So what were we to expect with the
Primal Hunt expansion? Well,
Third law promised a few things before the release; namely, we've got a couple of new weapons and tools, new creatures, and 3 new short campaigns to play through. Unfortunately amidst the new trim,
Third Law also took some integral features from the single-player campaigns.
Before that, though, understand that one thing I benefited from greatly in Alien vs. Predator 2 was enhanced somewhat by these new features. Multiplayer gaming can only get better in my opinion with updated weaponry and new races, and this is no exception. Yet the small tweaks such as allowing the host to disable certain weapons for balance reasons and so on do not constitute an expansion pack, but a release patch.
I've got to say that the suicide detonation attack (only allowed on multiplayer) for the predator is way cool. And the new 360 degree motion detector for the marine, while minor, is another welcome addition. Marines also get dual pistols and turrets, and finally the cool new Predalien hybrids get to bite heads off.
These additions did little to help the single player campaigns, however, which brings me to my real beef with this expansion...
Alien vs. Predator 2: Primal Hunt basically deserted almost all of the horror tricks that made AvP2 so great. You might have noticed on the original - when a tune shifts themes for no apparent reason, it might be a good idea to LOOK BEHIND YOU! Sadly, Third Law ultimately made this unique effect absolutely useless much of the time since the majority of attacks were unavoidable; if enemies weren't crashing on to your head, they were busting out at your feet or leaping out behind you. This becomes so utterly frustrating because the real challenge is to remember to save every few seconds so you won't be surprised by a fatal ambush.
Poor level design is apparent in all three campaigns, actually. But when your own teammate vows to escort you underground, and then blasts you with his flamethrower because an alien is behind you, this steps into the next really disappointing area: AI. And the aggravating surprise ambushes that plague this game are only seconded by the enemies that just seem to patrol the map in aimless directions, bringing the value of that save/load button to new heights.
