BlackSite: Area 51

blacksite

Reviewed by junky12345 on August 01, 2008  |  report this review

You're likely wondering what could be so clever and refreshing about yet another alien shooter. We've been fighting little green men in our videogames since Space Invaders; hell, we even recently rid the Earth of extra-terrestrials from behind the Spartan visor of Master Chief and the smart specs of Gordon Freeman. So, what kind of alien-blastin' goodness can Blacksite offer that Halo 3 and The Orange Box haven't already? Well, this current incarnation of the Area 51 franchise--which has previously seen success as an arcade light-gun game and less so as a David Duchovny-voiced Xbox/PS2 FPS--does a fantastic job of bringing the aliens home; not the futuristic or post-apocalyptic "home" of other such games, but the everyday, present day settings and environments that can be seen right outside your own window. You see, Blacksite's primary draw is its brilliant blend of rampaging, giant-tentacled threats and middle America settings; from roadside truck-stops and diners to strip malls and trailer parks, if you've ever roadtripped through the United States, you'll relate to the turf your protecting in Blacksite. In fact, think of it as a trek down Route 66 with lots of Earth-eating obstacles. And those ooze and fire-spewing obstacles run the gamut from small and speedy spider-like types to ground-erupting behemoths that'll only be silenced after several clips have been emptied into their slimy flesh. You'll also take on plenty of super-soldiers and, more interestingly, half-man, half-machine "reborns" sporting long metallic legs and creepy human faces.

Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, BioShock, and The Orange Box are all top-tier titles that stand to steal the spotlight from this under-hyped alien invasion shooter. And while Blacksite doesn't evolve the genre as these other titles all have in some way, it does deserve a hint of that glow they're gloriously basking in.

It's a fast and fun FPS that not only marks most of the boxes on the "what makes a good shooter" checklist, but also adds a couple of bar-raising boxes of its own. Most notably, its clever aliens-attack-earth scenarios, supported by some great level design and set pieces, make it a refreshing alternative to the other offerings gunning for dominance in the genre.