Studio: Gearbox Software | Publisher: Sega | License: 20th Century Fox | Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC

As a child, many of my happiest memories feature the Sunday-morning ritual my dad and I used to have: sitting on the couch at age 10 watching Aliens on VHS. Even though the movie scared me to death back then (OK, let's be honest, Aliens still scares me to death!) we watched it so often that I could recite every line. Yes, you could say I am an Aliens super-fan, and that's why I am so excited for the new game from Sega and Gearbox Studios: Aliens: Colonial Marines.

There have been many mediocre games set in the Aliens universe over the years (and a few fun ones, too), so what makes Aliens: Colonial Marines any different? After listening to Gearbox Software president Randy Pitchford narrate the video below, we can tell this game is being developed by super-fans just like us. These game developers are clearly not just cashing a paycheck here. The work they're putting in is a labor of love and it shows in every aspect of the game we've seen.

Aliens: Colonial Marines is written as the true canonical sequel to Aliens we never got to enjoy on the big screen. The game is a squad-based first-person shooter (FPS) where you assume the role of Cpl. Christopher Winter, part of the USCM Colonial Marine force sent to investigate the events of Aliens including the disappearance of the crew of the U.S.S. Sulaco. The games plot winds you through the Sulaco and in the second act sets you down on the colony Hadley's Hope on LV-426. Environments from the film are faithfully replicated in the game, and with 20th Century Fox backing the production of the game, the sounds are 100% authentic to the movie. The game also includes several nods to the Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual (a copy of which is sitting on my desk as I'm writing this article), so we know that the game developers have done their homework.

The story campaign introduces the player to a variety of new xenomorph species, and all that we've seen so far seem to fit perfectly into the spirit of the film. Up to 4 players can join the campaign mode, which is an impressive gameplay feat given the quality of graphics and the nature of the storyline. The game also sports several different multiplayer modes that pit Marines versus Xenos in gameplay modes that look to be every bit as exciting as the campaign. The game features all of the gear and weapons seen in the movies, including motion trackers, power-loaders, APCs and the iconic UD-4L dropship. So far we've been able to spot the following weapons in the video we've seen: M41A Pulse Rifle, the M56 Smart Gun (as carried by Vasquez and Drake in Aliens), the M240 flamethrower, the M4A3 pistol, what appears to be the VP 70 pistol (like Lt. Gorman used during his last stand in Aliens), and sentry turrets (as seen in the collector's edition of Aliens).

Aliens: Colonial Marines is set to release on February 12, 2013 and comes in both Standard and Collector's Edition packages. The Collector's Edition comes packages with a marine-driven power-loader figurine and xenomorph attacker, as well as several in-game bonuses like exclusive weapons – one of which is Ripley's flamethrower/pulse rifle combination! Pre-order your copy today and we can stomp out this alien threat together!

11-minute Gameplay Video:

Additional gameplay images:

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