There’s an alien invasion. Save the people! Kill the aliens! Not the most original premise for a game, granted, but Alien Storm carries its heart on its sleeve. Pretensions of artistry and greatness are laid aside; the story serves only as fodder to introduce baddies that can be slain with minimal pangs of guilt and maximum style and speed. Primarily a 2D beat-em-up in the vein of Final Fight and Streets of Rage, the side-scrolling stages are interspersed with occasional joypad-controlled shooting interludes (think 16-bit Virtua Cop with aliens).
Being as straightforward about its intentions as Alien Storm is, each stage is introduced with a poignant objective. Upon having chosen one of three combatants and being thrown into the first level, “Save the people!” flashes across the screen, leaving you in no doubt as to what to do. Luckily, the control system is intuitive, and the range of moves available rather extensive. Unlike most other beat-em-ups, Alien Storm’s characters not only have a range of combat manoeuvres, but also evasive and offensive movements that become quite necessary quite quickly, with enemies filling the screen leaving you to dodge, jump and shoot your way through the hordes while attempting to lose as little energy as possible. It is in this that the game excels, its frenetic nature quickly getting the adrenaline rushing and the fingers moving at lightning speed, dodging shots and baddies from each and every direction.
Being an early Mega Drive game, the graphics have not aged well, though in terms of design and personality the sprites still hold their own. It is, in hindsight not the arcade-perfect conversion many excited individuals of the fourth estate claimed at the time, the audio having particularly suffered for the reduction in horsepower. Despite being populated with quite catchy tunes, the Mega Drive’s sound chip is seemingly being asked to emulate a NES game as closely as possible. Somehow, though, this comes off as being entirely in tune with the kitsch of its context.
The ultimate question, then, is whether the game can be recommended as a VC purchase. The answer is somewhat ambivalent; simply put, the Final Fight and Streets of Rage games have held up infinitely better than Alien Storm, and as such must rank higher in purchasing priority. But this game has its own charm, somewhat limited as it is, and there are undoubtedly those who, having played and appreciated the aforementioned games, will derive copious enjoyment from this as well. Alien Storm is, in the end, the Die Hard of beat-em-ups: not cerebral, but catering to its own niche because of that very fact.
1. DEMON212
15 Mar 2007, 20:03 GMT
Only arcade game i've ever beaten. I only ever got a £1 when I went to the arcades, so i'd just play this everytime, and eventually I got good enough to beat it. Done it with a mate too.
I was always the Robot
Good time. Must have VC title.
2. Yoshi175
11 Apr 2007, 18:55 GMT
I loved this game
3. Mendez
01 Jul 2007, 20:12 GMT
I used to think the world of this game when I was young, it was one of my favourite games ever. But now I've realised there are much better games with exactly the same gameplay style like Streets of Rage and Final Fight.
It's still a good game, but there are far better Beat 'Em Ups available.
It gets a high 3 from me.
4. link64
09 Jul 2007, 13:48 GMT
why does everyone keep calling this a beat em up when it looks more like a run and gun game.
5. Dazza
09 Jul 2007, 14:32 GMT
Because it is a beat em up! It's basically Golden Axe with different sprites!
6. Kirk
24 Jul 2007, 02:13 GMT
It's a pity the new Alien Storm game looks nowhere near as cool as this game was. They should have kept the really nice style and character designs it had imo...
7. ZetaBladeX13
30 Jul 2007, 00:35 GMT
well.....because Alien Storm on the VC is from the Sega Genesis, the graphics won't look as good as the Arcade version >.>
anyway, I actually have Alien Storm for the Genesis and I Never even played the Arcade version, but anything by team shinobi (ie: Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Altered Beast, etc.) is really worth buying.
~~BUY IT!!!!! XD
8. Breck
01 Aug 2007, 22:37 GMT
One of my all-time favorites, so beautiful in its simplicity. Sadly, it's a game many people seem to love to hate. Don't know why.
9. Mr.cow
07 Sep 2007, 03:39 GMT
are they gunna use the wiimote to point in the shooting portions ?
10. FirebrandMustDie
08 Oct 2007, 13:18 GMT
I remember this game! I loved it, I think it only got about 70% in Mean Machines at the time though.
11. RoninDennis
17 Dec 2007, 13:07 GMT
I loved this game as a kid, but then I loved a lot of MD games at the time that I wouldn't dare buy for VC now. And I guess this will be no exception...
12. gottheanswer
17 Dec 2007, 13:23 GMT
This game brings back memories. I still won't buy it though
13. Will
10 Jan 2008, 23:48 GMT
Isnt the robot just so crap?! Makes me laugh everytime, very fond memorys of this, 5stars
14. Tony
11 Jan 2008, 17:57 GMT
This game looks really cool. I don't remember this game being released for the Genesis. I love Streets of Rage and Golden Axe, so this may good download.
15. Damo
22 Jan 2008, 11:32 GMT
Tony - This is more like Golden Axe than Streets of Rage (no grappling moves) so if you like GA you'll be over the moon with Alien Storm.
16. President_Leever
30 Jan 2008, 14:16 GMT
Very average in all areas, but I do enjoy the retro sci-fi vibe.
17. TRON
16 Apr 2008, 07:08 GMT
It's an average game in all it's parts, but it all comes together to be incredibly fun. Beer and pretzels game for sure, but we all love a pint and a fun mindless game sometimes
18. KillerinstinctFan
26 Jul 2008, 21:58 GMT
Hmm i remember playing this game in the arcades and to be fairness it is very hard id say the arcade version is better then MegaDrive Download it if your a big huge Beat em up fan
19. puresthatred
07 Aug 2008, 23:45 GMT
Sci Fi Golden Axe. A beat em up with shoot em up Operation Wolf/Space Gun sections. Actually quite a nice game but the main game is a little weak, hitting aliens about the head is a poor idea when you could shoot em but hey, if youre into Golden Axe you'll prob love it
20. AlphaNerd01
15 Aug 2008, 23:27 GMT
I'm a big fan of Golden Axe, so I finally broke down and decided to give this one a try. This game is the quintessential "average" title, and it got tedious after a while. I'm still glad I tried it for myself though.
I guess I enjoy Golden Axe so much because of the fantasy themes... (Must be why Dungeon Siege was a massive success and now Space Siege is getting lambasted by critics.)
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