Alien Breed
Encyclopedia
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
.
films, specificially Aliens
, and also on the 8-bit
-era games Laser Squad
and Paradroid
(although the game bears some gameplay similarities with Gauntlet
, with which it has been compared, 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. 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, Alien Breed: Tower Assault
, introduced non-linear gameplay: some levels are not required to be completed before exiting, and the game can be completed in several different ways).
, animated by Eric W. Schwartz, although this was included with the retail edition of the game.
, 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
.
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 game (Alien Breed: Tower Assault
) the player characters were named John and Nash. In keeping with the Aliens
theme, a female voiceover (the voice of Lynette Reade) provided warnings and other messages to the players.
Alien Breed (series)
The Alien Breed games are a series of Gauntlet-style top-down sci-fi shoot 'em up video games developed by Team17 primarily for the Commodore Amiga in the 1990s, heavily inspired by the Alien films. Later, first person shooter titles were released under the Alien Breed name...
of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
computer games
Personal computer game
A PC game, also known as a computer game, is a video game played on a personal computer, rather than on a video game console or arcade machine...
played in the form of a top-down shooter
Shooter game
Shooter games are a sub-genre of action game, which often test the player's speed and reaction time. It includes many subgenres that have the commonality of focusing "on the actions of the avatar using some sort of weapon. Usually this weapon is a gun, or some other long-range weapon". A common...
for one or two players. It was released in 1991 by Team17
Team17
Team17 Software Ltd. is a video game company best known for developing the Worms series of games , but it has made many other games, notably Superfrog and the Alien Breed series. Most of its early releases were on the Amiga home computer system and featured trademark smooth scrolling, and detailed...
for the Commodore Amiga and later in 1993 by MicroLeague for MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
.
Gameplay
The game was based heavily - and unofficially - on the AlienAlien (franchise)
The Alien film series is a science fiction horror film franchise, focusing on Lieutenant Ellen Ripley and her battle with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as "the Alien"...
films, specificially Aliens
Aliens (film)
Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
, and also on the 8-bit
8-bit
The first widely adopted 8-bit microprocessor was the Intel 8080, being used in many hobbyist computers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, often running the CP/M operating system. The Zilog Z80 and the Motorola 6800 were also used in similar computers...
-era games Laser Squad
Laser Squad
Laser Squad is a turn-based tactics computer game, originally released for the ZX Spectrum and later for the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Amiga and Atari ST computers, as well as PC computers. It was designed by Julian Gollop and his team at Target Games and published by Blade Software...
and Paradroid
Paradroid
Paradroid is a Commodore 64 computer game written by Andrew Braybrook and published by Hewson Consultants in 1985. It was also remade as Paradroid 90 for the Amiga and Atari ST home computers and as Paradroid 2000 for the Acorn Archimedes. There exist several fan-made remakes for modern PCs...
(although the game bears some gameplay similarities with Gauntlet
Gauntlet (arcade game)
Gauntlet is a fantasy-themed hack and slash 1985 arcade game by Atari Games. It is noted as the first class-based multiplayer game. Released during the emergence of popularity of other role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, the game was a sensation, being one of the first true dungeon crawl...
, with which it has been compared, as well an obvious comparison with Sega's Alien Syndrome
Alien Syndrome
Alien Syndrome is a run and gun arcade game developed by Sega in 1987.-Gameplay:Two players control two soldiers named Ricky and Mary, who must fight their way through large eight-way scrolling levels rescuing their comrades who are being held by aliens...
). 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
Pong
Pong is one of the earliest arcade video games, and is a tennis sports game featuring simple two-dimensional graphics. While other arcade video games such as Computer Space came before it, Pong was one of the first video games to reach mainstream popularity...
. 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
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
precursor to the popular 1993 FPS
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
Doom. 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, Alien Breed: Tower Assault
Alien Breed: Tower Assault
Alien Breed: Tower Assault is the third game in the Alien Breed franchise, a series of science fiction-themed top-down shooters. It was released in 1994 by Team17 for the Amiga, PC and CD32, and is the last 2D 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 SuperfrogSuperfrog
Superfrog is a 2D Platform game developed for the Amiga by Team17 Software in 1993, then converted for the PC by Bubball Systems in 1994. The Amiga version was popular enough to spawn an Amiga CD32 version, which could also be played on some Amiga computers fitted with a CD drive.- Story :The...
, 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 SuperfrogSuperfrog
Superfrog is a 2D Platform game developed for the Amiga by Team17 Software in 1993, then converted for the PC by Bubball Systems in 1994. The Amiga version was popular enough to spawn an Amiga CD32 version, which could also be played on some Amiga computers fitted with a CD drive.- Story :The...
, 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
Qwak
Qwak is a 2D platform/puzzle game developed by Jamie Woodhouse. It was initially released for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron in 1989 as part of Superior/Acornsoft's Play It Again Sam 10 compilation. An updated and enhanced Amiga version was given a budget release by Team17 in 1993. This update...
.
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 game (Alien Breed: Tower Assault
Alien Breed: Tower Assault
Alien Breed: Tower Assault is the third game in the Alien Breed franchise, a series of science fiction-themed top-down shooters. It was released in 1994 by Team17 for the Amiga, PC and CD32, and is the last 2D game in the series....
) the player characters were named John and Nash. In keeping with the Aliens
Aliens (film)
Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
theme, a female voiceover (the voice of Lynette Reade) provided warnings and other messages to the players.