A large part of the charm of this game lies in the story behind its creation. Alien Hominid had its humble beginnings as a free flash-based web game. After over 7.5 million downloads, the game was reborn on both the GameCube and the Playstation 2. Despite the identical title, the console release of the game is essentially a whole new version; it was reprogrammed, redrawn, and offers a multitude of new options and improvements. This new release was funded entirely independently and overseen from beginning to end by a small group of game developers, including the two original creators of the web game.
The story is fairly straightforward: the player controls an alien whose objective is to regain rightful possession of its UFO from the government. This is easier said than done, for the alien will be bombarded throughout sixteen different levels by various government agents and bosses ranging from fantastical monsters to giant robots.
Eliminating the enemies found in Alien Hominid is incredibly fun. Not every game offers the opportunity to bite off your enemy’s head or drag them to their death in a burrowed trap hole. Alien Hominid offers both these things and more. There are seven different types of weapons; each deals a unique form of death that usually involves a frenzy of colorful explosions. The weapons are found sporadically throughout the game- sometimes dropped by enemies, sometimes offered by friends and sometimes discovered in the ruins of destruction.
But wait, the fun doesn’t stop there! There are also grenades, which are equally effective in both taking out opponents and demolishing buildings. And after wreaking utter havoc, there is no better way to take a load off than in one of the many drivable vehicles the game offers. From pickup trucks to armored cars to even the alien’s UFO, the many modes of transportation double as stylish instruments of death. Additional moves include the ability to pick up and throw enemies, fire while jumping, power charge weapons by holding down the fire button, and dodge by backflipping and rolling.
The controls are very responsive, but could have been simplified to some extent. For example, there are a few instances in which the player is required to press simultaneous buttons in order to execute a single move. This would be fine if it were not for the fact that some of the buttons used are unintuitive, and combinations are used where single buttons could have been used instead. Increased organization of controls and making more efficient use of the GameCube controller would have helped to improve ease of play. As it stands, Alien Hominid should take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour to fully get the hang of.
Aside from the somewhat confusing controls, the game itself is quite challenging. There are a limited number of lives, and there is no health meter. Instead, the alien will die immediately upon taking damage of any degree. Fortunately, gameplay may be resumed from any completed level, even after running out of continues. There is also an option to play with two players, which can be implemented at any time by simply plugging in a second controller.
The graphics in Alien Hominid make the game an interactive work of art. Everything from the backgrounds to the animation was all hand-drawn, giving the game a charmingly rugged look. The colors used throughout the game are bright and vibrant, and the amusing text found on storefronts and street signs make each scene unique and fun to explore. Some may find the graphics modest compared to many of the breathtaking recent 3-d games, but either way it is safe to say that Alien Hominid is a celebration in uniqueness amongst most modern releases.
The score to Alien Hominid is completely original, fitting in nicely with the creative trend of the entire game. The music and sound effects are both well recorded and well placed. While neither is especially spectacular, they accomplish what they were intended to do and offer little room for complaint.
For a game of this type, the replay factor is excellent. Each level, upon completion, can be revisited at any time in the future, either alone or with a friend. Since the game is not overly story-driven, there is no problem with jumping into any level. There are also mini-games that can be played with anywhere from one to four players. The mini-games offer a level editor that allows the player to create challenging obstacles and puzzles in their own levels. These custom levels can be saved to a memory card for easy transportation to friends’ houses, adding a competitive and fun edge to the game.
Alien Hominid is not your typical modern game. It is a refreshing revival of the 2-d shooter with a delivery that is strange, beautiful, and filled with humor. The game’s success proves that classic arcade elements can be effectively incorporated into a game that still manages to excite current audiences and exceed present-day expectations.
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