Alien Swarm

{{Infobox video game

| title = Alien Swarm

| image = Alien Swarm Header.jpg

| developer = Valve

| publisher = Valve

| composer = Mike Morasky

| engine = Source (Remake)

Unreal Engine 2 (Mod)

| platforms = Microsoft Windows

| released = July 19, 2010{{Cite web |last=Meer |first=Alec |date=July 19, 2010 |title=Valve to release free shooter and source code |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-to-release-free-shooter-and-source-code |access-date=May 16, 2024 |website=GamesIndustry}}
April 20, 2017 (Reactive Drop)

| genre = Top-down shooter

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

}}

Alien Swarm is a multiplayer top-down shooter video game developed by Valve. It is a remake of a mod for Unreal Tournament 2004, and it was developed by the original team, who were hired by Valve during the course of the development process.{{cite web |last=Walker |first=John |date=July 16, 2010 |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/valve-to-release-new-alien-swarm-monday |title=Valve Announces New Game: Alien Swarm |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722053425/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/07/16/valve-to-release-new-alien-swarm-monday/ |archive-date=July 22, 2010 |url-status=live}}

The original Alien Swarm was released on July 19, 2010. On April 20, 2017, an enhanced version called Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop, developed by a group of community volunteers, was released as a separate standalone game, containing numerous additional features like new co-op campaigns, a single-player mode with bots, PvP modes, support for up to eight players, Steam Workshop support, more achievements, and an expanded arsenal of weapons.{{Cite web |title=Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/563560/Alien_Swarm_Reactive_Drop/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}} Both games follow the same premise, in which each player takes the role of a space marine as part of a squad that is fighting off swarms of hostile alien parasites while attempting to accomplish various objectives.

The game was well-received by most critics, and praised for its gameplay and graphics, despite some reviewers believing it to be overly generic. The setting and gameplay was noted as being heavily reminiscent of the 1986 film Aliens.

Gameplay

Alien Swarm is a top-down shooter, where four players can join a single co-operative game, the aim of which is to progress through science fiction-themed levels while eliminating waves of aliens.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2977627.htm |title=Good Game Stories-Alien Swarm |website=Good Game (TV program) |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=August 9, 2010 |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218135404/https://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2977627.htm |archive-date=December 18, 2017 |url-status=live}} Players can choose from 40 different pieces of equipment, ranging from weapons like assault rifles to grenade launchers and offhand items like mines and healing beacons. The game includes persistent statistics, unlockable equipment, and achievements.{{cite web |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/630/Alien_Swarm/ |title=Alien Swarm |website=Steam |publisher=Valve |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808193157/http://store.steampowered.com/app/630/ |archive-date=August 8, 2010 |url-status=live}}

The game is class-based, with players choosing from the roles of Officer, Special Weapons, Medic, and Tech. Each class has two selectable characters, differentiated by their abilities.{{cite magazine |last=Jovanović |first=Bojan |date=September 2010 |url=https://www.sk.rs/2010/09/siop02.html |title=Alien Swarm |language=Serbian |magazine=Svet kompjutera |publisher=Politika a.d. |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308023357/https://www.sk.rs/2010/09/siop02.html |archive-date=March 8, 2015 |url-status=live}}

Before the mission, players can change their character's loadouts and offhand items. After each mission, experience points are gained. While leveling up, the players will unlock new weapons and items to use. The mission involves the team advancing in the same general direction, often with multiple objectives to accomplish.{{cite news |last=Laney |first=Sam |date=August 24, 2010 |url=https://www.stripes.com/lifestyle/alien-swarm-thrills-for-free-1.115799 |title='Alien Swarm' thrills for free |newspaper=Stars and Stripes |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815184102/https://www.stripes.com/lifestyle/alien-swarm-thrills-for-free-1.115799 |url-status=dead }} As they advance through the level, they will find certain key points blocking the progress, which are cleared through a variety of methods, from welding to shooting to hacking.{{cite magazine |last=Norris |first=Jim |date=March 21, 2012 |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/252315/alien_swarm.html |title=Free Alien Swarm Game Is So Much Fun, It's Almost Unreal (Tournament) |magazine=PC World |publisher=IDG Communications |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710071603/https://www.pcworld.com/article/252315/alien_swarm.html |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |url-status=live}} Meanwhile, many aliens (known as Swarm) will attack the players from all sides. Swarm can spawn unpredictably, and will often attack the players with mobs of enemies, as described by their name. There are many different types of Swarm, with different behaviors and attack patterns. Players can fight Swarm using many tools, including weapons, explosives, or using environmental hazards (e.g. explosive barrels).

