquez and Drake with the two smart-guns are easy to make out, however, no one else is. The board game version had color bars with the names superimposed on them. You may consider giving the Marines a "base" below the figure. What I mean is give assign a color to each Marine and fill the square they occupy with that color surrounding their overhead view body (but not overlapping the body). Now match that color with the character's weapon silhouette above, surrounding their weapon icon with the color that makes up the base of the marine on the map.
The Aliens;
The Aliens are a little hard to see on the map. Sure, that mirrors the plight of the marines in the movie, but I want to win! You may consider adding a thin white outline around the alien figures to help them stand out or maybe use the motion tracker concept. What you could try is this:
1. The Aliens move.
2. As soon as the marine turn begins, send out a sonar-like pulse from the center-most marine (or Hudson in particular). Make the pulse look the same color as the one from the movie (light blue or white?) with that popping/crackling sound effect. When the pulse (eminating from the marine in a sonar fashion) hits an Alien, cause the Alien to flash a solid white/light blue or even cause an oval blob to flash in his space like the tracker in the movie.
Robert Moore
Elementary Art Teacher of 15 Years in South Carolina.
homedrone responds:
I'm always glad to hear someone who was a fan of the original board game is enjoying my version. I make my money as a teacher as well.. nothing to do with this. I'm not associated with the original creators of the board game at all. I could probably get in trouble if I accepted money. As for your improvement comments, they are good. Some of which I have been thinking about ways to improve already. Unfortunately, I've now started on a new project, so it may be a while before I get back to updating Aliens the Board Game again. Someday.
excelent version
only thing it lacks is the feeling of a group of people round a table, cd playing lights low and shit im out of ammo ......
for those interested I have both original and expansion if you want to chat about how i keep a backup paper copy incase of water damage pm me
Great!
One of the few flash fighting strategy games which really makes sense. I don't know how much do the missions follow the original boardgame (it must be very time-consuming to play it on the board), anyway the atmosphere is unique. I was really feeling like being there when playing it.
It's so hard! But being hard, it makes one think more about the strategy. At first few attempts I was thinking it's unbeatable. But after learning some tricks, I made it! (Well, haven't tried the final mission yet.)
I'd like to see and play some more missions, perhaps inspired by some other Alien sequels...? And what about the battle marines vs. marines? :) Wouldn't be so difficult to make I suppose, once you have made the game engine...
This is an exceptional game - highly addictive and a real hidden gem. It's as good as you can possibly get in terms of putting you in control of the marines during those two iconic set pieces from Aliens. You should do something similar in line with the fire/containment scene and the chase and bait scene from Alien 3.