I. Game Background
1.1 World Setting
Year 25XX. A once-thriving futuristic city has descended into a living hell. Xenomorph hives are expanding deep beneath the streets; acid blood corrodes concrete, facehuggers lurk in every shadow, and the Alien Queen sits at the heart of the hive, breeding her dark legion at a terrifying rate. The city's inhabitants have either been parasitized or are on the run—heading toward a dead city completely overrun by Aliens.
At the other end of the city, another hunt has begun. The Yautja (Predators)—an alien race that views hunting the most dangerous prey as their ultimate honor—have been drawn by the spreading Xenomorph infestation. To the Predators, the Xenomorph is the ultimate trophy in the galaxy. They arrive without negotiation or warning—only with the instinct to hunt and a code of honor.
Two human warriors are trapped in this terrifying three-way conflict. Major Dutch Schaefer, a cyborg soldier whose left arm has been replaced with a built-in heavy cannon. Lieutenant Linn Kurosawa, a Japanese sword master who carves a path through this monster-filled hell with her family's katana.
These four—two alien hunters and two human warriors—make the same decision: strike at the heart of the hive and end this nightmare at its source. There are no alliances and no negotiations—the Predators might view the humans as prey at any moment, and the humans might fire upon the Predators to survive. But faced with the "greater threat" of the Xenomorphs, a tense, unspoken temporary coexistence unfolds in this hellish city.
1.2 Development History
Alien vs. Predator (AvP) was released by Capcom in 1994 on the CPS-2 (CP System II) arcade hardware. It stands as one of the pinnacles of Capcom's beat-'em-up era, often cited alongside Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara as the "twin jewels" of CPS-2 action games.
By the early 1990s, Capcom had already proven its mastery of licensed IP adaptations with Final Fight (1989) and Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1993). However, the licensing negotiations for AvP were exceptionally complex, involving a crossover between two distinct sci-fi horror franchises under Fox. 20th Century Fox was extremely protective of both IPs, forcing the Capcom team through multiple rounds of negotiation regarding character design, violence, and narrative direction.
The final product is hailed as "the most cinematic beat-'em-up in arcade history." The CPS-2 board's 4,096-color palette was pushed to its limits—the organic texture of the Xenomorphs (reflective slime, chest cavity breathing), the tribal aesthetic of the Predators (bone ornaments, plasma casters), and the cyberpunk visuals of the future city (neon lights flickering in bloodstains, shattered holographic billboards)—all fused perfectly under the Capcom art team's direction. The violence was also the most graphic of any Capcom title at the time—Xenomorphs spray acid blood when decapitated, the Predator's trophy-collecting animation (ripping off skulls) was kept intact, and the corridor before the final boss is lined with flayed corpses—earning AvP an "17+" label in many arcade halls worldwide.
Critical reception was stellar. AvP consistently ranks at the top of "Best Arcade Beat-'em-ups of All Time" lists. In 2019, Capcom released the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle, allowing a new generation of players to experience this legendary title on PC and consoles.
II. Character Introduction
Alien vs. Predator offers four playable characters, each with distinct combat styles and weapon systems.
2.1 Major Dutch Schaefer — Cyborg Heavy Gunner
An archetype of the Schwarzenegger-style tough guy, clearly inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger's character from the 1987 film Predator. In AvP, Dutch is a cyborg—his left arm has been replaced with an integrated heavy cannon (Arm Cannon), while his right arm remains human.
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Strength | ★★★★★ |
| Speed | ★★ |
| Difficulty | ★★★ |
| Range | ★★★★ |
- Signature Weapon: Arm Cannon—the only infinite-ammo ranged weapon, capable of rapid fire.
- Strengths: Highest attack and defense in the game; the cannon provides sustained mid-range suppression; dash attacks have a large hitbox and high damage.
- Weaknesses: Can only perform high jumps via ↑ + Jump (no standard jump)—meaning he lacks quick low-altitude evasion; slowest movement speed; long startup frames for melee attacks.
- Verdict: The easiest character for beginners, but also the easiest to struggle with in later stages. Dutch's high damage and defense allow him to steamroll early levels, but from Stage 4 onwards—when the number of Aliens and Predators increases—his sluggish movement and lack of a standard jump become fatal flaws. Best used as support fire for Player 2.
2.2 Lieutenant Linn Kurosawa — Sword Master
Linn is an original character created by Capcom for this game. She is a Japanese cyborg sword master who uses a katana as her primary weapon. While her mechanical enhancements aren't visually obvious, her physical prowess and reaction speed far exceed those of an ordinary human.
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Strength | ★★ |
| Speed | ★★★★★ |
| Difficulty | ★★★★★ |
| Range | ★★ |
- Signature Weapon: Katana—the longest melee weapon in the game, with a wide attack range.
- Strengths: Fastest movement and attack speed; wide attack range; possesses unique wall-jump (kick off walls for counter-attacks) and air throws; fluid combos, making her the top choice for skilled players.
- Weaknesses: Lowest defense and health; her pistol only has 5 rounds and requires a 3-second reload; if her katana is knocked away (weapons can be dropped), she loses her wall-jump and dive-kick abilities.
2.3 Predator Hunter — Power Hunter
Distinguished from the Warrior by his use of a double-bladed spear and a more powerful shoulder cannon, favoring a power-based playstyle.
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Strength | ★★★★ |
| Speed | ★★★★ |
| Difficulty | ★★★ |
| Range | ★★★ |
- Signature Weapon: Double-bladed spear, plasma caster (limited ammo, massive damage).
- Strengths: Perfect balance of strength and speed; shoulder cannon deals more damage than the Warrior's; possesses various grab and throw variations; can perform wall-jumps and dive attacks.
