Alien Scumbags

About

In "Alien Scumbags," players embark on a mission to save Earth in 20XX, as the research shuttle Nostrami has gone silent following nuclear wars. As the last hope for humanity, players must investigate the silence and combat hostile alien forces to restore peace. This action-packed game offers a thrilling experience in a post-apocalyptic world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 61 reviews

humor22 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game is filled with nostalgia and humor, featuring numerous pop culture references that enhance the overall experience.
The pixel art and sound design are top-notch, creating an engaging atmosphere that pays homage to classic 2D platformers and shooters.
The gameplay is addictive and offers a good balance of challenge, with various unlockable characters and secrets that encourage replayability.

Keyboard and mouse controls could be improved, as some players find them unintuitive compared to using a controller.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content for the price.
There are occasional bugs and janky mechanics that can disrupt the gameplay experience, though the developer is responsive to feedback.

humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending light-hearted and low-brow comedy with retro graphics and horror/sci-fi satire. Players appreciate the clever character names, funny in-game commentary, and entertaining soundtracks, which enhance the overall experience. The balance between humor and scares, along with inventive unlockable characters, contributes to its appeal as a fun and engaging 2D shooter.
- “The humor is one of the things that make this game stand out from other 2D shooters.”
- “The names of the characters are hilarious, and it plays on so many other game tropes that I couldn't help but laugh.”
- “There's both light-hearted and some low-brow humor, but that's all part of the package and gives the game another layer of interest.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The gameplay is characterized by a diverse array of levels, weapons, and unlockable characters, each offering unique traits that enhance the experience. Players find the mechanics easy to grasp, with a fast and responsive feel reminiscent of classic sidescrolling games, while also providing opportunities for exploration and various difficulty levels to cater to different skill levels. Overall, the gameplay is smooth, engaging, and filled with humor and nostalgia, making it enjoyable for both casual and seasoned players.
- “There is a variety of levels, weapons, and enemies as well as numerous unlockable characters to play, each with a gameplay-altering trait.”
- “Gameplay feels smooth overall, and finishing the levels isn't hard, but the game itself offers the chance for exploring a bit more.”
- “Tons of easter eggs, solid gameplay, and some great ideas like additional difficulty modes, which not only tweak numbers but remix the entire game, make this a whole package you can definitively give a go if you grew up in a time before Windows 3.1.”
- “The shooting mechanics are reminiscent of what you'd see in those early PC sidescrolling games.”
- “The gameplay itself is more slow and falls somewhere between faster shooters such as Abuse or faster jump and runs such as Captain Cosmic and slower, more methodical games such as the OG Castlevania.”
- “The gameplay itself is easy to get the hang of, though I understand why they recommend a controller instead of a keyboard.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The graphics of "Alien Scumbags" are celebrated for their nostalgic pixel art style, reminiscent of classic 2D games from the Sega Genesis era, combined with a unique twist of horror and sci-fi satire. Players appreciate the polished visuals, character designs, and the effective integration of sound and music that enhances the overall experience. While the retro aesthetic may not appeal to everyone, those who enjoy old-school graphics will find it a delightful homage to video game history.
- “Graphically, the characters, enemies, weapon effects, and environments are done extremely well and are super polished.”
- “Graphically, I love the look and the pixel art looks amazing, with the sound perfectly complementing it, and one feature I loved was how the music changed tune/pitch when your health got low.”
- “Graphically, the characters, enemies, weapons effects, and environments are done extremely well and are super polished.”
- “Visuals are a throwback to Sega Genesis days and the game does not hold back on hitting that nostalgia mark.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic vibe, reminiscent of the 90s, and its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, blending humor with horror. Reviewers highlight the engaging soundtrack, clever sound effects, and the dynamic changes in music that correspond to gameplay elements, all contributing to a highly immersive experience. Overall, the combination of catchy tunes and well-executed audio design is considered a standout feature of the game.
- “Aptly named characters, a nice amount of difficulty, and an absolutely banging soundtrack!”
- “The music and vibe of the game is familiar to what I used to play in the nineties, and that's not a bad thing.”
- “The music and sound effects are well done, which adds to the atmosphere of horror meets satire.”
- “I love the look of the game fully, but it's the sound, both sound effects and music, that lead the immersion.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's story is praised for its detail and engaging voice acting, enhancing character immersion. While some find the plot to be a clichéd "last hope" narrative, others appreciate the depth and evolution of the storyline, complemented by collectibles and hidden secrets that enrich the experience. Overall, the story offers a mix of nostalgia and modern twists, appealing to a range of players.
- “The game feels very detailed and the story is engaging.”
- “In the audio department, I was very surprised that the game’s story scenes were completely voice acted, and each actor does a great job bringing the characters to life.”
- “I love to see how the game itself has changed and evolved from the original build, with all the easter eggs, secrets, and the underlying story that is developing.”
- “Cheesy storyline that feels like a token plot, just like games used to be - 'you fight as the last hope when everyone else has failed, as master chef - you need to leave your kitchen and find out what happened on the other ship.'”
- “The learning curve is quite pleasant, and I think the game offers more as you dive further into the story.”
- “Has a few collectibles as well to round up the story as you play.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game offers significant replayability through its engaging gameplay, multiple characters, and various difficulty levels, including unlockable modes that introduce new challenges and enemy abilities. Players appreciate the ability to revisit the game for different experiences, making it a worthwhile investment. Overall, the combination of survival mode and community-driven updates enhances its replay value.
- “This game feels like a chocolate bar; it may be short, but it's incredibly sweet and you can enjoy it a lot. You can always go for one playthrough from time to time since this game has nice replay value, along with a survival mode, so there are a lot of ways to have fun. The dev is a cool dude who likes to listen to feedback and is in touch with the community. I'm happy to pay full price for this little gem since the guy who made it deserves it.”
- “I haven't tried any of the other characters yet, but that is fine; it only adds to the replayability.”
- “Then there are difficulty levels, so you have a great amount of replay value.”
- “I haven't tried any of the other characters yet, but that's fine; it only adds to the replayability.”
- “Two unlockable difficulty modes after you have beaten the game on normal heighten the replay value as they mix things up, bring new enemy abilities into the fray, and make it more difficult for you.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is a carefully crafted blend of humor and horror, enhanced by well-executed music and sound effects. Players appreciate the engaging gameflow and the ability to enjoy the atmosphere at various difficulty levels, making it accessible to a wider audience.
- “The developer put a lot of thought into making it entertaining through humor, atmosphere, and game flow.”
- “There are multiple difficulty levels so casual players can enjoy the references, atmosphere, and gameplay.”
- “The music and sound effects are well done, which adds to the atmosphere of horror meets satire.”
- “The environments feel empty and lifeless, failing to immerse me in the game's world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich atmosphere, the visuals are bland and uninspired.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, the game is well-optimized, with natural movements and actions contributing to a smooth gameplay experience.
- “The movements and actions feel natural, and the game runs smoothly.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even in intense situations.”
- “I appreciate how well the game performs on lower-end systems without sacrificing quality.”