History Videogame / AliensColonialMarines

* ASpaceMarineIsYou

** You can finally discover what happened to [[spoiler: Pvt. Hudson]] during "The Raven" - [[spoiler:you find his cocooned and chestbursted body while escaping through the hive at the beginning of the mission]]. A short time later, the player can also come across the doll head carried around by Newt [[spoiler:before her capture]]

* HonorBeforeReason

* IGaveMyWord

* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: The Collector's Edition of the game includes a statue of a Marine fighting a xenomorph in a power loader, a dossier of supplementary information and photos, a USS Sephora schematic, iron-on badges and digital content in addition to the PreOrderBonus (including a special training course).

* SeriesContinuityError: Despite pre-release claims that the game would tie heavily into ''Film/{{Aliens}}'', the game is [[https://avp.fandom.com/wiki/Aliens:_Colonial_Marines_goofs riddled with continuity errors]]. Notable examples include the recreation of the finale of ''Film/Alien3'' usingthe game's balaclava-clad Wey-Yu [=PMC=] model instead of the masked apesuit-wearing commandos that appeared in the film, despite using the very same model elsewhere. Or the fact that the Sulaco's hangar is less than half the size it should be - in a case where their research worked against them, they based it on the original set blueprints, [[FailedASpotCheck but forgot to actually watch the film]] and notice that Cameron makes it look significantly bigger with careful blocking and a matte painting.

* EnemyDetectingRadar: The Marines' motion detector.

* BackupTwin: Creator/LanceHenriksen voices another android named Bishop, from the same line as the one in ''Film/{{Aliens}}''.

* BlackDudeDiesFirst: [[spoiler:Stone is executed in the first scene of the "Stasis Interrupted" DLC]].

* SeriesContinuityError: The recreation of the finale of ''Alien 3'' uses the game's balaclava-clad Wey-Yu [=PMC=] model instead of the masked apesuit-wearing commandos that appeared in the film, despite using the very same model elsewhere.

The game was released across several platforms on February 12, 2013, and received significant criticism in regards to [[ObviousBeta numerous bugs and issues]]. Due to the largely-negative response, the Wii U version was cancelled. A lawsuit was filed against Gearbox and Sega for false advertising regarding the differences between the game's advertised features and actual content, with both companies placing the blame on each other. Sega agreed to settle for $1.25 million, while Gearbox refused to settle and successfully petitioned to be dropped from the suit in 2015.

** In 2017, a modder named [=TemplarGFX=] discovered the cause of the Xenomorphs' artificial stupidity. What was this massive programming oversight, you ask? A flawed algorithm in the [=AI=] subroutines? A problem with the game's collision detection, maybe? Surely something deep inside the code, right? '''''NOPE!''''' Somebody misspelled the word "tether" in a config file. [[note]]''Basically, the Xenomorphs are supposed to know the layout of whatever area they spawn in. However, because of the misspelling, the xenomorph [=AI=] subroutines did not get linked to the proper place, meaning the [=AI=] fumbled around blindly, unsure of where they were or how to get out.''[[/note]]
* ArtificialStupidity: Although, improved with both the March 2013 patch and fixing the "teather" typo in the ini file, the xenomorphs and the AI controlled marines started off quite braindead. A valid tactic for getting through certain levels involves simply ignoring the xenomorphs and running past them. Friendly AI also tends to be more of a hindrance than a help. They're more likely to block you or wander into your line of fire than shoot xenomorphs.

''Aliens: Colonial Marines'' is a FirstPersonShooter developed by Creator/GearboxSoftware, set in the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' universe, and follows a group of United States Colonial Marines as they investigate the circumstances behind what happened to Ellen Ripley and the survivors of the USS ''Sulaco''. Colonial Marines is presented as the "true sequel" to the ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' film, and boasts authentic locales from the film universe. It features a story driven single-player mode as well as a four player co-op mode and multiplayer. A single-player DownloadableContent campaign, "Stasis Interrupted", was also released on July 23, 2013.

The game was released across several platforms on February 12, 2013, only to be panned almost universally. Despite looking very promising with regards to previews and trailers, the game fell short due to [[ObviousBeta numerous bugs and issues]], and for coming out generally disappointing; even the few critics that didn't slam it completely went into great detail about the game's graphical and mechanical failings. Due to the largely-negative response, the Wii U version was cancelled. A lawsuit was filed against Gearbox and Sega for false advertising regarding the differences between the game's advertised features and actual content, with both companies placing the blame on each other. Sega agreed to settle for $1.25 million, while Gearbox refused to settle and successfully petitioned to be dropped from the suit in 2015.

* ArtificialStupidity[=/=]ArtificialBrilliance:
** The xenomorphs and the AI controlled marines are quite braindead. A valid tactic for getting through certain levels involves simply ignoring the xenomorphs and running past them. Friendly AI also tends to be more of a hindrance than a help. They're more likely to block you or wander into your line of fire than shoot xenomorphs. However, due to a patch released in March, the AI has been much improved, catapulting the xenomorphs from moving targets on firing range to a truly horrifying threat that can and will kill you. As a result, the Recruit difficulty is now considerably harder than Ultimate Badass used to be.

