Retro Video Gamer

The Alien film franchise has inspired a great many games on various systems, from retro to modern.  Some games based on the movies, others extensions of them, while others mix it with the Predators franchise.  So, let's go down memory lane and look at those games where Aliens have been an inspiration.

Let's get started with the very first game that came out and the hack of that game on, none other, than the Atari 2600 in 1982.  Yep, it may not look a lot like anything related to the movie, but this was the first licensed game based on the franchise...

[align=center:j60yzo8g]Original Alien Game
Alien for the Atari 2600 (//http)

Alien 8K Hack
Atari 2600 Alien 8k 2006-01-04 Kurt Howe PAL (//http)
This hack has changed the alien sprites to resemble those of the movies, tying it better to the franchise.  Sadly, the video lacks sound but you can see the visual changes.[/align:j60yzo8g]

That's the first time i have ever seen those versions, i guess its been commented before that it looks much like a game called Pacman????

Yep, Pac-man with Aliens alright 

LOL Yes, I think they just slapped the name on the game because they wanted to use the license.  Hey, Alien games had to start somewhere.  Zap, you must have missed the reviews of both versions of the 2600 game that are posted here. 

OK, moving now onto 1984/85 we have the release of Alien for the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC.  This game is now the first game that does use the movie as its template...

[align=center:3c8g1y80]Commodore 64
C64 Longplay - Alien (//http)

ZX Spectrum
ALIEN: ZX Spectrum (//http)

Amstrad CPC
Alien 1985 Amstrad Cpc (//http)

The C64 version of this game is currently being adapted for the Atari Lynx![/align:3c8g1y80]

Yeah I remember having the Speccy version and feeling frustrated when playing it.

Why were you frustrated by it? 

I tried the C64 version on the Dreamcast using an emulator and the DC keyboard but I never made it very far. A manual would have done wonders! Cool they are porting it to the Lynx!

The Lynx version will not be sold, by the way.  It will only be available for free to use with flashcarts. 

Quote from: "TrekMD"Why were you frustrated by it?

My lack of ability to play the game lol.

Quote from: "zapiy"

Quote from: "TrekMD"Why were you frustrated by it?

My lack of ability to play the game lol.

That'll do it! 

Just to get back on topic here, amazing with the few "Alien" movie games that existed first time around, games then began to appear based on the second movie and this one, which I  never played myself, created in 1987 by SquareSoft of all companies behind the Final Fantasy series created this one, so perhaps one of you here did play this back in the day and could share some thoughts on it?

[align=center:2xkaj2y8]Aliens -MSX[/align:2xkaj2y8]
[align=center:2xkaj2y8]www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjDJfHWSNss (//http)[/align:2xkaj2y8]

Also to mention that two different "Aliens" were released on the c64 and co. Here some video of them

[align=center:2xkaj2y8]Aliens: The Computer. Game[/align:2xkaj2y8]
[align=center:2xkaj2y8]Aliens commodore 64 (//http)[/align:2xkaj2y8]

[align=center:2xkaj2y8]Aliens: The Computer. Game (ZX Spectrum Version)[/align:2xkaj2y8]
[align=center:2xkaj2y8]www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-9wfWzBzY0 (//http)[/align:2xkaj2y8]

[align=center:2xkaj2y8]Aliens: The Computer. Game (Amstrad CPC version)[/align:2xkaj2y8]
[align=center:2xkaj2y8]www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4qd-9CvnlU (//http)[/align:2xkaj2y8]

[align=center:2xkaj2y8]Aliens: The Computer. Game (U.S. version)[/align:2xkaj2y8]
[align=center:2xkaj2y8]C64 Longplay - Aliens (//http)[/align:2xkaj2y8]

[align=center:2xkaj2y8]Aliens: The Computer. Game (Apple II version)[/align:2xkaj2y8]
[align=center:2xkaj2y8]www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzoIoORPXOM (//http)[/align:2xkaj2y8]

Even though the first movie was successful, it wasn't until the second move that "action" was associated with the franchise and that's the kind of stuff that tends to get made into games. 

Yeah, sure does, but I can't understand how a lot of the time, they managed to completely screw up the video game versions of recent times, yet unrelated alien inspired games are far better? Makes no sense, will add one more stuff tomorrow if you haven't done already

That MSX game looks good. Surprised to see it was made by SquareSoft!

OK, continuing with the evolution of the Alien Franchise games, let's take a look at the first arcade game based on the franchise.  This is Aliens which was released in 1990, developed and published by Konami, and based on the 1986 film.

[align=center:3dtyi4xg]Aliens Arcade Game (Konami) (//http)[/align:3dtyi4xg]

I can remember playing that, was awesome then and looks great even now.. The colours used for the Aliens is a bit whacko though lol.

Classic arcade game right there. Konami really needs to put out a compilation disc of all their arcade games like the Midway one that came out last year. They have released a few small ones over the years but they never have more then a half dozen game on them and I don't think this game was on any of them. Konami, if you're reading this, chop chop

I saw that game back in the day but I never played it. 

Quote from: "Shadowrunner"Classic arcade game right there. Konami really needs to put out a compilation disc of all their arcade games like the Midway one that came out last year. They have released a few small ones over the years but they never have more then a half dozen game on them and I don't think this game was on any of them. Konami, if you're reading this, chop chop

It will be Chop, Chop if they had of released it, from my research on this game, their were issues with licensing and who they can use from the film in character sprite likeness , like why Ripley looks nothing like Sigourney Weaver , as she didn't want any affiliation with the arcade game arriving some 4 years after the movie. Also contending with Konami losing the licence to host or product another Alien game, that right now belongs to Sega, with its recent titles.

It's the same with Taito's Chase H.Q. Title, again another game that will never grace a compilation, as Porsche would have a field day with a company that is merely a mobile phone dev nowadays, so a wasted opportunity? Yes absolutely!

Want your fix, boot up a copy Mame and do your Alien Squashing and blasting there, and if you can for added atmosphere, wear a motorbike helmet if you have one or access to one, to get that Marine fuelled energy to help deal with the xenomorphs, just make sure your not caught by others wearing it, you could end up looking like a right lamp.

Quote from: "Greyfox"

Quote from: "Shadowrunner"Classic arcade game right there. Konami really needs to put out a compilation disc of all their arcade games like the Midway one that came out last year. They have released a few small ones over the years but they never have more then a half dozen game on them and I don't think this game was on any of them. Konami, if you're reading this, chop chop :21: Yeah, Mame will have to do. Time to blow the dust off the Ouya!

I can do this real quick. Terrible......AVP........More Terrible games... Alien Isolation. Done. 

Quote from: "Top Damage Wizard"I can do this real quick. Terrible......AVP........More Terrible games... Alien Isolation. Done.  :21:  But that misses the point of the thread!   

OK, let's move onto 1992-4 and the release of Alien 3: 
1992—Amiga, Commodore 64, Sega Master System
1993—Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
1994—Sega Game Gear

[align=center:5tuxnc1k]Amiga Longplay Alien³ (//http)

Alien 3 C64 gameplay (//http)

Let's Play Alien 3 (SMS) Part 1 (//http)

NES Longplay [423] Alien 3 (//http)

Sega Genesis / Mega Drive-Longplay-Alien 3 (U) (//http)

Alien 3 (SEGA Game Gear) (//http)[/align:5tuxnc1k]