Alien Syndrome

Moby ID: 139699
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Description official description

Alien Syndrome is based on the arcade version of Alien Syndrome. However, some distinct changes have been made. The level layouts have been changed and the game now features a flip screen instead of scrolling, which causes the enemies to always appear in the same location when entering a new location. The game is also now littered with hazardous tiles on the ground that will kill the player if they step on them and these tiles will fire the occasional shot that needs to be avoided. The tiles can only be temporarily disabled by shooting them. Unlike the arcade version the first player is always Ricky and the second player is always Mary and the players take turns instead of being able to play co-op.

Spellings

  • エイリアンシンドローム - Japanese spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Credits (SEGA Master System version)

11 People

Planner
  • Dr. Hyujiwara
  • Kopharucon
Plan Adviser
Designer
  • Kopharucon
Design Assistant
  • Pocky
  • Morisoba
Guest Designer
  • Maco
Programmer
  • Toaruko-Arkel
  • White wave
  • Chicken Jun (as Chicken.Jun)
Program Editor
  • Yoshi Yoshi
Music
Sound Effecter

Reviews

Critics

Average score: 58% (based on 11 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.5 out of 5 (based on 20 ratings with 3 reviews)

Good game, tough bosses.

The Good
The bosses, they are big and they are mean.

The Bad
No continues.

The Bottom Line
Alien Syndrome, like most Sega arcade ports differs slightly in it's translation to the Master System. Some of the monsters you'll recognize, and some of the backdrops are the same, but the levels are laid out differently. The weapons have translated over well, with the exception of the flame thrower, which is missing. Despite these differences, this is a top-notch game that features excellent graphics, and big colorful bosses. The goal is to rescue the hostages that are lying around each ship. Once completed, an exit door somewhere on the ship (which is your job to find) will open where you will fight the boss. The bosses are big, scary-looking creatures that assault you with the usual projectiles, and a few that try to ambush you by using larva-like creatures. Upon the creatures death, it speed up during the last few hits. All the while, there is a timer running. If you don't rescue the hostages and kill the boss within the specified time, the ship explodes and everyone dies.

SEGA Master System · by Ash_1 (74) · 2019

Run around the spaceship, rescue your friends, and shoot the alien bastards

The Good
In Alien Syndrome, you play Ricky (or Mary if two players are present) as he/she needs to go around each of the spaceships and rescue hostages while destroying hordes of aliens with a variety of weapons. You must rescue the hostages in a certain time limit, or the ship explodes. After you rescued the hostages, you need to make your way to the exit where you defeat a boss to proceed to the next ship.

Alien Syndrome for the Sega Master System is what I like to call a “modified port”, in that the gameplay slightly differs from that of the original game. For instance, when you go left or right a screen, four of the same aliens will suddenly appear. Green faces on the ship's floor fire bullets at you, and the aliens regenerate a few seconds after you shoot them. These things were not present in the arcade game. Because it is modified, the game is slightly difficult, but other than this though, it retains the same gameplay and background music.

The variety of weapons include bullets, fireballs, and lasers. The flamethrower is missing from the original, but the weapons that you can pick up certainly pack a punch, particularly the fireballs, which are good for destroying the bosses. However, the last few bosses take quite a pounding, even with fireballs. The bosses also have several ways to destroy you.

Graphic-wise, the environment in which you walk through look terrific in each of the six ships, and the aliens, bosses, and hostages are well designed. The background music is worth listening to. It changes when you have freed hostages. I enjoyed listening to this piece.

The Bad
Unlike the original Alien Syndrome, there is no map that you can look at in all the ships, so you have no idea how the ship is laid out, where the hostages are, or where the exit is. It's easy to get lost if you do not memorize the area.

The background for the boss fights are plain black, and could have matched that of the original game.

The Bottom Line
Alien Syndrome SMS is a close port of the original version, but since it is modified, the game is slightly difficult. However, the SMS port retains the same gameplay and background music. When you rescue all the hostages, though, the music changes to indicate that you need to hurry along to the exit so that you can defeat the bosses. So in conclusion, great graphics and great music means that you should give the SMS version a try.

SEGA Master System · by Katakis | カタキス (43092) · 2019

A close rendition of the original

The Good
Pros: Has similar run and gun gameplay from the original. It has a good mix of weapons. It is two player cooperative. It tries to be faithful to the original. Fairly intuitive control scheme.

The Bad
Cons: Music can be annoying and tinny. Not all weapons from the original arcade game are present. No map system like in the arcade game, but that could be a plus as it ups the difficulty for those seeking a challenge. Level of detail could probably be better as this was one of the first SMS games to come out on the system.

The Bottom Line
This is a typical run and gun shooter that takes place on 7 different space crafts. Each craft has its own breed of aliens that you must destroy. The ultimate goal is to find your missing comrades and retrieve them for bonus points. Each comrade you save lowers your tally until you have no more to rescue and the exit then opens. A boss fight will commence immediately after and if you succeed in vanquishing the boss alien you can advance on to the next infested spacecraft. Once you have completed all the missions you will be given a heroes congratulations and special animation as a reward.

SEGA Master System · by James Evans (41) · 2019

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Identifiers +

  • MobyGames ID: 139699
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by Alaka.

SEGA Master System added by PCGamer77.

Additional contributors: Kayburt.

Game added December 30, 2019. Last modified October 22, 2023.