I have been playing video games for years, and I have only played a few that I would rate as excellent, but Advent Rising is one of them. Rarely does a game such as this come along, with so many wonderful aspects and very few downsides.

You, the player's character

In this game, you play the part of Gideon Wyeth, a famed hero and pilot who is part of the ambassadorial shuttle to meet with the first alien ship in human history, the Aurelians. Once aboard the ship, you learn that your race is the basis of a legacy that spans the entire galaxy. But before you can learn any more, a hostile alien race known as the Seekers appear, and proceed to destroy your home world. You escape with the assistance of the Aurelians, and as you travel back to their home world, you learn how to harness the nearly infinite powers that the Seekers destroyed your planet to erase.

Seekers; nasty, aren't they?
(Caution, large filesize)

As you progress, you further develop these abilities and unlock a myriad of powers such as Lift, which is a form of telekinesis, and Aeon Pulse, which lets you shoot balls of energy out of your hands. You also have access to a vast array of weapons, from typical pistols to plasma-based sniper rifles. Armed with these tools, you commence to seek revenge on the race that destroyed your world, and unlock the true potential of humanity.

Surge, one of your powers

Other up-sides include being able to level-up your powers and abilities. For example, if you use melee attacks a lot, you will slowly become more proficient until you can jump onto a Seeker and snap its neck, killing it in one hit. Or, if you enjoy using Aeon Pulse, you will eventually unlock Radial Flare, which lets you release a pulse of energy around you which kills almost everything it touches for a 10-foot radius. This leveling-up system helps keep the game interesting and staves off tedium.

On the technical side, Advent Rising has several areas where it could be improved. The targeting system (the player flicks the right thumb stick at an opponent to target them) is effective, but it has an amazingly annoying auto-targeting system that makes it quite difficult to retreat and heal. The cut-scene graphics are a bit low-tech at times, but mostly, are quite satisfying.

With lush environments, a phenomenal storyline, and an element of role-playing, Advent Rising offers an enticing gaming experience for a myriad of tastes. I recommend at least renting it, as most players will enjoy it immensely.

Written by: Morkeleb the Black
Proofread by: bill_iop99
Coded by: Poison333