For some, conspiracy theories are a fun way to explain mysterious phenomena, like crop circles and UFOs. For others, they are important coping mechanisms for dealing with truly terrifying mysteries, like the popularity of Ryan Seacrest. One of the most prominent American conspiracy theories involves the Roswell Incident, which claims that a flying saucer crashed in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. Supposedly, the aliens and wreckage were moved to a Nevada military base called Area 51. For more details, tune in to basic cable on nearly any weekend afternoon.
Fifty-eight years after the Roswell Incident, Midway asks the question, "What if those Discovery Channel stories are true? What if a mysterious Illuminati infiltrated the government and made a pact with the Grey aliens to create and spread a virus that would wipe out all life on Earth? And what if the whole thing was narrated by David Duchovny, and starred Powers Boothe?" Midway answers the question with Area-51, a fun first-person shooter that takes you into the mysterious depths of the Groom Lake research facility and brings you face to face with alien technology, ruthless assassins, and the voice of Marilyn Manson.
As with most FPS games, you'll find all the standard firepower, from military pistols to alien energy weapons, and you'll use them against the usual gang of progressively tougher enemies. But what sets Area-51 far apart from similar games is the ability to transform yourself into a monstrous mutant, able to kick the absolute shit out of everything unfortunate enough to get in your way. Though finding a cure for the virus that causes you to mutate is a driving force in the game's story, launching parasites and contagion at your enemies just before tearing them apart is so much fun, you might not want to get vaccinated.
Beyond the gameplay: Because the real Area 51 is the subject of countless conspiracy theories, references to tangential theories abound. The JFK assassination, Bigfoot, the Bermuda Triangle, and of course, the faked moon landing are just a few of the tongue-in-cheek nods to the Black Helicopter crowd sprinkled throughout the game. They're more than silly diversions, though: All of the references weave together to add a layer of intrigue and—ahem—realism.
Worth playing for: The fantastic story and gorgeous cinematics could have come from Duchovny's alma mater, The X Files. Also, did the above description make it clear that it's really fun to mutate?
Frustration sets in when: The aiming controls are maddeningly difficult to master, and you'll die over and over (and over and over and over) because you couldn't back up and get! the! goddamned! shotgun! to! fucking! aim! right!
Final judgment: Midway took the best of Half-Life, combined it with the best of Halo, and added a hint of Altered Beast for good measure. Even though it gets a little repetitive at times, and some levels are unnecessarily complicated, the story is compelling enough to keep you playing right until the end.