Plot

In the game's only official campaign, Jacob's Rest, a swarm of invasive aliens have taken over a colonized planet in December 2052. Marines deployed by the Bloodhound dropship arrive to search for survivors and, if need be, to destroy the colony to prevent the aliens from spreading. The task force kills a large number of not only "normal" Swarm aliens, but alien eggs, large tumor-like growths, parasites and other creatures. They soon find out that the colonists have all been killed by the alien infestation. The marines then guide a thermonuclear bomb (originally meant for excavation purposes) through the complex and activate its timer. They return to the drop ship before the bomb detonates.{{Citation needed|date=May 2013}}

Development

Alien Swarm was originally a mod for Unreal Tournament 2004.{{cite web |last=Fahey |first=Mike |date=July 16, 2010 |url=https://kotaku.com/valve-unleashes-an-alien-swarm-on-steam-5589233 |title=Valve Unleashes An Alien Swarm On Steam |website=Kotaku |publisher=G/O Media |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407054124/https://kotaku.com/5589233/valve-unleashes-an--alien-swarm-on-steam |archive-date=April 7, 2018 |url-status=live}} The mod was Mod of the Year for GameSpy in 2004,{{cite web |url=http://goty.gamespy.com/2004/pc/index22.html |title=2004 Game of the Year (PC Special Awards) |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014142824/http://goty.gamespy.com/2004/pc/index22.html |archive-date=October 14, 2006 |url-status=dead}} and was a runner-up for Computer Games Magazine{{'}}s 2004 "Best Mod" award, losing to Red Orchestra: Combined Arms.{{cite magazine |author=CGM staff |title=The Best of 2004: The 14th Annual Computer Games Awards |magazine=Computer Games Magazine |publisher=theGlobe.com |issue=172 |date=March 2005 |pages=48–56}}

A Source engine sequel to the original Unreal Tournament 2004 mod was announced in 2005, under the title of Alien Swarm: Infested.{{cite web |last=Butts |first=Steve |date=April 29, 2005 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/04/29/alien-swarm-infested |title=Alien Swarm: Infested |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=April 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407120235/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/04/29/alien-swarm-infested |archive-date=April 7, 2018 |url-status=live}} However, by late 2007, the development blog had stopped updating, leaving its status uncertain.

In July 2010 with the announcement of Alien Swarm, it was revealed that Valve had hired the team behind Alien Swarm, who had finished the mod between working on other Valve products such as Left 4 Dead and Portal 2.{{cite web |last=Remo |first=Chris |date=July 16, 2010 |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/valve-to-freely-release-source-powered-i-alien-swarm-i-entire-codebase |title=Valve To Freely Release Source-Powered Alien Swarm, Entire Codebase |website=Game Developer |publisher=Informa |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719122405/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/29483/Valve_To_Freely_Release_SourcePowered_Alien_Swarm_Entire_Codebase.php |archive-date=July 19, 2010 |url-status=live}}

