Aliens: This Time It's War

Aliens: This Time It's War is a free print and play card game designed by Mark Chaplin.  You can find more information about it on the boardgamegeek link above but in brief, its a 2 player card game following the events of the Aliens movie.  One player controls the marines while they investigate LV-426 and then subsequently try to escape.  The other player controls the Aliens and tries to eat as many marines as possible (om nom nom!).

My PnP copy

I recently played a solo game which was amazing in how closely it followed the movie.  Not identical but with lots of similar beats.  Naturally, I had to tell the world about it.

As you all know, after landing on LV-426, the marines found the colonists GPS signals in the atmosphere processing plant.  After moving down to investigate, the movie kicks into high gear when they kill an alien chestburster at which point, all hell breaks loose.

Our game picks up at this point with the marines laying down strong covering fire.  Without their pulse rifles, the marines relied on their M240 incinerator units.  Naturally, Vasquez hid a clip of ammo for her smartgun and promptly opens up a can of whoop-ass!

A strong start for the marines!

Despite this strong start, the Alien player waltzed through the marine defences.

Alas, the Alien player had the perfect counter.

A string of "Kill 1 Marine" cards allowed the Alien player to cut through the marines and decimate their ranks.  By the time the marines made it back to their APC, they had already lost 6 marines (Wierzbowski, Dietrich, Crowe, Frost, Apone and Drake - the Alien player being up by 1 kill relative to the movie).

Despite the poor start, the marines quickly regrouped and made rapid progress now that they were in their APC.  Unfortunately, Ripley drove straight into a security door which slowed down the marines while they found an alternate route around.

I would make a joke about women drivers but that would be sexist.

Just as the marines made it out and were ready to evac, disaster struck.  Their dropship came crashing down in a blaze of fire and lightning, conveniently taking out another two marines.

Okay, everyone remember where we parked!

With nowhere to go, the marines head back to the Ops Center to regroup.  Spunkmeyer and Ferro have joined the ranks of the dead, going down with their dropship.  Burke also died but really, does anyone care?

The Alien player staying 1 kill ahead of the movie

While Bishop heads out to remote pilot the last dropship from the USS Sulaco, the remaining marines hole up in the Ops Center.  As their last line of defence, the Ops Center sees vicious fighting by both sides as marines and Aliens drop like flies.  The Alien player can take the losses.  Unfortunately, the marine player is rapidly running out of marines as Hudson, Gorman and Vasquez join the ranks of those not returning from LV-426.  The Alien player is pulled back in line with the movie in terms of kills!  Is this the start of the marine comeback?

Moving desperately though the tunnels as they escape the Ops Center, the marines leave a Sentry Gun to deal with any pursuing Aliens.  A strong play to buy them time to escape to the Sulaco!

Used up most of my cards to play the Sentry Gun but totally worth it!

Unfortunately, the Aliens once again have the perfect counter.  A swarm of Aliens, which proves to be too much - even for the Sentry Gun, and the marines are now in trouble as, despite Hicks heroic last stand, Newt is captured and kissed by an Alien facehugger.

Ah, crap.

The marines are out of ammo and options.  There are simply too many Aliens to deal with.  But these are marines and their training kicks in.  One last desperate topdeck results in a "Short Controlled Bursts".  Perfect!  Now they can deal with the Alien Swarm!

However, nothing in the marines training could have prepared them for the Alien menace.  The Aliens, moving with unnatural agility, are able to penetrate the marines defensive fire.

Rly!?!?!?

Bishop goes down and without anyone to pilot the last dropship, there is nowhere for Ripley to go.

Stupid synth!

The game ends with a win for the Aliens.  Unlike the movies, the marines were not able to escape.  In fact, they didn't even make it as far as the Sulaco.  And the saddest thing of all?

They never even got to see the Alien Queen.