Summary
- Release Year: 1982
- Genres: Arcade
- Platforms: Atari 2600
- Developers: Fox Video Games, Inc.
- Publishers: Fox Video Games, Inc.
Alien (1982): A Pac-Man Clone with Xenomorphs
Released in 1982 by Fox Video Games, Alien was one of the first video games to be based on a popular film franchise. The game was a Pac-Man clone, with players controlling a human character collecting eggs and avoiding alien drones in a maze. Despite its simplicity, Alien was a commercial success, and it remains a popular game among fans of the Alien franchise.
Gameplay
Alien is a maze game in which the player controls a human character who must collect all of the eggs in a maze while avoiding alien drones. The drones can be killed by shooting them with a flamethrower or collecting symbols that will stun them. The game is divided into 32 levels, each with a different layout.
The player’s character can move up, down, left, and right through the maze. The drones can move in any direction, and they will chase the player’s character if they come into contact with it. The player can shoot the drones with a flamethrower, which will kill them. The player can also collect symbols that will stun the drones, making them easier to avoid.
The game is over if the player’s character is caught by a drone. The player can also lose a life by falling off the edge of the maze.
Development
Alien was developed by Fox Video Games, a division of 20th Century Fox. The game was designed by Ed Logg, who had previously worked on Pac-Man. Logg was inspired to create Alien after seeing the film, and he wanted to create a game that would capture the film’s atmosphere of suspense and terror.
The game was developed in a relatively short amount of time, and it was released in arcades in 1982. The game was a commercial success, and it was later ported to home consoles.
Reception
Alien was a commercial success, and it was generally well-received by critics. The game was praised for its simple but addictive gameplay, and for its faithful adaptation of the film’s atmosphere. However, some critics found the game to be too repetitive and simplistic.
Despite its mixed reviews, Alien remains a popular game among fans of the Alien franchise. The game is a classic example of a licensed game that successfully captures the spirit of the source material.
Legacy
Alien has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game was one of the first successful licensed games, and it helped to pave the way for other film-based games. The game’s simple but addictive gameplay has also been imitated by many other games, including Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Mania.
Alien is still considered to be one of the best video games based on a film. The game is a classic example of how to successfully adapt a film into a video game, and it remains a popular game among fans of the Alien franchise.
Additional Information
- Alien was the first video game to be based on the Alien film franchise.
- The game was developed by Fox Video Games, a division of 20th Century Fox.
- The game was designed by Ed Logg, who had previously worked on Pac-Man.
- The game was released in arcades in 1982.
- The game was ported to home consoles in 1983.
- The game was a commercial success, and it was generally well-received by critics.
- Alien is still considered to be one of the best video games based on a film.
Review Score
6.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
