Area 51 is the antithesis of what first person shooter fans want. It is actually a better offline title than it is online. Honestly, like the game XIII, you see where most of the hard work went, and almost seems as if online was tossed in as a bonus. Not that Area 51 is as uninspired or boring as XIII online; it just does not give you much of a reason to play this title versus any of the dozens of shooters that do things so much better. On the other hand, fans looking for a great story and better action in a single player campaign, this game was made for you.

Yes, the stories are true, the conspiracy is no longer a theory, and Area 51 is an underground alien hideaway. It is up to you and a band of soldiers to uncover the mysteries of Area 51 and keep unsuspecting civilians from knowing the truth. Can you keep secret what the government wants no one to know?

The graphics are very solid on all three platforms. Everything is vivid and imaginative, from the wonderful creature design (by Stan Winston Studios) to the environment in which such mysteries are sought after. Entertaining cut scenes bring the story to life and really draw you into the world of Area 51. Each cut scene that goes by reveals a bit more of the truth, and you want to complete each mission to see more of what unravels. Thankfully, the worlds you explore are just as interesting and intricately detailed. You also pack a good amount of cool weapons that vary from pistols to scanners that detect strange life forms. While not the best looking game on any console, Area 51 does provide more than its fair share of eye candy.

Audio is extraordinary, with music, sound effects and voice work that would make any developer proud. The soundtrack ranges from rockin beats to eerie scores that fit the mood for each situation. The weapons and explosions do a number on your sound system, and really puts it to good use, especially in the surround sound areas. There is also a bevy of voice talent working on the game including Powers Boothe, Marilyn Manson, and Mulder himself, David Duchovny. For a guy who left a hit show to do “non alien/conspiracy” themed projects we have seen or heard him in a bunch of them. (Evolution, XIII, this game) After seeing House of D, I suspect he may keep in this frame of mind if he wishes to see a paycheck. In short, the audio in Area 51 is one of its highlights.

Gameplay really offers little to the genre, but a few nifty gadgets and weapons keep this game from being a mediocre shooter. You have, of course, your pistols, shotguns, sniper rifles, and grenades. Where Area 51 stirs up the pot is the specialty weapons like the jumping bean grenades, a particle beam shooter, and an imbalance shooter. Some of these you can also duel. Area 51’s A.I. isn’t going to knock your socks off, but the challenge is definitely there in later levels. It is almost as if the developers were taking it easy on you early on, only to have the enemies actually begin to think later on. Your backup soldiers are very helpful fending off foes as you try to reach switches and doorways, and thankfully, if they are dumb enough to get in your way, they cannot be killed by friendly fire. Realistic, nah, but neither is the theory that we are not alone in the galaxy.

Area 51 delivers the goods in single player mode, providing around 20 hours of solid shooting action for sci-fi fans everywhere. It tells a good story, and the twists and turns keep you riveted all through the entire playtime. Multiplayer on the other hand is not so interesting. You play team battles from 4 to 16 players, and game play is no more than a brainless Rainbow Six without the fun. All the reason to play the single player missions is equivalent to the reasons not to play multiplayer. I guess at least it is there for those bored enough, but I could have lived without it, especially since there are other titles like Unreal Championship 2 and Halo 2 that more than fit the bill.

Midway is back on a rool, and if this title is to be judged on its single player campaign alone, bump up the score a bit, if multiplayer is your thing, knock it down a point. Overall, gamers looking for a first person glance into the unknown should check out Area 51…the truth is out there.