After a long wait, the alien-themed single-player FPS BlackSite: Area 51 is finally coming to Steam. The title was originally developed by Midway Games and released for 360 and Windows on Nov. 12, 2007, in North America, and then later for PS3 on Dec. 10, 2007.
In the game, players take on the role of Captian Aeran Pierce, a decorated military veteran charged by the government to lead a squadron of secret Delta Force soldiers into the titular Rachel, Nevada area to fight off an invasion of unidentified enemy races. In the end, only the actions of the player and his squad can shape the outcome of BlackSite during this potentially pivotal moment in history.
In military terminology, a black site is a location in which an unacknowledged black operation or black project is conducted. It can refer to facilities controlled by the CIA and used by the U.S. government in its War on Terror to detain alleged unlawful enemy combatants. In this case, however, the term is used to refer to the secret government facility located in the Nevada desert, named Groom Lake, more commonly known as Area 51.
Features:
- 6 different weapons, however, only 2 weapons can be carried at the same time. The game also features the ability to use grenades and melee attacks.
- Squad tactics. For almost the entire game, the player will have a team of 2 A.I. controlled squadmates accompanying them. Squadmates can be ordered to move on a location, concentrate their fire on a specific enemy, man a mounted turret, or set explosive charges on certain items. Squad commands are given with a single button; the commands are context-sensitive based on what the player points the cursor at.
- A morale system, where squad morale increases as the player kills enemies or scores headshots, and decreases as the player takes damage or as squadmates are injured or incapacitated. At high morale, squadmates fight much more effectively and can survive more damage, while at low morale they contribute much less to firefights, and are incapacitated much more easily.
- Several vehicle sections, where the player must drive a civilian van or military Humvee cross-country to reach a location while dealing with enemy attacks. The player can exit the vehicle at any time to collect items, investigate buildings, or man the humvee’s mounted machinegun.
The Area 51 games have never been too deep or heavy, but they’re usually a fun romp and satisfy the alien-blasting itch if that’s what you’re in the mood for. I can still remember pumping quarter after quarter into the original Area 51 arcade shooter at my old movie theater. It wasn’t particularly smart or complex, but it was fun.
Check out the BlackSite: Area 51’s Steam page for more info and to add it to your wishlist.
