Act: Alien Shooter: Fight for Life [Sigma]

Game: Alien Shooter - Fight for Life -
Release: June 2004
Genre: Action
Developer: Sigma
System Requirements: Pentium II 400 MHz, Direct3D compatible 16 MB 3D graphics card, 64 MB RAM, DirectSound compatible sound card
Price: $12.50


If you could find any short-coming in the original Alien Shooter game it would be that the game was too short. However with a fairly step difficulty level, amazing graphics and just a blast of fun game play, it was easily one of the best indie games of 2003. Building on the fantastic starting point of the first game it seemed a clear win for the the developer and for those of us who wanted more after playing the original Alien Shooter.

However, as good as Alien Shooter is, I have to admit that I was disappointed by the "add-on." When I think of really great add-ons and expansion packs, I think back to Starcraft and how the expansion pack completely redefined how the game was played. Most people expect expansion packs to include both new levels, characters, music, items and story. In the case of Alien Shooter - Fight for Life, only some of those items are added to the game. There are no new weapons and the 5 new levels are quite similar to the original game. Each of them could have been levels directly out of the original game if you didn't know better.

The only real change with this add-on from the first game is that there is a bit more of a storyline to go with it, with some impressive pictures to help provide a visual to the story that you are a part of.

Though the addition of more weapons and more varied levels as well as more and varied enemies would have helped to make this add-on take Alien Shooter to the next level, simply increasing the number of levels does provide another joyful romp through the Alien Shooter world. The add-on levels are a bit more difficult than those in the original game and provide plenty of enjoyable game play for the stellar price of just $12.50.


Graphics: 9
The graphics are wonderful.  Everything is very well detailed, and the weapon effects, a key area for a shooter like this, are just fabulous.  Watching the aliens freeze when hit by a blast of the freeze gun, and then shatter is something worth watching again and again.  Though you spend nearly every level of the game underground, the graphics never become tiresome or overly repetitive. 

Sound: 9
The sound effects were wonderful, with the aliens making noise that came from different sides of the screen.  The music was also very good, playing into how the game felt and increasing the intensity about 10 notches.  The only complaint I had was that I would have liked to have had about 2 more soundtracks and since this is an expansion pack, I would state that doubly so.  The music, as good as it is, gets repetitive as you play the same level over and over, and each level takes about 10 minutes, and each level uses the same music.  That being said, I still gave the game very high marks for sound as the sound that is in the game is among the best in any indie this year!

Game Play: 8
I had a little difficulty getting used to the mouse and keyboard movement style.  I cannot tell you how many times I ended up running the wrong direction or missing a door as I tried to fumble with the keyboard trying to get my character to move the right direction.  However, once you get used to it, the game plays quite easily.  I strongly recommend a wheel mouse on this one, as switching weapons with the wheel is definitely the way to go.

Options: 10
Including the survival mode was a very nice thing for them to do and it helps you hone in on those destructive skills.  The game also has the option to turn on red blood.  That option is off by default as the game doesn't want to be too gory, but the password to turn it on is included in the read me file.  (Just another reason to read the read me file!)

Value: 8
Five levels doesn't seem like a lot, but for those who are looking for more of the great gaming they found in the original, you'll be quite pleased with some more challenging levels to play.

Fun: 10
Though I often had to replay the later levels several times to get through them, I never felt frustrated and wanting to quit.  The game is a blast to play, and each time I started playing it I ended that night's session liking the game more than I had the day before.  If you are looking for a good time, give the full version a week of your life.

Overall: 9
I rated the original game a 10 and never thought twice about that score.  With the expansion pack, I thought about giving this add-on the same score as really it is nearly identical to the original.  However as I believe that most people will be looking for more weapons and what not in addition to the added storyline I put this one in just in under the original's.  This is a very worthy game that everyone who owns the original should check out.

Added: July 26th 2004
Reviewer: Russell Carroll
Score:
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Language: english