Summary
Aliex (1990): A Vertical-Scrolling Shooter Masterpiece
Released in arcades in 1990, Aliex is a vertical-scrolling shooter (shmup) developed by NMK and published by Taito. It is known for its fast-paced action, challenging levels, and catchy music. Players control a spaceship that must fight its way through hordes of enemy spacecraft and other obstacles in order to save the Earth from an alien invasion.
Aliex is a classic example of the shmup genre. The game is played from a top-down perspective, and the player’s ship is constantly moving upwards. The player must shoot down enemy spacecraft and other obstacles in order to progress through the game’s levels. Aliex features a variety of different enemy types, each with its own unique attack patterns. The player must learn to identify and defeat each enemy type in order to survive.
In addition to its fast-paced action, Aliex is also known for its challenging levels. The game’s levels are filled with obstacles and hazards, and the player must carefully navigate their ship through them in order to avoid taking damage. Aliex also features a number of boss battles, which are particularly challenging and require the player to use all of their skills in order to defeat them.
Despite its challenging difficulty, Aliex is also a very rewarding game. The game’s fast-paced action and catchy music create a sense of excitement and urgency that keeps the player engaged. Aliex also features a number of power-ups that can help the player to defeat their enemies. These power-ups can increase the player’s firepower, speed, or defense.
Aliex was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, challenging levels, and catchy music. Aliex was also a popular choice for competitive play, and it was featured in a number of tournaments.
Aliex has been ported to a number of different platforms over the years, including the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. The game has also been released on a number of compilation discs. Aliex remains a popular choice for shmup fans today, and it is considered to be one of the best examples of the genre.
Gameplay
Aliex is a vertical-scrolling shooter in which the player controls a spaceship that must fight its way through hordes of enemy spacecraft and other obstacles. The game is played from a top-down perspective, and the player’s ship is constantly moving upwards. The player must shoot down enemy spacecraft and other obstacles in order to progress through the game’s levels.
Aliex features a variety of different enemy types, each with its own unique attack patterns. The player must learn to identify and defeat each enemy type in order to survive. The game also features a number of boss battles, which are particularly challenging and require the player to use all of their skills in order to defeat them.
In addition to its fast-paced action, Aliex is also known for its challenging levels. The game’s levels are filled with obstacles and hazards, and the player must carefully navigate their ship through them in order to avoid taking damage. Aliex also features a number of secret areas that can be accessed by the player if they are able to find the hidden entrances.
Aliex features a number of different power-ups that can help the player to defeat their enemies. These power-ups can increase the player’s firepower, speed, or defense. The player can also collect special items that will give them temporary invincibility or other special abilities.
Development
Aliex was developed by NMK, a Japanese video game developer that was founded in 1979. NMK was known for developing a number of classic arcade games, including Pac-Land, Grobda, and The Outfoxies.
Aliex was directed by Toshiaki Takayama, who had previously worked on a number of other NMK games, including Pac-Land and Grobda. Takayama was known for his innovative game design and his ability to create games that were both challenging and fun to play.
Aliex was developed using the Namco System 1 hardware, which was a powerful arcade system that was used for a number of other classic arcade games, including Pac-Mania, Galaga ’88, and Rolling Thunder. The Namco System 1 hardware allowed Aliex to feature fast-paced action and detailed graphics.
Aliex was released in arcades in Japan in 1990. The game was later ported to a number of other platforms, including the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
Reception
Aliex was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, challenging levels, and catchy music. Aliex was also a popular choice for competitive play, and it was featured in a number of tournaments.
Aliex has been ported to a number of different platforms over the years, and it remains a popular choice for shmup fans today. The game is considered to be one of the best examples of the genre.
Legacy
Aliex is considered to be one of the best vertical-scrolling shooters ever made. The game’s fast-paced action, challenging levels, and catchy music have made it a classic among shmup fans. Aliex has also been influential in the development of other shmups, and its design elements have been borrowed by a number of other games in the genre.
Aliex is a true arcade classic, and it remains a popular choice for shmup fans today. The game’s fast-paced action, challenging levels, and catchy music make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
8/10
