Customer Reviews

Aliens Versus Predator 2 (Mac)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

A word of warning: MacPlay's claims to the contrary notwithstanding, "AvP2" will NOT run ok on a G4. I've got a 1GHz G4 with 512 MB (well within the requirements, supposedly) and the game runs so choppily that it looks like stop-motion photography. Add to that:

1) Endless load times. We're talking minutes here.
2) So-so graphics (you have to turn the detail way down to get anything approaching an acceptable frame rate)
3) Constant, irritating bugs. "AvP2" crashes ALL the time. Incredibly, even the end credits are glitchy.

The game concept may be kind of cool, but MacPlay's "AvP2" has got to be one of the worst, most slapdash ports in history. Again, DON'T buy it unless you're running a G5 or dual 1.25 G4s--you'll be wasting $...

If you have ever played the original Aliens versus Predator and enjoyed it you're sure to love its sequel. Just as terrifying as the original, AvP2 is sure to deliver the same thrills and chills as its predecessor (Especially with the lights off). Simply put, the game is intense.

However, it is far from the perfect game, especially on my Mac (which is sad, considering the system requirements for the Windows version are minimal). Unless you have a dual G4 or G5 tower, expect frequent lag and delays in the game. Even with a 1GHz processor, 1 gig of RAM and a 64 meg video card, the game runs too choppy too frequently. In the end, too many visual effects must be sacrificed for gameplay. Part of this problem is the game engine that AvP2 utilizes (The same as "No One Lives Forever". If only it used the Quake III engine!)

Unfortunately, the Aliens are not the only "bugs" in the game either. Loading screens do not display properly at times nor do the different visual modes work all the time (i.e., Marine night vision, Alien vision, Predator infrared, etc.).

Between the slowdowns and the graphic jitters, AvP2 seems like a lousy port to OS X, which is sad since MacPlay has been sitting on this release for over a year now. If you have ever purchased a game ported by MacPlay, then their rushed ports and lack of tech support should come as no surprise to you. Their motto seems to be "At MacPlay no one can hear you scream".

iMac users beware: "Not recommended for iMacs" is clearly stated on the package! This game WILL run slow!

The Good: Awesome game, cool atmosphere, great weapons. Like 3 games in one between the different species.

The Bad: Not much graphic or plot improvement over the original, some graphic and gameplay bugs.

The Ugly: Ported to OS X by MacPlay, Unacceptable frame rates, even with newer systems, too choppy, not recommended for iMacs, G4 chips only

The reviewer below was talking about the PC version of the AVP2. The other reviewers who gave one star for the game are talking about the Mac version. The minimum video card requirement is 32MB for mac. You really need 512MB video card to make this game run smoothly. This is the worst ported game I've ever played. I'm running a dual G5 and it glitches, chops and crashes all the time. Its been over 8 months since Macplay and The Omni Group have known about the multiplayer problem with Mac OS 10.3 and they have done nothing about it. The people at The Omni Group and Macplay should be arrested for taking people's money for an incomplete, unplayable game. Seriously...

I don't profess to be anything close to a 'Video Game Guru", but I have never, ever played a more aggrevating, inept, poorly made video game in my life!! I have heard that the first AVP game was very good. This version is very bad. From what I have heard so far, unless you have a computer system that rivals the United States Department of Defense, forget about playing this game on anything else.
This lousy game is FULL of mistakes, and don't even bother to contact the so called "support group" at MacPlay. They are in complete denial over this crappy thing.Mac Play should be ASHAMED of this piss poor effort!! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!!!!!

Ok... Both the Windows and the Mac version are the same game, one catch though. The Mac version was ported (converted) from the Windows version. The conversion is terrible. The Mac game is CHOPPY, SLOW, UNPLAYABLE on even the fastest computers. The Omni Group did slip-shoddy, piss poor job at porting this game to the Mac platform. Go get the Windows version of this game on Amazon or www.aliensvspredator2.com and play it on your friends PC.

No support, the multiplayer locks in a spinning wheel as it searches for something not there. Macplay tricked people into thinking it would be fixed and just never bothered. Horrid consumer relations. Buy anything else but done waste a dime on this.

i had played this on pc and really enjoyed it. this would be a great game if they hired back the programmers who knew what they were doing. this is an insult to mac owners and fans of the first game, which was incredible. I am far within the min. req. on my G4. The patch that macplay has releases, does little to nothing to cure the jumps, 15 sec freezes and lack of ability to enjoy the single player missions on anything but the lowest settings. to top it all off, any of the internet multiplayer server is not compatible with os 10.3 !!! i for one would like to see macplay make amends with a refund, a significant patch, or revision to the whole game. With so many programmers out of work, whoever headed this one up needs to be held accountable. wtih the movie comng oout next summer, this game is not up to 20th century fox standards of quality and is an embarrassment and a disappointment. go buy the first version for mac cheap and download the patch for os x.
shame on you macplay.

This is a cool game, but if you've got Leopard, it won't work. Furthermore, MacPlay, if you contact them for support, will send you a lame auto-reply "Out of office" e-mail saying, "We are aware that there are issues regarding many titles not functioning correctly in the Leopard operating system. Unfortunately at this time, we are unable to provide support on any of our MacPlay titles." If that's not the lamest excuse I've ever heard...

On the bright side, Aliens vs. Predator 1 does work! Go figure...

Did someone mention you had better have a G5 to run this game?

Well I have a G5 and this game is bloody shoddy. The macintosh port is a complete disgrace and gives PC gamers some great ammunition to use to put down Apple's systems. Even with all the graphics settings turned down to complete minimum, my 1.6 mhz G5 with Nvidia Geforce 5200 still has loads of problems.

This game stalls, sticks and chops all over the friggin place. My suggestions to anyone is:

1. Do not buy this unless you are using a server bank comprised of 50 G5's with a terrabyte of RAM and a Geforce 10 1 gigabyte. (you might have to wait a few years)

2. Do not bother asking Macplay for an answer because they will not respond and really couldn't care about their customers. Don't expect them to make a patch that actually does anything.

3. If you already own it, I suggest dressing up in a predator costume and using the two dics included to go hunting cats. This will give you a much more authentic gaming experience.

I just wanted to let folks know that this game is now (as of this date) available at MacPlay for $1.88. But be aware of the high shipping cost.