Enemy Infestation

Enemy Infestation could be likened to a cut-down X-COM 3: Apocalypse, although a sci-fi Commandos might be nearer the mark. You won't find the depth of X-COM here though, or the tactical, knife-edge tension of Commandos. Rather, Enemy Infestation is more a simplistic hybrid of the two. The developers originally pitched the game to MicroProse in the hope of it turning into X-COM 4. Their answer was, of course no. but they were by no means laughed out of the door.

The storyline is basically Aliens, with colonists under threat from the usual Giger-inspired alien menace. It's not just shooting that makes up the bulk of the missions either, although you won't get very far by offering to buy the aliens a pint after work.

Along with a couple of gung-ho marines and using a variety of scientific minds, you have to research the items you find throughout the levels to find a way to defeat the enemy. It's 'samey' without being too boring, and surprisingly it pulls off the difficult trick of creating something quite sinister - not scary, but certainly atmospheric.

The graphics and AI are run-of-the-mill, but the speech spoils the show. However, with droids, scientists, marines and unconscious bodies to drag around, it should keep a few of you interested until the next X-COM or until The Gollops create their next sci-fi classic. But that could be quite a while. Put it this way: Enemy Infestation is a tactical two-penny chew that those keen to avoid budgeting and resource allocation could sink their teeth into immediately.