Aliens: Fireteam Elitelets players jump into the shoes of the franchise’s iconic marines and shoot up some xenomorphs through twelve missions. Though the narrative is not thehighlight of this cooperative shooter, it does contain some nice surprises for fans.
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In addition to the narrative driving the players through the journey, there are also numerous easter eggs and details only fans of theAliensfranchise would notice. Some of these are hidden well inAliens: Fireteam Elite, while others are staring players right in the face. The references range from homages to the original film to shoutouts toPrometheusandAlien: Covenant.
10Recon Drones
After beating the game players unlock the Recon class. They serve as a great support class whose abilities boost the performance of everyone else in the squad. One of their two abilities deploys a drone that reveals enemy locations and lowers their health.
These drones look exactly like the drones deployed inPrometheuswhen the team is first entering the ruins on the planet. Hopefully, it serves the marines better than it served the crew in the prequel.
9Working Joes
Players eventually start fighting synthsthat use guns. One type of synth comes at the player with weapons to enact close-quarters melee damage.
These inferior synths still overwhelm with their numbers.Fans ofAlien: Isolationwill recognize these enemies since they were first introduced in that 2014 survival horror title. The enemy works well in both games, even though one is a horror game and the other is a fast-paced shooter.
8Pathogen Jars
In the third operation, players go onto a ship filled with Pathogen jars. The Pathogen was first introduced inPrometheusand was a major plot point of the prequel and its sequel,Alien: Covenant. The plot ofAliens: Fireteam Elitealso deals with the threat this biological weapon poses. It is interesting to see the Pathogen play a role in anAliensstory taking place further in the timeline.
7Weapon Descriptions
There is a whole slew of weapons for the marines' arsenal inAliens: Fireteam Eliteand each has its own description.
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Several of these pay direct homage to quotes and moments from the various movies in the franchise. Most of them seem to pay tribute specifically toAliens, which makes sense because the game itself has more in line with that film than the debut entry orPrometheus.
6The Control Flute
One of the pieces of intel players collect is an instrument resembling a flute. This is a tool used by Engineers to interact with their technology. Players cannot do anything with it except unlock a piece of dialogue back at the base.
This is the same piece of tech David is playing when Walter encounters him inAlien: Covenant. Though the movie polarized fans, most agree that the scene between the two androids was a standout moment.
5Space Jockey
One room on the Engineer’s ship is a direct homage to the originalAlien. What eventually turned out to be an Engineer was called the Space Jockey for decades beforehand. This iconic image was in the debut film when the crew investigates the crashed ship where the xenomorph eggs are stowed away. Just seeing the image of the chair must bring fans back to the first time watching the 1979 classic.
4Alien Covenant Lander And Tenessee’s Hat
During the second operation, Giants in the Earth, there is a mission where a ship comes and blows up a bridge. To the left of the bridge is a small ship those who sawAlien: Covenantmight recognize. It is a replica of the lander the characters in the film use. Connecting it even more to the film is a small hat resembling the one worn by the character Tenessee.
3Ammo Count
The rifles inAlienshave an iconic design many other films and games have copied. Specifically, there is a digital ammunition counter on the side of the gun.Games likeStarCraftandRed Factionhave borrowed this idea for their gun designs.
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The M41A2 rifle inAliens: Fireteam Elitealso retains this detail. It even counts down the ammo realistically, which is a wild point to consider since the player almost never sees this.
2The Drinking Bird
This small detail has been in almost every film in the franchise. It is never brought up, but these wooden birds are often found on ships in the films. InAliens: Fireteam Elite, just head to the area where Esther and Dr. Hoenikker are hanging out on the Endeavor and look at the table they are standing near.
The bird decoration should be plainly visible. The birds have also made an appearance inAlien: Isolation.
1The Power Loader
Aliensends with a dramatic encounter between Ellen Ripley and the Xenomorph Queen. The hero evens the odds by jumping into a power loader. The ensuing fight is an iconic moment in cinema history.
Players can find a power loader while on board the Endeavor. It is to the right of the armory where players buy items. Unfortunately, it is impossible to jump into it, but just seeing it is a nice enough wink and a nod.
