This is another one of my favorite light gun games and survival horror games that I feel is a bit of an under the radar gem as this game isn't talked about much. This game is basically "Operation Wolf" but in space and that's a really cool concept. Obviously, this game was inspired by the movie "Aliens" just as many others were; in a strange way this game predated the three other light gun games from the "Alien" franchise that came out years after this game "Alien 3: The Gun", "Aliens Extermination", and "Alien Covenant" all cool lightgun games and favorites also.
Plotwise you're a space marine and you have to save space colonists from the alien threat. That's it in a nutshell, yeah it takes a bit of the same plotline from the movie "Aliens" but what do you really expect for a "Aliens" inspired game. But like all light gun games we're not here for the story, we're here for the action and this game has plenty of it. This game plays out a bit like "Operation Wolf" but there are plenty of features that make the game unique.
I really like the animation which is definitely up to date by 90's standards. Really like the futuristic environments but the use of the darkness in them which really give the game an atmosphere of foreboding and dread, I'll admit I could help but feel a little tense as I'm afraid in the next hallway, turn, corridor, or shadow an alien is going to pop out. I even like the music it's a solid soundtrack which really adds to the dread and even excitement of the game. Gameplay is basic like with any light gun shooter you discharge laser bolts and bombs.
I really like the character animation for the aliens, from how their designed but also just in their expressions which are a lot livelier. The aliens in the game are all unique as they are well ugly but cool looking at the same time, all have strengths and weaknesses. There is one kind that sort of remind me of the Necromorphs from the "Dead Space" games as they have multiple appendages. They head are sort of insect like as there are multiple solid color eyes and mandibles. There are also other kinds of aliens like manta ray aliens, flying winged piranha aliens, killer tennis ball aliens. There are even a few boss fights in the game which are solid, one is a snake alien and another sort of a crab/lobster like alien with tentacle appendages with eyes and a mouth at the end and plenty of other weird and ugly types.
And this game has some gore which is cool, as you blow away some of the multi appendaged aliens you sees them just getting torn and shredded apart. Limbs fly off to the point either their head or whole body explodes, you even see pieces of their bodies fly straight toward you hitting the screen even dragging a little on it. I thought this was so cool and really a step in the violence factor in video games, showing video games are just for kids. You could say the game really helped set up some of the light gun shooters to come like "House of the Dead" franchise which amped up the violence factor.
One of the things you have in the game is a petal that causes you to back up the way you can. This is a useful function as it gives you time to destroy any of the oncoming aliens as it takes a lot of hits to take out the aliens, but also to minimize the damage you take or get certain things you were unable to get when you continuously moved forward.
One thing I really like is the use of alternate pathways, when you come to a certain point at a level you have two different direction you can go. I thought this was cool because it gave the game replay value, as you can go though the game picking a different direction every time.
However, the catch in this game is that there is an ongoing timer, you don't lose the game if you run out of time but you won't get bonus points, so be careful not to take too much time if you want to earn those extra points.
Another catch is your gun, even though you're firing a laser which means you don't have to worry about bullet currency, you have an energy gauge. If you use the firepower on your gun too long, then the amount of discharge will be at a minimum making stopping power weak.
Also, you not just have one kind of bomb but many which is cool like an incendiary or a plain rocket powered grenade, you can chose any kind and discharge any kind you see fit. But of course, even these run low quick so as usual use these for emergencies only.
There is a decent assortment of power up which will help recharge your gun quicker, refuel your lives, and restock your bombs; but still watch those gauges because they will go down quick and those supply packages are scatter far and between.
Overall, for anyone into vintage light gun games, this game blasts off high into space and fun.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
Plotwise you're a space marine and you have to save space colonists from the alien threat. That's it in a nutshell, yeah it takes a bit of the same plotline from the movie "Aliens" but what do you really expect for a "Aliens" inspired game. But like all light gun games we're not here for the story, we're here for the action and this game has plenty of it. This game plays out a bit like "Operation Wolf" but there are plenty of features that make the game unique.
I really like the animation which is definitely up to date by 90's standards. Really like the futuristic environments but the use of the darkness in them which really give the game an atmosphere of foreboding and dread, I'll admit I could help but feel a little tense as I'm afraid in the next hallway, turn, corridor, or shadow an alien is going to pop out. I even like the music it's a solid soundtrack which really adds to the dread and even excitement of the game. Gameplay is basic like with any light gun shooter you discharge laser bolts and bombs.
I really like the character animation for the aliens, from how their designed but also just in their expressions which are a lot livelier. The aliens in the game are all unique as they are well ugly but cool looking at the same time, all have strengths and weaknesses. There is one kind that sort of remind me of the Necromorphs from the "Dead Space" games as they have multiple appendages. They head are sort of insect like as there are multiple solid color eyes and mandibles. There are also other kinds of aliens like manta ray aliens, flying winged piranha aliens, killer tennis ball aliens. There are even a few boss fights in the game which are solid, one is a snake alien and another sort of a crab/lobster like alien with tentacle appendages with eyes and a mouth at the end and plenty of other weird and ugly types.
And this game has some gore which is cool, as you blow away some of the multi appendaged aliens you sees them just getting torn and shredded apart. Limbs fly off to the point either their head or whole body explodes, you even see pieces of their bodies fly straight toward you hitting the screen even dragging a little on it. I thought this was so cool and really a step in the violence factor in video games, showing video games are just for kids. You could say the game really helped set up some of the light gun shooters to come like "House of the Dead" franchise which amped up the violence factor.
One of the things you have in the game is a petal that causes you to back up the way you can. This is a useful function as it gives you time to destroy any of the oncoming aliens as it takes a lot of hits to take out the aliens, but also to minimize the damage you take or get certain things you were unable to get when you continuously moved forward.
One thing I really like is the use of alternate pathways, when you come to a certain point at a level you have two different direction you can go. I thought this was cool because it gave the game replay value, as you can go though the game picking a different direction every time.
However, the catch in this game is that there is an ongoing timer, you don't lose the game if you run out of time but you won't get bonus points, so be careful not to take too much time if you want to earn those extra points.
Another catch is your gun, even though you're firing a laser which means you don't have to worry about bullet currency, you have an energy gauge. If you use the firepower on your gun too long, then the amount of discharge will be at a minimum making stopping power weak.
Also, you not just have one kind of bomb but many which is cool like an incendiary or a plain rocket powered grenade, you can chose any kind and discharge any kind you see fit. But of course, even these run low quick so as usual use these for emergencies only.
There is a decent assortment of power up which will help recharge your gun quicker, refuel your lives, and restock your bombs; but still watch those gauges because they will go down quick and those supply packages are scatter far and between.
Overall, for anyone into vintage light gun games, this game blasts off high into space and fun.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
