• Publisher: Midway
  • Release Date: Jun 8, 2005
Area 51 Image
  • Summary: Featuring online play, Area 51 is set in the U.S. government's most top-secret and secure facility located in the Nevada desert. Players take on the role of Lt. Nick Cross, a hazardous biological waste specialist sent to investigate. During his investigation, Lt. Cross stumbles across alien creatures and becomes infected with a biological mutagen that eventually transforms him into something not quite human. To save the earth and himself, Lt. Cross must fight to solve the enigma of Area 51. Features extensive Single-Player Campaign: Battle through corridors of Area 51 and attempt to discover the secrets of the extraterrestrial menace before it is too late. Engage in an epic adventure through eight massive sections of a secretive complex. Equip yourself with more than 15 types of human and alien weapons and other equipment as you explore dark corridors. An infectious mutagen gives Lt. Nick Cross alien-enhanced physical abilities but is also slowly transforming him into an alien. Find the cure before it's too late and humanity is lost. Compete against your friends via a four-player split screen and system link through numerous multiplayer game modes including Death Match. Battle online where you can easily access the many systems allowing you to find your friends and set up your own matches. [Midway] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. The production values, graphics, and especially the voice acting are extremely well done, and the game has non-stop action and never feels dull.
  2. Nothing sensational, but it provides a fun diversion for shooter buffs. [Sept 2005, p.68]
  3. But here again, another fun idea inevitably joins what feels like a game thrown together out of genre spare parts. [May 2005, p.39]

See all 27 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Negative: 4 out of 10
  1. DeviantH.
    10
    Hmm im iffy about this one, automatic 10 for the story-line and graphics but the gameplay was a little off in some parts, i alwasys felt myself reaching for the escape key, but then the intriguing storyline and interesting enemys would force me to put my fingers back on the W - A - S - D keys, hmm the gameplay reminds me alot of Red Faction 2 and i highly recomend this to anyone who wants to play a very decent shooter, waiting for F.E.A.R or if u havent already bought HL2. All in all its a buyer and shouldnt be over looked!!! Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. FredM.
    6
    This game is...ok. The graphics are very impressive and I liked how the storyline progressed...beyond that, however, it way questionable. The battles are fierce in this - you'll find yourself holed up for extended periods of time, holding off hordes of enemies, and the weapons, though a little uninspired, are good nonetheless. Unfortunately, there were a number of issues that got me down. First is the fact that you can never keep a team for more than a short while...I really wanted to fight alongside teammates in large battles, but every person you meet ends up dying within a level or two...sometimes within the cutscene you met him in. There are two or three large fights between humans and aliens, but they just weren't enjoyable since you were always forced to do something else (like find something or fix something) while they were fighting. Second is the alien-hybrid thing that you get later that allows you to change...yeah. I never used it once. It was really pretty clunky and I always found that bullets were better than those weird alien attacks you had. Lastly, the combat is good, but many times it forces you to charge head-first into battle, as standing still and planning attacks will only get you viciously mauled. This wouldn't be so bad if these battles weren't also hopelessly difficult... It seems that there are two kinds of reviews for this one - 10 (omfg amazing-zors) and 3 (crap). The 10s come from people who still drool over Halo, and just want mindless combat dumped into a game engine. Halo was indeed a very good game, but it certainly wasn't the pivotal, all-time most amazing sci-fi FPS out there. As for the 3s, this game deserves more than that, but I still agree that it is lacking overall. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. The graphics of this game are totally outdated.The gameplay lacks intensiti the enemies are stupid and the weapons boring.The only thing that seems a new and welcome addition to the game is the alien mode.I give it a 4 for my friend Remus. Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes

See all 10 User Reviews