The echo of dripping acidic slime, a blinking motion sensor and the dark corridors of a space colony - Aliens by Konami from 1990 brought the atmosphere of the cult film Aliens into the shape of a frantic run & gun shooter. For fans of Ripley and Corporal Hicks it was a dream encounter with the xenomorphs, weapon in hand.
The game is built on uncompromising action: you control a colonial marine, fight your way through waves of aliens and blast away with a pulse rifle and flamethrower across levels inspired by the film. The mechanics rely on quick reflexes, relentless enemy pressure and spectacular battles with giant bosses, among whom the alien queen herself is not missing. Two-player co-op only partially dilutes the difficulty - by the standards of the day the game is demanding and merciless.
Konami held the license and used it to translate the film's horror into dark, detailed graphics full of sinewy xenomorphs and claustrophobic interiors. The visual style nails the tense atmosphere of the source material and alternates it with explosive firefights that turn the player into a lone marine hopelessly outnumbered.
Culturally it is one of many attempts to bring the Aliens brand into interactive form, and this arcade title ranks among those that fans remember for their faithful atmosphere and tough action. It was created at a time when Konami was one of the most prolific creators of arcade games ever.
Due to licensing tangles the title long remained available mainly through the original cabinets and emulation, which makes it a somewhat forgotten but all the more treasured piece for enthusiasts.
Why play: A run & gun tribute to the Aliens films with a dense atmosphere and hard-hitting action - for anyone who ever wanted to shoot it out alongside the colonial marines.
Game 57 of 258 for Arcade
