Xenomorph Raven / Alien Explained

The Raven is a rare type of Xenomorph encountered on LV-426 by the Colonial Marines in Gearbox Softwares Aliens Colonial Marines video game. In this Aliens explained episode, I'll take a closer look at the Raven, to see how it fits into the xeno family tree, and to look at various theories on its creation and make up.
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CO.AG Music
Futuristic Sci-fi Background Music inspired by - Alien: Covenant Look on my Works,
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Ambient Space Music - Alien
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TeknoAXE's Royalty Free Music
Waypoint D -- Suspense/Action/Background -- Royalty Free Music
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[@cahal9247]

I love the idea that the Raven Xenomorph is somehow a Praetorian variation meant to make a King Xenomorph (even though the King is actually a modified Xenomorph in Aliens Rogue)

[@cherrybloodrain1467]

there is also a real king which is just insane rare, so this idea is actually somehow possible

[@Speedpunk650]

Yeah its pretty much just a radiation mutated praetorian

[@justzillathekingofgames6867]

I really like the Raven's design. He scared the shit out of me when I first played the game. I think that maybe it's lurker/Preatorian that was molting but the explosion caused it to stop midway through. Thus the scaring. Maybe since that happened it couldn't continue the molting process so it evolved to what we see now.

[@kennethsatria6607]

Ah like Chaotic Gore Magala

[@SR71ABCD]

The Raven must have survived from Pvt. Hudson since he was cocooned under the Colony and left with a Alien inside him, the sublevels of Hadley's Hopes survived the blast of the Atmosphere Processor, when the chest buster came from Hudson, it grew and took radiation poisoning, giving it a ugly look. In the game Aliens Colonial Marines I used to call the Raven "Hudson Xeno Jr" shame I'd had to put it down with a power loader. Bare with me remember when the Aliens were climbing through the Colony Complex trying to reach for the Marines, only 2 people got out Ripley and Hicks, their motion tracker detect multiple movements of Aliens closing on their position. These are mostly the Xeno that became Boilers, since they were caught in the 40 megaton explosion, they were heavily wounded and went to down into the sublevels to stay dormant in the darkness around that time Hudson's chest bursts open and the Chestbuster, left his uncontaminated body and grew in heavily contaminated areas of the colony. It's DNA was mutated by the Radiation giving it's size and form a new variant, then again Hudson may have given a Alien Queen that turned ugly but not the right size.

[@nickbhagatram2482]

A theory just occurred to me. If the aliens were supposed to be wiped out, maybe raven was a praetorian who was supposes to become the new queen, but was attacked or stopped due to other aliens surviving or breaking out, so it was stopped partially through the molting, becoming scarred but also larger. It would also explain why it's hostile to other aliens

[@ELICARTER-ec9tj]

That actually makes sense

[@kjstyles2xtreme]

fun fact: the actual problem with the AI in Colonial Marines is a typo in the code

[@johnnyappleseed8127]

That typo just makes them more aggressive and flank you a little bit more. It's still trash.

[@ChaseMC215]

That's not a fun fact, we already know that via web outlets!!

[@Reaper419Darkangel]

Gosh I love you so much. I hated the game but the xenos had a lot of potential, glad you covered them

[@justzillathekingofgames6867]

Yeah they really did. Such a shame.

[@benderbendingrodriguez420]

The Raven is definitely one of the most unique and mysterious Xeno breed

[@christophernguyen8083]

I like the idea that the Raven is a further evolution of the Lurker Alien. It makes sense. The Lurker Alien is the only one with a smooth dome head and the concept art for the the Raven’s undamaged smooth head can be seen here at 2:04 and 10:04. I agree with SciFi Explained that “with age that the Lurker gains size, spikes and starts to lose that smooth dome piece.” Farther evidence of this can be seen in the fact that you can customize the Lurker’s head in multiplayer with the Raven’s skull head.

[@Anomalous1879]

You can never have enough aliens - definitely not by an alien

[@digunder14]

to be fair, at least in fiction, being effected by something dose not always mean it is harmful or unable to survive it

[@scifiexplained]

true. was reading last night that in the alien rpg, it says xenos can survive in space and are unfazed by radiation to a certain amount. I'd have to refer to the book for the exact number.

[@NrRGaming-lz3mq]

I think the Raven may be a experiment, as if you recall the Rouge,Predalien queen,Womb Queen, and White Xeno, who were mutated and experimental xenomorphs created by humans, so it's quiet possible they tested the dna of Xeno and Human and spliced them,as u do find a room with Xeno morphs in test tubes,one being broken I think,which may be where the Raven came from, or if you look at the containment rooms, one door was busted up with yellow tape on the door and room. So Hybrid or Mutant is possible. They might've tried to make a Xeno queen with a womb (Like Alien Resurrection) or perhaps a hybrid of human and all other xenomorph varients they have contained in the facility as a way to avoid outbreaks and exposure or create a completely new caste of the Xeno tree, but the experiment went wrong so they sealed it in (as I said) the broken cell room, this would explain it's crest and other features and traits. Just a idea I had as was bored the other day and read up on the Xeno morphs species and varients. Also subscribed to ur channel

[@jeffumbach]

The tusks do at least seem like a nod to the design of the Rogue.

