Wikipedia

Alien Breed(video game)

Alien Breedis a top downrun and gun video gamereleased in 1991 byTeam17for theAmigaand later in 1993 byMicroLeagueforMS-DOS.The game is the first in theAlien Breedseries.

Alien Breed
Alien Breed box cover
Developer(s)Team17
Publisher(s)Team17
MicroLeague
Producer(s)Martyn Brown
Designer(s)Rico Holmes
Programmer(s)Andreas Tadic
Peter Tuleby
Artist(s)Rico Holmes
Composer(s)Allister Brimble
Platform(s)Amiga,CD32,MS-DOS,Android,iOS,PlayStation 3,Vita,PlayStation Mobile
Release1991:Amiga
1993:MS-DOS
Genre(s)Run and gun
Mode(s)Single-player,multiplayer

Alien Breedis based on theAlienfilms, specificallyAliens,and also on the8-bit-era gamesLaser SquadandParadroid[1]as well as theGauntletarcade game.[2]

Gameplay

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Theflamethrowercan be purchased with collected credits. On the top right is anIntexterminal, and two keys and an ammunition clip are scattered in the rooms on the right and above.

Players must find the lift down to the next level, occasionally setting the self-destruct sequence to blow up the level above them. The players collect or purchase a variety of weapons from the space station's computer terminals. In some versions of the game, these so-calledIntexterminals provide additional features such as a clone of the classic video gamePong.Credits found on the ground have to be saved for these weapons and other enhancements, each giving the players an edge over the gradually more and more powerful alien forces. In advanced levels, players are occasionally trapped in enclosed spaces with hugebossaliens.

Release

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Team17 made an "intro disk" available, containing a short animated introductory sequence with on-screen narration which follows events leading into the start of the game. After the introduction is finished, the player is prompted for disk one of the game, effectively making the introduction disk "disk zero". Team17 produced a similar introduction disk forSuperfrog,animated by Eric W. Schwartz, although this was included with the retail edition of the game.

Reception

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Amiga

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Alien Breedwas released to generally favorable reviews.CU Amigawrote that "Team17 have come up with a winner".[14]

MS-DOS

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The MS-DOS port's reception was mixed.PC Gamer USdescribed the gameplay's variety as lacking and the sound effects as "shallow and tinny", with problems using thePro Audio Spectrumsound card to be expected, but favorably compared it toSega Genesisgames and called it a "solid shooter [with] plenty of high-octane fun."[12]Computer Gaming Worldcriticized the "asinine"copy protection,but said that it is still a good action title for those who like their play quick and simple ".[16]The magazine stated in the next issue that while "right at home at the local arcade or any cartridge game machine", the DOS version ofAlien Breed"has fallen behind in the tech race". Citing the "European" use ofmission codesinstead ofsave gamesand "pretty" but shallow gameplay, the reviewer unfavorably compared it toDoom,with "an almost identical (somewhat tired) premise" but of which "the execution makes all the difference". Despite the good graphics and "fast-paced" action, he concluded thatAlien Breedwas "not suitable for the average computer gamer on this continent", but might be for the "less demanding player" or one who wanted a Nintendo.[17]

In a critical review,Computer and Video Gamespointed to the port's bugs such as the screen flickering. The more serious bugs included not being able to buy weapons from anyIntexterminal and the game crashing nearly a quarter of an hour into it. The reviewer concluded that the bugs overshadowed what was otherwise a faithful conversion of an Amiga classic.[9]

Legacy

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Alien Breed Special Edition '92was an expanded version, published in 1992, at budget price. It was hugely popular, staying in the British software charts for more than a year. It also featured afilm trailer-style advert for Team17's upcomingSuperfrog,which was unusual at the time. As well as being released on the Amiga, this version of the game was also released on the Amiga CD32 in a double-pack withQwak.

Both the original and theSpecial Editiondid well enough to merit further sequels, almost all of which have been commercial and critical successes.

The player characters in this game and its sequel were named Johnson and Stone. By the third game (Alien Breed: Tower Assault), the player characters were named John and Nash. In keeping with theAlienstheme, a female voiceover (the voice of Lynette Reade) provided warnings and other messages to the players.

In 2012, a port ofAlien Breedfor smartphones and tablets was released for iOS[18]and Android,[19]to very favourable reviews.[20]

References

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  1. ^"Interview with Rico Holmes of Team 17".Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2008.Retrieved16 April2007.
  2. ^"Review of DOS version ofAlien Breedat Mobygames ".Retrieved16 April2007.
  3. ^Upchurch, David (November 1991)."Review: Alien Breed".ACE.No. 50. pp. 76–81.Retrieved3 April2022.
  4. ^Bunker, Alan (December 1991). "Review: Alien Breed".Amiga Action.No. 27. pp. 106–107.
  5. ^Whitehead, Daniel (January 1992)."Gamer: Alien Breed".Amiga Computing.No. 44. pp. 72–73.Retrieved3 April2022.
  6. ^"Spoutro – Alien Breed".Amiga Format.No. 29. December 1991. p. 126.
  7. ^Pelley, Rich (December 1991). "Game Reviews – Alien Breed".Amiga Power.No. 8. pp. 52–53.
  8. ^O'Connor, Frank; Boone, Tim (November 1991)."Review: Alien Breed".Computer and Video Games.No. 120. pp. 20–21.Retrieved3 April2022.
  9. ^abRand, Paul (February 1994). "Review: Alien Breed".Computer and Video Games.No. 147. p. 82.
  10. ^"Reviews – Alien Breed".GamesMaster.Series 1. Episode 6. 11 February 1992. Event occurs at 6:55.Retrieved3 April2022.
  11. ^Sharp, Brian (31 October – 6 November 1991). "Review: Alien Breed".Games-X.No. 28. p. 17.
  12. ^abFirme, Matthew A. (May 1994). "Review: Alien Breed".PC Gamer US.Vol. 1, no. 1. p. 88.
  13. ^Finlay, Toby "Doctor" (January 1992)."Review: Alien Breed".Zero.No. 27. p. 55.Retrieved3 April2022.
  14. ^abSlingsby, Dan (October 1991)."Screen Scene – Alien Breed".CU Amiga.No. 20. pp. 96–98.Retrieved3 April2022.
  15. ^Presley, Paul (October 1991)."Review: Alien Breed".The One.No. 37. pp. 73–74.Retrieved3 April2022.
  16. ^"Taking A Peek".Computer Gaming World.March 1994. pp. 174–180.
  17. ^Cirulis, Maritin E. (April 1994)."Yet Another Bug Hunt".Computer Gaming World.p. 90.
  18. ^"Alien Breed hatches on iOS this August | Joystiq".Archived fromthe originalon 25 July 2013.Retrieved18 June2013.
  19. ^"Team17's top-down Amiga shooter Alien Breed blasts onto Android".18 February 2013.
  20. ^"Alien Breed".Metacritic.
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