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Area 51

EMAIL PRINT pc

6.6 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 27 critic reviews
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Based on 11 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Midway

Developer: Inevitable Entertainment

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Action

Players: 16

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: June 6, 2005

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]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: IGN Hands-On Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Game Chronicles

The production values, graphics, and especially the voice acting are extremely well done, and the game has non-stop action and never feels dull.

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3DAvenue

While it’s not going to revolutionize the genre nor is it even a AAA title, it’s by no means a poor game and the ongoing action will really be music to the ears of FPS fans.

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2404.org

If "Half-life" and "Serious Sam" were combined, I have a feeling that Area 51 would be the result.

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G4 TV

While there are problems--too cutscene-heavy, some lame objectives, and the fact that there are infinitely more zombies than little green men--Area 51 is more than enough to make a believer out of you.

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IC-Games

One of the most intense first person shooters to be released this year.

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GameZone

The name alone will bring many gamers to the shelves scooping this one up, but really it’s just another decent FPS. For the price it’s not a bad deal considering all the choices in this genre.

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GameBiz

Unfortunately experienced FPS players may find they aren’t being offered anything new in the game.

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IGN

From its chaotic beginning to its clinically insane conclusion, Area 51 provides just enough classic FPS action and technical goodness to merit a great rating and honest recommendation.

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PC Gamer

Nothing sensational, but it provides a fun diversion for shooter buffs. [Sept 2005, p.68]

Adrenaline Vault

Despite a few shortcomings, such as a disappointing ending, a hard-to-read scanner, and a run-time glitch, Area 51 is ultimately a high quality title worthy of shooter enthusiasts' time and money.

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Armchair Empire

Taken as a scripted series of events the gameplay can be engaging, particularly after an unusual plot twist.

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Play Magazine

But here again, another fun idea inevitably joins what feels like a game thrown together out of genre spare parts. [May 2005, p.39]

GameSpot

For shooter fans in serious need of something new to play, Area 51 fits the bill adequately. But for anyone looking for something more than an average shooter, it probably isn't worth it.

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Gaming Age

Area 51 is the antithesis of what first person shooter fans want. It is actually a better offline title than it is online.

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Computer and Video Games

A competent and rewarding game worthy of a couple of days blasting. [PC Zone]

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1UP

If nostalgia for the original arcade light-gun game, or fascination with the myth of the Mid-West has you by the cockles, then this game may give you a day or two's worth of good times. But anyone with a stricter criteria than that would be hard-pressed to find real satisfaction in what's offered here.

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PC Format

Solid but wholly uninspiring. [Aug 2005, p.95]

Gamer's Hell

Emerges as ‘just another shooter’, and with no splash-making potential or notable innovative features, it’s destined to frequent bargain bins for years.

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GameSpy

Squats squarely in the middle of the pack in terms of quality. With the exception of a brief infatuation with "mutant mode" and a few set pieces involving squadmates, the gameplay is serviceable, but standard.

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Edge Magazine

Area 51 is entirely without inspiration, an exercise in slick, crowd-pleasing cookie-cutter cliché from the Jerry Bruckheimer school of entertainment manufacture. It is absolutely not bad, almost never broken, and usually a good deal of fun. [July 2005, p.92]

Sydney Morning Herald

Lacking any innovation, the best this game offers has already been done.

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Maxim Online

The multiplayer is engaging and the storyline suitably absurd, but in the world of PC games the first-person shooter bar is set high, and with Half-Life 2 out there, it's hard to imagine choosing this shorter, less clever game instead.

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Computer Gaming World

Lacking ideas, Area 51 plays up its license (and lessons learned from finer shooters) for a solid but unsurprising foray into the FPS field. Pity that it isn't more.

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Thunderbolt

Though the lack of very original gameplay ideas hurts Area 51, it does have a lot of good things going for it, including a very cool graphics engine and a cool infection mode, which, combined with a low price tag, do justify a purchase of this game.

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ActionTrip

All in all, Area 51 is a pretty standard first-person shooter with little if any original content, an unintelligible storyline, and game options typical for the genre, packed with some intense combat and an occasional feel you're actually onto something, while in fact you will only be browsing levels in search for bigger, badder, and meaner opponents.

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My Gamer

The best thing we can say about Area 51is that it is “good enough”- a label that ultimately makes for a forgettable game.

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Computer Games Magazine

The weapons are uninspired, as are the levels, and the enemies are just barely smart enough to move toward you and attack. [Sept 2005, p.49]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 6.6 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Fred M. gave it a6:
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.

Terry D. gave it a9:
One of my all-time favorite shooters is Halo. Mainly because of the outstanding combat that few other games have come close to matching. However, Area 51 does a very good job at coming close which is why I rate it as high as I do. Yeah, sure the graphics, sound, story aren't breaking any new ground, but so what? The Area 51 is a blast to play!

Paul T. gave it a3:
I read the Player Aterr T.s comments and have to agree. Graphics were Great. BUT the actual Game Play was Pathetic. Nothing New, Play one FPS, played'em all mentality. If you think this was a great game, then you probably are still in Grade School, or never played a really kewl FPS. Programmers ... you need to go and Play Unreal!!! THEN Try Again. I give it a 3 for the Pretty Pictures.

Marino V. gave it a9:
Excellent Game.

Deviant H. gave it a10:
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!!!

Aterr T. gave it a3:
Despite all the Hype, I was not Impressed. Bought game and literally ran through the first 9 levels. Boring. This is a kiddie game. For those of us who played Doom and Duke Nukem, this is nothing but pretty pictures. It's just a new package on an Old Idea. "This" was the NEW Halo? Thank Heavens I didn't buy that as well. The 3 that I gave the game is for Graphics and Cinematography. Other than that... Pure waste of my money and time.

Jim B. gave it a10:
U get to shoot stuff a lot.

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