[@jimbowlan5804]

Good therory that what I thought when I played the game along ass time ago

[@jacobgillispie1175]

Also. In Ant Hives the Dead and dying are carried off to a "Trash" chamber hence the Boilers in my opinion and some hives have a speciality class of soldiers with higger heads and some act as doors hence the crushers (specialty soldier aliens)

[@jedijam91]

I like the idea that the raven is similar to the crusher in that it is a further evolution of an existing strain, that being the lurker. If it is acting as a leader, then that would make sense as the lurkers sometimes lead other xenos such as warriors.

[@kaiju-odanny9778]

Glad to have you back, man! I'm too both an Godzilla and Alien fan as well.

[@GlennKurusu]

Me too.

[@kaiju-odanny9778]

@@GlennKurusu Yeah

[@rickyneovhal2181]

When I watched a walkthrough of ACM the Raven terrified me when it first came out. I was Younger then.

[@Karma-ji6ud]

I think it's a mutation that occurred either in the process of becoming a queen or praetorian, causing it to essentially evolve differently or, "deformed". The battle damage likely either indicating that it's been in several battles, either with humans or it's own hive. I'd say possibly it was rejected in some form. I'm not sure it's been a while since I've touched that game.

[@alexsgamingshow2474]

Since Crushers where added to the ALIEN: Tabletop Game I’m surprised this creature wasn’t added as well. Perhaps in a future supplement?

[@kylebrooks338]

This game let me down so hard and honestly I hope someday maybe a competent company picks it up and remasters it

[@starheart6163]

Outstanding explained! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@FlymanMS]

4:58 Says Radiation, shows Biological hazard sign

[@hermanata2451]

Your channel is very underrated esp with your research and knowledge. This game wasn't perfect but I still like it

[@scifiexplained]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Predalien195]

While nothing official has been said I always believed the Raven was the original Xeno that broke out of the Space Jockey in the original Alien film. Remember, it IS the same planet so it's not entirely far fetched.

[@jeffumbach]

Far fetched in it'd make it over a thousand years old. Presumably the derelict ship was somehow keeping the ovomorphs alive in the hold but what would the Raven have been eating that entire time?

[@Predalien195]

@@jeffumbach Well perhaps far fetched but looking at it's distinguishing features, size, and the fact the game canonically tied Prometheus to the Alien universe via several Easter Eggs and etc and the Engineers are essentially giant humans, this makes a degree of sense. We don't know if the Xenomorphs even need to eat at all or if they do so to make more resin for hive structures or what. It's really hard to say in truth if one could survive that long or not but also being a special breed, it could last a lot longer than normal ones? Like I said, nothing official but it's just a theory or belief I've held with the limited facts we have.

[@KingLashawn953]

I say an escaped lurker experiment got radiation from the nuke in that event and made its own hive or nest in the sewers and it stayed and evolved into that or something else Idk

[@chechetalks6119]

Watching this vid in 2022, I have an origin idea for the raven. it most definitely looks mutated, but i wouldn't go as far as being mutated from radiation fallout. kinda defeats the whole "perfect organisms" thing. but instead, the raven is a genetic experiment by weyland. their first "xeno trooper. a weapon. a kind of "anti-xeno" or alien slayer. with mixed genetics with humans to make it more "cooperative" which would explain the more human like face and teeth . but the experiment went horribly wrong. so it hunts and kills both humans AND xenos which is why its so isolated, i think that would be a fun little neat origin for it.

[@Tarbtano]

Personally I always rather like the idea that this was a jockey born drone. The scale up in size does match up (engineers are roughly twice the size of a person, so a drone from them would be roughly twice the size of a human drone). It also might explain the more organic looking teeth and very humanoid looking skull it still doesn't look exactly human. And it might have been buggy AI, about the Raven attacking other xenomorphs and not seemingly following the hive does gel with the comics wear a jockey born xenomorph goes out of its way to attack the other ones.

[@james.d.morris8932]

Still ,he was a hard opponent to face. Hell even the rounds from my pulse rifle couldn't do anything against em. In the end it took the strength of a power loader to beat the bugger down.

[@jacobgillispie1175]

100 percent believe it's Hudson's baby

[@james.d.morris8932]

Thing that still puzzles me, that thing? He could have killed my partner/me back thare when we 1st meet, yet instead he just took me/us hostage. His last big mistake. But still why did he hesitate?

