Chapter 3 - Marine Strategies

Grenade Launcher
Featuring three separate grenade types (normal, frag and proximity), the Grenade Launcher would seem to be a pretty potent weapon - and it is, at least in spots. The default grenade, though, is akin to grenade launchers in other games, like Team Fortress Classic or Quake. You can't control the grenade that is launched and most often it's almost as though it has a mind of its own. The explosive ball will bounce all around sometimes missing the foe altogether. And against the super-fast Aliens, a miss like this could mean certain death. The default grenade is best used around corners or down into smaller rooms from above. In this respect, it can clear rooms of any hidden Aliens or Facehuggers.

The frag grenade will remain for a few seconds and finally detonate. When it does, dozens of smaller, sharp fragments burst out in the explosion, giving the frag grenade a unique blast radius. If the grenade hits an enemy, it explodes on impact causing significant damage because of the extra hits from the shrapnel. But like the default grenade, you'll have a tough time against speedy foes; you're better off using the sure-fire smartgun or pulse rifle when tackling standard Aliens. Save the grenade launcher for tougher, slower enemies.

Finally, the proximity grenade will latch onto a wall or object and wait until someone approaches before it detonates. This is primarily a multiplayer weapon with limited use in single-player games. Fire a proximity grenade into a room and then run through the room, hopefully triggering some Aliens to pursue you. If all goes according to plan, the proximity grenade will blow the Aliens apart. Too much effort, perhaps; it's easier to just dispatch them with any one of the other weapons.

Minigun
Think smartgun on steroids. Though the SADAR boasts tremendous explosive power, it can't compare to the minigun's ability to simply mow down enemy forces. If you find the minigun in the single-player game, don't waste its abilities on standard Aliens; save the weapon for Predators and the like. For multiplayer games, you'll have little trouble annihilating your adversaries with this strapped over your shoulder.

The primary downside to the minigun is that the Marine loses nearly all of his maneuverability when firing. So, if an Alien does happen to get past your stream of piercing bullets, you could get overrun quickly unless you change weapons and get out. But, to put it simply, the minigun doesn't require much strategy - just point and shoot.