Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Alien’s gameplay is at its heart a maze-chase experience that borrows heavily from classics like Pac-Man. You navigate the dimly lit corridors of your ship, picking off “dots” that represent alien eggs lurking in every nook. The pace is steady but builds tension as you race against relentless xenomorphs determined to corner you.

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Your primary tool for survival is the pulsar, a one-time power dot that temporarily turns you into the hunter rather than the hunted. Grabbing the pulsar energizes your character with enough punch to dispose of any of the three aliens on deck. Once used, it reappears at one of two preset locations, forcing you to plan each dash through the maze carefully.

Only three enemies patrol the maze at once, ensuring a manageable but thrilling cat-and-mouse dynamic. Bonus items show up sporadically, granting extra points if snatched before an alien intercepts you. The interplay between risk and reward keeps every corridor run interesting—do you boldly race for the far corner or circle back to safety?

Clearing all the eggs on a level triggers a bonus mini-game. This segment, reminiscent of Freeway, tasks you with moving up the screen to claim a prize while dodging moving aliens. You won’t lose a life for failure, but the eight-second timer adds an electric urgency before you’re thrust back into a tougher maze.

Graphics

Visually, Alien embraces the minimalist charm of early arcade titles. The corridors are defined by simple block shapes and a restrained color palette, but this sparseness works in the game’s favor, amplifying the claustrophobic atmosphere of a ship overrun by deadly creatures.

Character sprites are small but distinctive: the alien silhouettes are instantly recognizable, and their fluid movements add personality to each encounter. The dots and pulsar glow subtly against the dark background, guiding your navigation without overwhelming the screen.

Though the bonus levels trade the corridor aesthetic for a vertical-scrolling challenge, they maintain the same clarity of design. Aliens in the bonus stage move across the lanes in predictable patterns at first but gradually speed up, testing your reflexes under a stark, no-frills presentation.

Story

While Alien’s narrative is mercifully light—you won’t find cinematic cutscenes or branching dialogue—it effectively channels the spirit of the 1979 film. The manual sets the stage: you’re the last crew member on a ship crawling with xenomorphs, tasked with eradicating every egg pit before making your escape.

The sparse storytelling actually heightens the tension. Without dialogue or elaborate lore dumps, each level feels like another desperate sweep through deadly corridors. Your imagination fills in the gaps, recalling the movie’s suspenseful ambiance with each corner you turn.

Bonus stages offer their own micro-narratives—dashing toward supplies or rescue pods under a ticking clock—further reinforcing the urgency of your mission. It’s a testament to minimalist design: with just a handful of mechanics and a simple premise, Alien delivers a consistent thematic experience.

Overall Experience

Alien succeeds as a nostalgic throwback that pays homage to early arcade staples while injecting its own movie-inspired charm. The core maze-chase loop is instantly recognizable but enriched by the pulsar mechanic and occasional bonus rounds. It’s easy to pick up yet challenging to master.

The game’s simplicity is both a strength and a limitation. If you crave deep narrative or modern graphical flair, Alien may feel dated. However, for those who appreciate pure arcade tension and score-chasing, its formula remains compelling even decades after release.

In the end, Alien offers short bursts of high-stakes play, perfect for quick sessions or sharing board scores with friends. Its integration of classic gameplay elements with the haunting allure of Ridley Scott’s universe makes it a must-try for retro enthusiasts and movie fans alike.

Retro Replay Score

6.3/10