Alien Syndrome (1987). Play online

Summary

In Alien Syndrome I step into a claustrophobic out‑colony overrun by vicious aliens, a ticking time bomb urging me to rescue hostages and wipe the creatures clean. The game forces you through sector after sector, rewarding you with upgraded weaponry as the enemy gets increasingly grotesque. It's a frantic run‑and‑gun that cranks the tension up with every alien you blast.

When it first hit the arcades, critics loved the horror‑movie vibe. Clare Edgeley of Computer and Video Games called it “one of the most gripping games I’ve played in months”, praising the chilling sounds, sharp graphics and sheer addictiveness. In Japan it ranked as the third‑most successful table arcade unit in April 1987, and the home versions earned high marks, with the Master System release becoming one of that console’s best‑sellers.

The title spread fast, reaching the Master System, MSX, Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, C64, NES (released by Tengen), ZX Spectrum, Game Gear and even a PS2 polygon conversion for Sega Ages. Years later it popped up as a bonus in Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection and the Sega Classics Collection, proving the alien‑squashing formula still holds a nostalgic punch.

Storyline

Alien Syndrome drops you into a frantic side‑scrolling rescue mission. You can pick either Ricky, the male soldier, or Mary, the female counterpart, and battle waves of alien foes while freeing hostages before a ticking bomb blows the ship apart. In two‑player mode, both soldiers fight together through large eight‑way scrolling levels, rescuing comrades held captive by the invaders. Each stage begins with a time bomb set aboard the infested vessel, forcing you to finish the rescue before the timer expires or the ship is destroyed. After clearing all seven levels, the game loops with tougher aliens and even tighter time limits, keeping the pressure high for every run.