- Weaknesses: Shoulder cannon ammo is precious and requires careful management; some grabs have positioning restrictions.
- Verdict: The most "all-around" character. High damage + high mobility + ranged firepower make him viable in any scenario. Recommended for players seeking balanced performance.
2.4 Predator Warrior — Speed Hunter
Compared to the Hunter, the Warrior uses a single-bladed short spear, with movesets favoring speed and combos over burst damage.
| Attribute | Rating |
|---|---|
| Strength | ★★★ |
| Speed | ★★★★★ |
| Difficulty | ★★★★ |
| Range | ★★★ |
- Signature Weapon: Single-bladed short spear, plasma caster.
- Strengths: Movement speed second only to Linn; combo animations are faster and smoother than the Hunter's; longer wall-jump distance; ideal for fast-paced hit-and-run tactics.
- Weaknesses: Lower single-hit damage than the Hunter; shoulder cannon is slightly weaker; average defense.
- Verdict: The "technical" variant of the Predator. If you prefer high-speed movement and precision strikes, the Warrior is the best choice.
III. Controls
3.1 Basic Controls
Alien vs. Predator uses a standard Capcom 8-way joystick + 3-button layout:
| Button | Function |
|---|---|
| Button 1 | Ranged Attack (Shoot / Throw) |
| Button 2 | Melee Attack / Pick up / Use Weapon |
| Button 3 | Jump |
| Any 2 of 3 | Emergency Counter / Life-saver (Consumes health to knock back enemies) |
3.2 Universal Moves
| Move | Input | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dash | →→ | Fast dash. Dutch's dash is an attack itself |
| High Jump | ↑ + 3 | High-altitude jump. Dutch's only jump method |
| Long Jump | ↙↓↘ + ↖↑↗ | Wide-range jump |
| Slide | ↓ + 3 | Low slide, effective for dodging aerial attacks |
| Grab | Walk into enemy | Dutch and Predators can grab enemies barehanded |
| Grab Combo | Press 2 repeatedly | Strike grabbed enemy |
| Throw | 3 → Press 2 at jump height | Throw enemy to the ground |
| Wall Jump | Face wall 3 → Press 3 on contact | Kick off wall for attack |
| Dive Attack | Jump + ↓ + 2 | Linn/Predator exclusive aerial dive |
| Air Throw | Press 2 near enemy in air | Linn exclusive—throw enemy while airborne |
| Emergency | Press two buttons | Consumes health to clear screen |
| ↓↑ + 2 | Special Attack | Unique charged special move per character |
3.3 Weapon System
| Weapon | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Default | Melee | Each character has a signature weapon |
| Super Ammo | Special | Orange triangle icon: 10 seconds of infinite rapid-fire |
| Smart Disc | Throw | Classic weapon from Predator 2. Returns to you |
| Plasma Caster | Ranged | Predator exclusive. Limited ammo, high power |
| Scavenged | Pick up | Pipes, boxes, oil drums found in levels |
IV. Walkthrough & Boss Guide
Alien vs. Predator consists of 7 stages, moving from city streets to the heart of the hive.
Stage 1: Infested City
- Boss: Chrysalis — A mutated human host. Fast and aggressive.
- Strategy: Use slides to dodge facehuggers. Focus on the boss while clearing out drone interference.
Stage 2: The Sewers
- Boss: Arachnid — A giant spider-like variant that climbs walls and spits acid.
- Strategy: Destroy eggs before they hatch. Knock the boss off walls with jump attacks.
Stage 3: The Hunters Arrive
- Boss: Razor Claws — A giant Alien warrior with scythe-like blades. High speed and damage.
- Strategy: Keep your distance and use ranged weapons. Attack during his recovery frames.
Stage 4: Interstellar Hunters
- Boss: Mad Predator — A Predator infected by an Alien embryo. Unpredictable and violent.
- Strategy: Bait his charges and counter-attack. Avoid direct confrontation as his damage is among the highest in the game.
Stage 5: Heart of the Hive
- Boss: Alien Queen (Phase 1) — Massive size. Uses scythe-arms to sweep the room.
Stage 6: Three-Way War
- Boss: Elder Predator — A seasoned hunter. Uses dual weapons and stealth.
- Strategy: Use the environment as cover. Attack when his plasma caster is charging (blue light).
Stage 7: Queen's End
- Boss: Alien Queen (Final Form) — Fully enraged. Two phases: ground combat followed by a collapsing arena.
- Strategy: Save your super ammo. Use the environment (falling debris) to your advantage. Use your emergency counter if cornered.
V. Tips & Advanced Strategy
- Master the Slide: ↓ + Jump is essential for dodging attacks.
- Don't Hoard Health: Use the emergency counter when surrounded; it's better than losing a life.
- Save Super Ammo for Bosses: It's the most valuable resource in the game.
- Let Enemies Fight: In later stages, Aliens and Predators will fight each other. Let them weaken each other first.
- Weapon Recovery: If you drop your weapon, prioritize picking it back up immediately.
VI. Trivia & Arcade Legends
6.1 Capcom's Bloodiest Game
AvP is widely considered the most violent game in Capcom's catalog, featuring decapitations, acid sprays, and the infamous "flayed corpse corridor."
6.2 The "Flayed Corpse Corridor"
Before the final boss, players walk through a corridor lined with flayed human corpses—a chilling, wordless testament to the Predator's trophy-collecting culture.
6.3 Linn Kurosawa's Origin
Linn was an original character created by Capcom. Fox approved her inclusion, and she became a fan favorite, leading to many requests for her to appear in other titles.
6.4 The Lack of a Sequel
Due to the complex licensing requirements involving two different franchises and multiple stakeholders, a sequel was never produced.