* CrapsackWorld[=/=]DeathWorld: LV-426 is [[ForegoneConclusion in even worse shape]] since the events of ''Film/{{Aliens}}''. Thanks to the destruction of the atmospheric processor, the immediate area around the colony is littered with debris, the xenomorphs have mutated and Weyland-Yutani have set up shop and are [[spoiler:breeding even more xenomorphs]].

--> Bishop: My God.
--> [[spoiler:Hicks]]: I just killed your God.

* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: The atmosphere processor exploded in the equivalent of a forty megaton bomb, yet both it and the colony are still standing? Sure, why not.

** In 2017, a modder named [=TemplarGFX=] discovered the cause of the Xenomorphs' artificial stupidity. What was this massive programming oversight, you ask? A flawed algorithm in the [=AI=] subroutines? A problem with the game's collision detection, maybe? '''''NOPE!''''' Somebody misspelled the word "tether" in a config file.

* ArtificialStupidity[=/=]ArtificialBrilliance: The xenomorphs and the AI controlled marines are quite braindead. A valid tactic for getting through certain levels involves simply ignoring the xenomorphs and running past them. Friendly AI also tends to be more of a hindrance than a help. They're more likely to block you or wander into your line of fire than shoot xenomorphs. However, due to a patch released in March, the AI has been much improved, catapulting the xenomorphs from moving targets on firing range to a truly horrifying threat that can and will kill you. As a result, the Recruit difficulty is now considerably harder than Ultimate Badass used to be.

'''''Aliens: Colonial Marines''''' is a FirstPersonShooter developed by Creator/GearboxSoftware, set in the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' universe, and follows a group of United States Colonial Marines as they investigate the circumstances behind what happened to Ellen Ripley and the survivors of the USS ''Sulaco''. Colonial Marines is presented as the "true sequel" to the ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' film, and boasts authentic locales from the film universe. It features a story driven single-player mode as well as a four player co-op mode and multiplayer. A single-player DownloadableContent campaign, "Stasis Interrupted", was also released on July 23, 2013.

* BadBoss: In ''Stasis Interrupted'', Michael Weyland proves every bit as ruthless and uncaring about the lives of his subordinates as his ''VideoGame/AliensVsPredator'' counterpart, Karl Bishop Weyland.

The game was released across several platforms on February 12, 2013, only to be panned almost universally. Despite looking very promising with regards to previews and trailers, the game fell short due to [[ObviousBeta numerous bugs and issues]], and for coming out generally disappointing; even the few critics that didn't slam it completely went into great detail about the game's graphical and mechanical failings. Due to the largely-negative response, the Wii U version was cancelled.

** In ''Film/{{Alien 3}}'', Michael Weyland (back then simply known as Michael) was just an engineer that the Company brought in to gain Ripley's trust because of his resemblance to Bishop. Here he's one of the leaders of Wey-Yu, referred to as "the face of the Company", and is the closest the game has to a BigBad (even though he only appears in person very briefly). This is of course a bit of a Retcon due to the reveal in Film/AlienVsPredator that the Weylands founded Weyland-Yutani.

* BadBoss: In ''Stasis Interrupted'', Michael Weyland proves every bit as ruthless and uncaring about the lives of his subordinates as his AliensVsPredator counterpart, Karl Bishop Weyland.

* IdenticalGrandson: Played with. Carrying over from ''Film/AlienVsPredator'', Michael Weyland (remember him from the tail end of Film/{{Alien 3}}?) to Charles Weyland (from ''Alien vs Predator''). [[spoiler:But in actuality, he's an ArtificialHuman from the same model line as Bishop, just more advanced.]]

* EliteMooks: Weyland-Yutani Elites wear white armor and helmets, and can take about twice as much damage as the regular grunts. They still go down pretty quickly, though. In multiplayer, the Xenos have Boilers and Crushers, which have powerful special abilities but can only be unlocked by scoring a lot of points. In the Bug Hunt DLC, in later waves the regular Xenos become progressively more powerful; once maxed out, you end up fighting mini-Praetorians who can take a few dozen bullets ''each'' before dying.

* TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything: That first alien of the game which attacks you when you are cutting down Keyes? It doesn't appear out of nowhere during the animation. It's right there all along, curled up in a wall recess in a way which makes it blend in with the hive walls, and you can attack it first.

* ASpaceMarineIsYou: [[CaptainObvious Obviously]].

* ContinuityPorn: Much like [[GhostbustersTheVideoGame other]] recent video game sequels to film franchises, ''Colonial Marines'' is essentially an excuse to revisit locations and set-pieces from ''Film/{{Aliens}}''. According to Gearbox, the game is a "love letter" to fans of the sequel, and that they had access to original production assets that were screen-used, which means that many elements of the film are namechecked and/or seen.

With Creator/NeillBlomkamp's ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' sequel ignoring the events of ''Film/{{Alien 3}}'', the events of this game have been placed under CanonDiscontinuity. However, ''Alien: Isolation'' is still canonical, due to taking place before ''Aliens''.