Sierra Best Sellers: Aliens vs Predator

The single-player game remains a fast, scary, merciless but rewarding classic, with three sets of missions from the different species' point of view. Last year's patch, now standard, allows two saves per level but still forces stealthy careful play whichever race you prefer. The multiplayer levels give you what was missing last year, with new Marine weapons made available in skirmish mode. Hadley's Hope is directly modelled on the famous last-stand scene from Aliens, while Compound, Meat Factory and Subway from the Predator films are also excellent.

The pistol is best used in dual mode and while it's basic, anything's better than using your empty pulse rifle as a club. The Skeeter resembles Doom's BFG. It's supposed to home in, but firing into the wall or floor has the same effect.

There is blood; then again most of it is green and fades away after a few seconds--stand around looking at it and you're inviting Alien attack!, if you missed this gae, it's an excellent package and you can get practicing for the sequel. If you already have it, then you'd have to be a major fan, keen for more co-operative multiplayer levels and better quality online play to buy it again. --Kenneth Henry