Alien Breed

Infobox VG
title = Alien Breed


developer = Team17
publisher = Team17, MicroLeague
designer = Andreas Tadic, Peter Tuleby
engine =
released = 1991 (Amiga version)
1993 (DOS version)
genre = Run and gun
modes = Single player, Two player
ratings = N/A
platforms = Amiga, Amiga CD32, DOS
media = 3 floppy disks or 1 CD-ROM
requirements = 1MB RAM (Amiga)
input = Joystick, Keyboard

"Alien Breed" is the first in a series of science fiction computer games played in the form of a top-down shooter for one or two players. It was released in 1991 by Team17 for the Commodore Amiga and later in 1993 by MicroLeague for MS-DOS.

Gameplay

The game was based heavily - and unofficially - on the "Alien" films, specificially "Aliens", and also on the 8-bit-era games "Laser Squad" and "Paradroid" [cite web | url = http://iwantfish.gazchap.com/iam10.php| title = Interview with Rico Holmes of Team 17| accessdate = 2007-04-16] (although the game bears some gameplay similarities with "Gauntlet", with which it has been compared [cite web | url = http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/alien-breed/reviews/reviewerId,3250/| title = Review of DOS version of "Alien Breed" at Mobygames| accessdate = 2007-04-16] , as well an obvious comparison with Sega's Alien Syndrome). "Alien Breed" consists of the player or players having to find the lift down to the next level, occasionally setting the self destruct sequence to blow up the level above them. The players collect or purchase a variety of weapons from the space station's computer terminals. In some versions of the game, these so called Intex terminals provide additional features such as a clone of the classic computer game Pong. Credits found on the ground have to be saved for these weapons and other enhancements, each giving the players an edge over the gradually more and more powerful Alien forces. In advanced levels, players are occasionally trapped in enclosed spaces with huge "boss" aliens, reminiscent of the Alien Queen.

"Alien Breed" was in many ways a 2D precursor to the popular 1993 FPS "Doom"Fact|date=April 2007. In both games the gameplay invariably consists of clearing each level by rampaging from point A to point B. (The third game in the series, "", introduced non-linear gameplay: some levels are not required to be completed before exiting, and the game can be completed in several different ways).

Critical response

"Alien Breed" was released to critical acclaim. "CU Amiga" awarded it 90%, noting that 'Team17 have come up with a winner'.

Intro disk

Team17 also made an "Intro disk" available, containing a short animated introductory sequence with on-screen narration which follows events leading into the start of the game. After the introduction is finished, the player is prompted for Disk One of the game, effectively making the Introduction disk "Disk Zero". Team17 produced a similar Introduction disk for "Superfrog", animated by Eric W. Schwartz, although this was included with the retail edition of the game.

Legacy

"Alien Breed Special Edition '92" was an expanded version, published in 1992 at budget price, and was hugely popular staying in the British software charts for more than a year. It also featured a movie trailer style advert for Team17's upcoming "Superfrog", which was unusual at the time. As well as being released on the Amiga, this version of the game was also released on the Amiga CD32 in a double-pack with "Qwak", a platformer puzzle game developed by Jamie Woodhouse.

Both the original and the Special Edition did well enough to merit further sequels, almost all of which have been commercial and critical successes.

The player characters in this game and its sequel were named Johnson and Stone. By the third sequel ("") the player characters were named Jordan and Nash. In keeping with the "Aliens" theme, a female voiceover (the voice of Lynette Reade) provided warnings and other messages to the players.

ee also

* Team17

References

External links

* [http://www.alienbreed.co.uk/ "Alien Breed" Retro Remake]
* [http://hol.abime.net/3230 "Alien Breed" entry at The Hall of Light: The Database of Amiga Games]
*moby game|id=-group/alien-breed-series|name="Alien Breed" series