Alien Hominid

Gaming Target (9.3 out of 10) (93%)

Everyone loves an underdog (except Yankee fans). Its why ICO and Katamari Damacy have jumped from Japanese oddities to bona-fide classics that we'll be talking about for years to come. And it certainly applies in the case of Alien Hominid, a game programmed by a dozen or so people and initally released as a Flash demo on the Internet that was downloaded 7,011,699 times from newgrounds.com.

GameDaily (9 out of 10) (90%)

Old school shooter fans rejoice! O-3 Entertainment and developer The Behemoth have unleashed an alien invasion upon us with Alien Hominid, a delightfully entertaining 2D shooter chock full of action, gore, and special features. As the adorable yet deadly Hominid, you must slice, bite, and blast your way through waves of FBI agents and humongous bosses in a colorful world rich with detail and intrigue. Ride cars and space ships, burrow underground, and chomp off the heads of bad guys to survive, but never blink because this game's super hard, meaning you should get used to dying...A LOT! In addition to the single-player game there are mini games to check out as well as over 200 neat PDA puzzles. Alien Hominid isn't stacked with high production values but it's brimming with charm as well as quality gameplay, making it one of 2004's sleeper hits and a must buy.

DreamStation.cc (9 out of 10) (90%)

For a game that has humble beginnings, Alien Hominid has gone on to grow up and become a beast of a game. The sense of humor is always welcome and the artwork is unbelievable. Don’t let it’s lack of three-dimensional graphics turn you away, before there was 3D there was 2D, and this is by far one of the best looking 2D games I’ve ever seen. The Behemoth have made a great game and hopefully, have the foundation for making a great sequel because this game is worthy of your hard earned money especially when it’s nearly half the price (MSRP $29.99) of lesser quality unoriginal titles available in stores now. If you don’t get this game you’ll only have yourself to blame for the lack of originality in the video game industry.

Netjak (8.9 out of 10) (89%)

If only Alien Hominid were a bit meatier, I could wholeheartedly recommend it as a purchase. I will, however, say that Alien Hominid definitely belongs in that elite class of quirky games, like Rez and Katamari Damacy, that should at least be experienced, if not part of any self-respecting gamer’s collection. This game has such personality and originality, even despite the fact that it is in effect reviving a dead genre, that I must commend The Behemoth for having the tenacity to see this project through to completion. If this is the type of product that an independent game studio can produce given the resources, then I sincerely hope that we can see more independent games come to the mass market in the near future.

GamingTrend (510 out of 600) (85%)

Simply put, Alien Hominid is a fun 2D side-scrolling action game, a dying breed in this day and age. The beauty is that this game went from a popular internet Flash game to the Playstation 2 and GameCube. This game has a lot of extras and just plowing through the game to see and battle the bosses is well worth it. I highly recommend this game if you are feeling the nostalgia bug.

Defunct Games (85 out of 100) (85%)

Even though most gamers are still playing catch-up to the major game releases of the season, Alien Hominid is one game you should definitely not overlook. This is a game by people that really know a thing or two about making a memorable experience, and some of the extra features will have you coming back well into the new year (especially if you have friends). It's not one of the most complex games of the year, but it certainly is one of the best.

PlayStation Illustrated (85 out of 100) (85%)

Alien Hominid may not be as deep or as well known as newer games, but it’s still a fun adventure for those who either enjoy old-school shooters or want a challenge.

VGPub (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

The style is thick, the charm is oozing over and the alien is an instantly loveable character. At a price of $30 there is no reason at all not to try this game out, sure it has some faults and sure it?s short, but this game is addicting and begs for a sequel. You will truly miss something if you don?t check it out.

GameSpot (8.4 out of 10) (84%)

Here's a fact: Console gaming is a technology-driven business. This isn't exactly the forum for getting into the how and why, but it's also a fact that this focus has allowed the art form of 2D graphics to fall by the wayside--at least within the big business of console gaming. But original 2D gaming is thriving on the Web, thanks in no small part to the Macromedia Flash platform and amateur artists and programmers with lots of time on their hands. Newgrounds.com has for years been a forum for no-budget Web-based gaming and animation, and it's where Alien Hominid, the debut game from the independent development studio The Behemoth, began its life. With a surplus of charm and a tried-and-true side-scrolling shoot-'em-up design, Alien Hominid gained loads of momentum on the Web, which has allowed for the unlikely crossover to the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. While its gameplay design may appear to be derivative, there truly isn't anything else quite like Alien Hominid on consoles today.

