Alien Syndrome

Alien Syndrome (エイリアンシンドローム, Eirian Shindorōmu) is a run and gun game developed by Sega and released in arcades in 1987.

For the 2007 video game of the same name, see Alien Syndrome (2007 video game).
Alien Syndrome
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Sega
Sanritsu (NES)
Publisher(s)Sega
Composer(s)Tohru Nakabayashi (Arcade)
David Whittaker (Computer versions)
Noboru Machida (NES)
Platform(s)Arcade, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Game Gear, MS-DOS, MSX, NES, Master System, ZX Spectrum, Sharp X68000
Release1987: Arcade
1988: Master System, Amiga, Atari ST, C64, Famicom, MSX, NES
1989: Spectrum, MS-DOS
1992: Game Gear, X68000
Genre(s)Run and gun
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
CabinetUpright
Arcade systemSega Pre System 16
Sega System 16B
CPU68000
SoundN775, YM2151, uPD7759
DisplayHorizontal orientation, raster: standard resolution (Used: 320 x 224)

Gameplay
Screenshot of Alien Syndrome

Two players control two soldiers, named Ricky and Mary, who fight their way through large eight-way scrolling levels while rescuing their comrades who are being held by aliens. After they have rescued a certain number of hostages, the exit opens and they can pass through it in order to fight the end-of-level guardian. If this monstrosity is defeated, they are then able to move onto the next stage. Alien Syndrome features two player simultaneous gameplay and pickups which assist the player, including better weapons and maps of the current level.

Ports

In 1988, the game was ported to the Master System, MSX, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System (published by Tengen without a Nintendo license). Later, the game was ported to the ZX Spectrum (1989) Game Gear (1992) and Sharp X68000 (1992), the latter being the only arcade perfect port.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Alien Syndrome on their May 15, 1987 issue as being the third most-successful table arcade unit of the year.[1] The original arcade version of the game was reviewed in the July 1987 issue of Computer and Video Games, where Clare Edgeley described it as "one of the most gripping games" she "played in months", praising the Aliens-like horror atmosphere, chilling sounds, special effects, graphics and gameplay. She stated it was "the first time the atmosphere and sheer addictiveness of a shoot 'em up has transported me to another planet" and concluded that it "is fantastic."[2]

The Master System version of the game was reviewed in 1989 in Dragon, getting two out of five stars.[3]

Legacy

The game was also converted to polygonal graphics for the PS2 as part of the Sega Ages re-release program and included in the US version of the Sega Classics Collection (it was removed from the European version to receive a lower age certificate). This version has updated controls, adding the use of both analog sticks, similar to that seen in Sheriff, Robotron: 2084 and Smash TV. The original arcade game was also included as an unlockable in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection.

A sequel of the same name, Alien Syndrome, was released for Wii and PSP on July 24, 2007.

References
  1. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 308. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 May 1987. p. 21.
  2. "Alien Syndrome arcade game review".
  3. Lesser, Hartley; Lesser, Patricia; Lesser, Kirk (January 1989). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (141): 72–78.
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