An Alien Swarm software development kit (SDK) including buildable source code was released alongside the game.{{cite web |date=July 16, 2010 |url=https://store.steampowered.com/oldnews/4081 |title=Alien Swarm Game & Source SDK Release Coming Monday |website=Steam |publisher=Valve Corporation |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719054335/http://store.steampowered.com/news/4081/ |archive-date=July 19, 2010 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author=Gameranx staff |date=July 16, 2010 |url=https://gameranx.com/updates/id/696/article/alien-swarm-with-complete-code-base-releasing-free-on-steam/ |title=Alien Swarm with complete code base releasing FREE on Steam |website=Gameranx |publisher=Complex Networks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308222534/https://gameranx.com/updates/id/696/article/alien-swarm-with-complete-code-base-releasing-free-on-steam/ |archive-date=March 8, 2017 |url-status=live}} It is free to all users of Steam, rather than only to owners of existing Source games (as is the case with the 'mainline' Source SDK). This allows total conversion mods, which do not rely on content from other Valve games, to be free to all as well - a significant business decision that echoes the strategy of the Unreal Development Kit. The SDK and software license allows arbitrary usage and sharing but only for non-commercial purposes.{{cite web |url=https://github.com/NicolasDe/AlienSwarm |title=AlienSwarm |website=GitHub |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613012427/https://github.com/NicolasDe/AlienSwarm |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |url-status=live |quote=readme: You may, free of charge, download and use the SDK to develop a modified Valve game running on the Source engine. You may distribute your modified Valve game in source and object code form, but only for free.}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 77/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/alien-swarm-2010/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Alien Swarm for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818162652/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/alien-swarm |archive-date=August 18, 2010 |url-status=live}}

| AVC = A{{cite web |last1=Wolinsky |first1=David |last2=Heisler |first2=Steve |last3=Agnello |first3=Anthony John |last4=Nelson |first4=Samantha |last5=Williams |first5=Christian |last6=St. James |first6=Emily |last7=Robinson |first7=Tasha |last8=Teti |first8=John |date=August 9, 2010 |url=https://www.avclub.com/august-9-2010-1798222424 |title=August 9, 2010 |website=The A.V. Club |publisher=G/O Media |access-date=January 31, 2023}}

| Destruct = 7.5/10{{cite web |last=Sterling |first=James Stephanie |date=July 26, 2010 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-alien-swarm/ |title=Review: Alien Swarm |website=Destructoid |publisher=Gamurs |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414125449/https://www.destructoid.com/review-alien-swarm-179900.phtml |archive-date=April 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}

| GRadar = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Hodge |first=Ryan |date=July 23, 2010 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/alien-swarm-review/ |title=Alien Swarm review |website=GamesRadar+ |publisher=Future plc |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613040801/https://www.gamesradar.com/alien-swarm-review/ |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}

| HC = 83%{{cite web |last=Gracia |first=Sergio |date=July 27, 2010 |url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/review-del-genial-alien-swarm-6037 |title=Review del genial Alien Swarm |language=es |website=HobbyConsolas |publisher=Axel Springer SE |access-date=August 15, 2019}}

| JXV = 15/20{{cite web |author=Alex |date=August 4, 2010 |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00013199-alien-swarm-test.htm |title=Test: Alien Swarm |language=fr |website=Jeuxvideo.com |publisher=Webedia |access-date=August 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013001355/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00013199-alien-swarm-test.htm |archive-date=October 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}

| PCG = 81%{{cite magazine |last=Schlütter |first=Christian |date=August 27, 2010 |url=https://www.pcgames.de/Alien-Swarm-Spiel-17803/Tests/Alien-Swarm-im-Test-Eingaengig-entzueckend-und-kostenlos-Der-Gratis-Shooter-von-Valve-769914/ |title=Alien Swarm im Test: Eingängig, entzückend und kostenlos - Der Gratis-Shooter von Valve |language=de |magazine=PC Games |publisher=Computec |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829081224/http://www.pcgames.de/Alien-Swarm-PC-235693/Tests/Alien-Swarm-im-Test-Eingaengig-entzueckend-und-kostenlos-Der-Gratis-Shooter-von-Valve-769914/ |archive-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=live}}

| PCPP = 9/10{{cite magazine |title=Review: Alien Swarm |magazine=PC PowerPlay |publisher=Next Media Pty Ltd |issue=181 |date=October 2010 |page=65}}

| rev1 = Metro

| rev1Score = 6/10{{cite news |last=Hargreaves |first=Roger |date=July 26, 2010 |url=https://metro.co.uk/2010/07/26/games-review-alien-swarm-is-cheaper-than-chips-458487/ |title=Games review: Alien Swarm is cheaper than chips |newspaper=Metro |publisher=DMG Media |access-date=January 31, 2023}}

}}

Alien Swarm received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.

In 2023, Rock Paper Shotgun placed it among the list of the best free PC games.{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Rachel |date=January 30, 2023 |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-best-free-pc-games |title=The best free PC games |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=January 31, 2023}}