History VideoGame / AlienSwarm

''Alien Swarm'' is a free PC title that began life as a GameMod for ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004''. Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, impressed with their work, subsequently hired the team (a la ''VideoGame/CounterStrike'', ''Day of Defeat'' and ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic'') and in between helping out with ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' and ''Videogame/{{Portal 2}}'', they developed a [[UsefulNotes/GameEngine Source Engine]] remake of the mod, released on July 19, 2010. The game is played from a [[TopDownView top-down perspective.]]

* AscendedFanfic: Before being turned into a stand-alone game, the Alien Swarm mod for VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004 appeared in the ECE (Editor's Choice Edition) UpdatedRerelease of the game.

* TheMedic: Faith and Bastille. Also fits into the CombatMedic role. [[TheChick Faith is said to be particularly gentle and emotional]].

** Onslaught mode, another new feature added to the game, can be borderline NintendoHard since the aliens now are randomly generated and a huge swarm may randomly appear to slaughter the team, just like in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead''. As if this and Brutal difficulty wasn't enough, Valve also added a Hardcore Friendly Fire option that makes all friendly fire deal full damage to teammates and people who are set on fire stay lit a lot longer. [[UpToEleven And yes, this can turned on for Insane and Brutal difficulties.]]

* WholePlotReference: To ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', [[AliensAndMonsters if]] [[SpaceMarine it]] [[EnemyDetectingRadar wasn't]] [[EveryBodysDeadDave obvi]][[NukeEm ous.]]

* DummiedOut: A look in the sounds folder reveals several Marine voice files that address a tech named Flynn, who is not present in the game.
** Alas, poor Flynn. His fate is unknown - he was present in the ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004'' mod, but was replaced by Vegas for reasons unknown. Could have been voice actor troubles.
** There also exists a fully working Queen alien, complete with massive "boss" health bar on top of the screen, but she doesn't appear anywhere in the game's original campaign. You can still place the entity in maps or spawn it from the console.
** Also, the Shaman, a small (about the size of the parasite) green bug that [[ShootTheMedicFirst restores health to other members of the swarm]].

* NoGearRun: Played with when ''Reactive Drop's'' "Level One" challenge is active, as only level one items and weapons can be used during that challenge.

* SensorSuspense: Intentionally, as one of its many [[ShoutOut shoutouts] to ''Film/{{Aliens}}''

* TimedMission: The final level of "Jacob's Rest" involves an [NukeEm armed nuclear bomb]]. The Marines must deploy the bomb and then leave before it explodes.

''Alien Swarm'' is a free PC title that began life as a GameMod for ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004''. Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, impressed with their work, subsequently hired the team (a la ''VideoGame/CounterStrike'', ''Day of Defeat'' and ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic'') and in between helping out with ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' and ''Videogame/{{Portal 2}}'', they developed a [[GameEngine Source Engine]] remake of the mod, released on July 19, 2010. The game is played from a [[TopDownView top-down perspective.]]

* ElevatorActionSequence: On the second level, atop a massive cargo elevator. Features BulletTime, a ZergRush and CrowningMusicOfAwesome.

* AwesomeButImpractical: The Chainsaw. It can tear bugs apart... but so can the standard melee attacks, and those are less likely to get you killed or wounded. However, unlike the standard melee attack, you can move freely while using it. A good chainsaw user can simply run into a mob of aliens and leave chunky bits in his wake, while anyone attempting to punch his way through the mob would simply get mauled between punches.

* BoxedCrook: Wolfe is an ex-con who chose military service over life imprisonment. In a less-seen variation, he turns out to enjoy the military far more than his previous life of crime, and sticks with it as a career.

* ChainsawGood: Oddly enough, the blade of this game's chainsaw is horizontally-aligned. Still chops the Swarm up good though.

* CharacterLevel: EXP is awarded at the end of various stages. To add to that, items and weapons unlock when you level up; thus, the more you play, the larger your arsenal.

''Alien Swarm'' is a free PC title that began life as a GameMod for ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament2004''. Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, impressed with their work, subsequently hired the team (a la ''VideoGame/{{Counter-Strike}}'', ''Day of Defeat'' and ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic'') and in between helping out with ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' and ''Videogame/{{Portal 2}}'', they developed a [[GameEngine Source Engine]] remake of the mod, released on July 19, 2010. The game is played from a [[TopDownView top-down perspective.]]

* BulletTime: The adrenaline rush. Happens automatically at some points in the game, but there is also an item that grants it. In both cases, it affects the entire squad.

* CombatMedic: Both medics count, but Bastille's damage output and reload speeds are greater compared to Faith's.

* ActionGirl: Wildcat is a woman and a [[MoreDakka Special Weapons specialist]]. Faith arguably counts as well, but is pretty much TheMedic more.

** Also, whenever a character dies, we have a slow-mo cutscene of him or her dying. Generally, this is used to get the last edifying reactions from their squadmates. These are normally variations on theme of "oh shit", "noooo", "lol" or "[[AccidentalMurder oops]]".

** There is also the Rank system, where you can trade 26 levels for another Rank. This has no positive impact on the game however, and actually ''takes away'' your weapons if you choose to do so (level 27 being coincidentally the highest you can get).

On April 20th, 2017, ''Reactive Drop'' was released, which officially adds several maps (which previously had to be acquired through mods), several new weapons, a death match mode, and Steam workshop support.