Alien Syndrome (NES Game)

Now here's a game I've seen and played on a variety of different consoles and systems, which is odd because never in my life have I heard someone rave about how great Alien Syndrome is (though they should. It's a nice little game). It's been ported nearly a dozen times, which is a lot for any game. I've played this game in DOS, on the Sega Master System, and in an arcade before playing it on the NES, so that does affect my view of the game somewhat. I'll just state this right out: the NES port of this game is not the best (though it is better than the Master System port).

Alien Syndrome is an interesting overhead shooter. You have the choice of two characters, Ricky or Mary. Once you've chosen your character, you're thrown right into a dangerous situation. Your comrades are being held by evil aliens who look a lot like cocktail shrimp that transform into volcanoes when they shoot. Your mission is to rescue all 12 of your comrades while blasting your way toward the exit. Once you hit the exit, you'll be greeted by a gross alien boss which will take quite a few hits and a little strategy to bring down. I found that most of the bosses are easier than the levels themselves. It's no biggie, but it is a bit of a downgrade.

Here's why the NES port of the game isn't quite as good: aesthetics. The arcade and DOS versions of the game just looks fantastic. The aliens look more realistic, your weapons are more animated, and your comrades are actually trapped in a web of alien goo instead of just standing there waving at you and waiting for you to pick them up like they are in the NES version. Aside from the looks, the other versions of Alien Syndrome all play about the same as the NES version. It's just that the backgrounds on the NES version have a lot of greens and browns and look pretty bland. Looks aren't everything but they definitely count for something.

The NES port of Alien Syndrome is still highly playable and enjoyable, but if you've played the arcade or DOS versions of this game, you'll probably find yourself longing for the better aesthetics of either of those versions. As a pretty good game with readily apparent flaws, I give Alien Syndrome...