[@transformersfan500okane3]

My Head-Canon: the Raven is the Big Chap from the First Movie, having Survived The Incineration of the thrusters and Landed on LV-426 and was mutated

[@Goremasterhelsing]

I think the raven is the xenomorph that chestbursted the space jokey i mean it very big

[@warrenbainbridge6646]

Could be a praetorian that was irradiated as it was undergoing the transformation, thus changing what it was supposed to look like into this half praetorian half drone damaged form we see here

[@dragonboi4866]

I personally think the Raven might be a deformed queen

[@jimbowlan5804]

I think it was just an experiment by weyu

[@Pancake1295]

When you had to weld the corridors shut it was stressful and scary especially when raven was chasing you

[@WillisWheeler]

I actually had fun with that game , I got the collector's version for dirt cheap

[@scifiexplained]

same here, still play it time to time with the templar gfx mod. I got the xbox and ps3 collectors complete both for $25

[@jimbowlan5804]

I hate the graphics and was disappointed by it but I played the hell out of it as it is an aliens game but I haven’t bought an gearbox game since

[@jasonsantos3037]

The ravens Terrify alien from the game is the most terrifying face you Get Chase by

[@cyryc]

I don't know why, but when I played the game, I got the impression it was some sort of Fiefeld mutated xeno

[@mrxenocat8330]

🤔🤔 Can you please explain the game alien isolation? Also do you have Instagram ? Will you make one?

[@mrmysterious8124]

Can you look at The Deadly Spawn💀👾👽

[@byproductofcheese]

To be honest it looks like it's been in a fight more than anything else

[@connectivitytissues1429]

Loved, subbed, shared. Welcome back.

[@tk423b]

The power loader was specifically designed to load ordinance into vehicle. You would think they would upgrade it to fight aliens.

[@Ragnell_blade]

This is why you don’t use xeno-zip

[@mrmysterious8124]

Can you look at Metamorphosis The Alien Factor👽👾💀

[@jarrodm9299]

Great video

[@EthanTheDinoNerd]

I have a theory... Maybe the Raven was in the process of turning into the Queen but the bomb or radiation screwed up the process making it stuck between Praetorian and Queen. Similar to animals getting stuck in their shells while shedding.

[@rossdownie8230]

I think it's Hudson's chestbuster when winter escape the raven you find Hudson Cocoon body already chest buster it would happen when the atmosphere processer blew and the the chestbuster

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

Personally I'd like to imagine the Raven is what the Tully Hybrid looked like, in Gibson's Alien 3. Whereas the Welles Hybrid looked more like a reddish armoured version of the Newborn. But that's just how my brain makes sense of it, while mulling over the rejected screenplays.

[@BLOODKINGbro]

Never got the achievement to survive the horde mode

[@cherrybloodrain1467]

the idea of beaing a lurker praetorian would be cool since we don't get a actuall praetorian in this game beside of the crushers

[@liamlinson7563]

i think its affected by radiation seeing how damaged it looks

[@crazypeem583]

This game wasn't good, but I do enjoy the Raven moment.

[@ar1299gaming]

Could it be a queen thay was rejected or repurposed during the pupa stage. I think that would explain the high intelligence and messed up it looks. They would have possible been rejected hence why they live in the sewers and are damaged.

[@lizardjoe4224]

All jokes aside the pvp in this is awesome and honestly in my opinion this game is way more fun and better than fireteam I enjoy replaying colonial and if your board of that then you can play some of the pvp but fireteam? NOOO all you can do is HoArD mOdE such bad design if fireteam added a colonial marines esc pvp then maybe I'd like it more actually I'd love it

[@freeamericanthinker558]

That fucker still scares me.

[@Dalek59862]

Could the raven be a praetorian newborn?

[@jimbowlan5804]

I think it was weyu experimenting with human and exemplary dna hence why it has a human skull underneath its alien features but it could possibly be a pretorian

[@logandutton4324]

If the atmospheric processor did in fact create radiation from exploding…… WHY ARE THE COLONIAL MARINES NOT WEARING ANY PROTECTIVE HAZARD SUITS???????? More to the point they didn’t know what they were even doing for this game.

[@Odious_One]

The radiation angle doesn't make sense since the Xeno is a Silicone based life-form. It is also VERY unlikely radiation would have any effect at all, Adding weeks also makes little to no sense either. Xenos do not just keep growing as shown in ALIENS. Those aliens literally lived inside a Thermo-Nuclear Reactor for weeks with no mutations that would account for variant types like the ones in Colonial Marines.

[@demonblade001]

A mutation to be sure

[@dudewtfdoesittake]

Best worst game ever! I played the fuck out of that game.

[@scifiexplained]

I still play it sometimes withe templar gfx mod.