Alien Soldier
- January 26, 2011
- SEGA
In "Alien Soldier," the planet Sierra is under attack by the terrorist group Scarlet, led by the ruthless Xi-Tiger, who plans to exterminate the human race. Players assume the role of Epsilon-Eagle, a former member of Scarlet seeking revenge, in a intense action-packed side-scrolling shooter game. With formidable skills and arsenal, Epsilon-Eagle battles through Scarlet's forces to reach and defeat Xi-Tiger, saving humanity from destruction.
Reviews
- Alien Soldier features creative and challenging boss battles, making it a thrilling experience for fans of the genre.
- The game offers a variety of weapon choices, allowing players to customize their approach to combat and tackle different challenges effectively.
- The graphics and animations are impressive for the Mega Drive, showcasing Treasure's commitment to quality and detail in their game design.
- The emulation quality is inconsistent, with issues such as slower gameplay in the European version and occasional glitches.
- The game's narrative feels incomplete due to cut content, leading to a lack of world-building and clarity in objectives.
- The controls can be unintuitive at times, particularly with the vertical reversal mechanic, which may frustrate some players.
- story58 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging and emotional narrative, particularly the relationship between Kelly and Koryn as they embark on a mission to save Earth. However, others criticized the initial info dump and felt that character development was lacking, making it difficult to connect with the antagonists. Overall, the storyline is described as fast-paced and entertaining, with a blend of action, humor, and romance that keeps readers invested.
“Kelly and Koryn have a special story, and I'm glad I took the time to read it.”
“The storyline is fast-paced and very entertaining.”
“I must say I was captivated by this story; the names of species and strange places bring this story to life.”
“The plot consists of a huge info dump text in the intro.”
“Makes one wonder if the author wrote her own books or cares about her characters. You have to care about the bad guys too so you can keep their actions straight for the storytelling; I don't like to be harsh, but how hard can it be when their names don't even sound alike?”
“Honestly, I almost gave up on the story because I wasn't sure where it was going.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is notably slower in the European release due to its design for the PAL system, running at 16% less speed. Players can regenerate ammo for unselected weapons over time and find weapon boxes to switch weapon types. Additionally, the game allows for further slowdown during pauses in SE mode, providing unique mechanics to navigate challenges like boss fights.
“Well, you can also find weapon boxes during gameplay that let you change the weapon type.”
“Now, allow me to explain some game mechanics that will let you get past the first boss and rock the game.”
“It includes the European release as the main one, which has gameplay running around 16% slower as it was designed to run on the PAL system that had TVs running at 50Hz instead of 60Hz.”
“During gameplay, the weapons that aren't currently selected will slowly regenerate ammo after a while.”
“If you pause the game in SE mode, you can actually slow down the gameplay by pressing left or right.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as entertaining and engaging, with characters like Kelly bringing a lively and funny perspective to the story. Reviewers appreciate the blend of humor with romance and suspense, noting that it adds to the overall enjoyment of the narrative. The comedic elements, particularly in character interactions, contribute to a light-hearted and fun reading experience.
“I enjoyed Kelly a lot in Jillian's story, in large part because she has an entertaining sense of humor and approach to life.”
“It has some definite funny parts and the male aliens are so protective of their mates.”
“I liked Kelly from the first book; she is loyal and funny.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game is well-paced and can be toggled independently from sound effects, enhancing the overall experience. It features upbeat and engaging tracks, complemented by a cheerful announcer that adds an arcade vibe. This combination caters to hardcore gamers while remaining accessible to casual players through an easy mode.
“The music plays at the correct speed.”
“You can disable music or sound effects separately.”
“Sounds and music are also fancy, including the cheery announcer for an arcade feel.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous after a while.”
“The sound effects are often overwhelming, drowning out the music and making it hard to enjoy.”
“While the music plays at the correct speed, it fails to create an engaging atmosphere.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are highly praised, considered among the best on the system, with customizable HUD elements that can be displayed graphically, numerically, or hidden. Additionally, the romantic and erotic scenes are noted for their sensuality while maintaining a tasteful presentation.
“Graphics are one of the best on the system.”
“You can also change whether you want each HUD element to be shown graphically, as a number, or hidden.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the depth of its characters, who, despite their emotional baggage, remain relatable and endearing. Players find the love story to be profoundly touching, marking it as one of the most impactful experiences in the game.
“I loved both characters; they carried some emotional baggage but still managed to be likable people/aliens.”
“Touching, emotional love story.”
“This is by far the deepest and most touching experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game experiences several glitches, particularly with the simple launcher, which affects overall stability.
“However, the simple launcher has its fair share of glitches as well.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and disconnections during gameplay.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note a significant lack of in-depth character development, particularly highlighting the underdeveloped portrayal of the villain, Ygg. This absence detracts from the overall narrative experience.
“However, I still miss the lack of in-depth character development, including the development of the villainous Ygg.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a meaningful way throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character growth was; it lacked the depth and complexity I was hoping for.”