I like to keep this handy....for close encounters.

For several years my favourite movie was Aliens. I watched it over and over again. It got to the point where I was saying the lines along with the actors. I loved that movie.

My love affair with the Alien franchise continued into my teens as I discovered Dark Horse Comic's Colonial Marine series. It was short, but intense. Featuring Vasquez's little sister and taking place several years after the conclusion of Aliens, it featured a new squad of the U.S.C.M.C. as they attempted to stamp out a xenomorph infestation in a remote sector of space. From there, anything with Aliens written on the cover ended up in my hot little hands.

By this time, the comics and novels had expanded on the infestation of LV-426 and brought the aliens to Earth. If I wasn't already hooked, I was now. Pushed into deep space by the xenomorph's, mankind was forced into destitution all while trying to reclaim their home.

Of course, none of you need a history lesson in the Alien franchise, that's what Wikipedia's for. The point is, I was obsessed. Diving head first into used book stores and comic book shops, I acquired a healthy collection of Alien paperbacks and a smattering of several different stand alone and Alien miniseries. The apex of my Alien collecting was the Corporal Hick's action figure with motion detector and pulse rifle.

Despite my love for the written works of Alien, I never really played the computer games or console games. Usually my computer couldn't  support the PC titles, which was freaking frustrating. I'm stuck playing Doom 2 and my friends are blasting xenomorphs. Bullshit.

With February 16th fast approaching and my Xbox cooling down from it's over exposure to Mass Effect 2, I find myself shaking with anticipation. I cannot wait to play as a Colonial Marine. Here's why.

Well first, the original Marines were the epitome of 80s coolness. Hicks, Vasquez, Apone, Drake and goddamn Hudson. Even that pussy Gorman. I still get shivers watching the Marines attempt to infiltrate the hive and get slaughtered. It's like when I watch Back to the Future and still worry that Marty will become stranded in 1955.

This is what I'm expecting when I pop Alien vs. Predator into my disc tray on the 16th. I want to hear the chime on the motion detector as the aliens get closer and in greater numbers. I want to feel the panic of being overwhelmed and trying to get back to the APC.

If the trailers of this game are any indicator, then I suspect I'll be getting exactly what I'm expecting.

If not, we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.