PSX Extreme (8.4 out of 10) (84%)

Just based solely on its gunplay, Alien Hominid is worthy of mention in the same breath as classic shoot-'em-ups like Contra and Metal Slug. Nonetheless, it is the game's uniquely refreshing (albeit crude) visual style and attitude that justifies the price of admission.

Pelit (83 out of 100) (83%)

Eihän Alien Hominidista voi olla pitämättä, vaikka vaikeustaso on helpoimmillaankin sikamaisen kipakka. Pelin pariin tulee palattua vain kokeillakseen, josko tällä kerralla pääsisi hieman pidemmälle, sillä se loppupomo on jotenkin voitettavissa. Pahus, ei vieläkään.

IGN (8.1 out of 10) (81%)

Brief quotes from recognizable media outlets often serve as testimonials and really help drive interest in videogames, so here come the one-liners fit to be printed on any box...

Game Informer Magazine (8 out of 10) (80%)

ands down, this is one of my favorite games of the year. It’s not the most polished game out there by any means, but it makes up for its lack of finesse with sheer style and quirkiness. The old-school shooter vibe will feel instantly familiar to those who enjoy hardcore titles like Metal Slug or Gradius, but the mood is far more reminiscent of Homestar Runner than Contra. The hand-drawn visuals look great, the bosses are unique and huge, the difficulty is blistering, and the Alien Hominid character is endearing. He may have began his life on the web, but he’s ready for cult status with shooter fans. If you’re looking for something fun, funny, and challenging, this is the title for you.

Yahoo! Games ( ) (80%)

Pop quiz: what's the most entertaining and original shoot 'em up this side of the Super Nintendo and Genesis era? Bzzzt! Smack yourself if you cited Contra: Shattered Soldier or Ikaruga. The correct answer: Alien Hominid, a side-scrolling blaster from independent developer The Behemoth and upstart publishing house O3 Entertainment.

Game Over Online (80 out of 100) (80%)

Overall, the game is quite a bit of fun. Alien Hominid offers up a serving of both what was great and frustrating about old-school gaming. This is likely to divide players, but me? I liked it.

Gamestyle (8 out of 10) (80%)

At a time when the industry is becoming increasingly dominated by EA and other leviathan publishers whose portfolios are indistinguishable from licensed and generic brands, it's refreshing to realise that games such as Alien Hominid are still being created. Kudos to the underlings.

Cheat Code Central (4 out of 5) (80%)

Anyone looking for a challenge is destined to meet his or her match in Alien Hominid. The ability to start over at the last level gives casual gamers a chance at completing the game while increasing the replay value. With the multi-player modes you'll find that you've got a lot of game on your hands.

GameZone (8 out of 10) (80%)

This is not a game that will set the side-scrolling world on fire. This is a game that has charm, challenge and it is addictive fun.

Gamebrit (8 out of 10) (80%)

In all, this game is highly enjoyable and is an exciting game, obviously the odd smattering of blood does help. On the odd occasion you may feel that the game is lacking in certain areas, like, as I said, the controls or maybe even the short life of the game. When you consider you can play this game for free online it is sometimes a good idea to consider if it's worth forking out at least £30 for this game. I would like to say yes it is. The game does provide you with a lot more than the online experience and also it seems to feel a bit more comfortable on a home console. Go check this one out all you alien fans.

Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (OPM) ( ) (80%)

We've been championing Alien Hominid's transition from superpopular online browser game to PS2 ubershooter for months now. Was it worth all of our breathless enthusiasm? In short, yes. Here's a game that will take you back to the good old days, when all games were 2D side-scrollers and you could get all the fun you could ever need out of just shooting stuff. Hominid melds old-school ideas from Contra, Metal Slug, and Gunstar Heroes and gives them a beautiful hand-drawn look that you can't help but smile at.

Game Freaks 365 (7.7 out of 10) (77%)

So far as replay value is concerned, beyond what I just said, there are some mini-games that can be played, although they aren't as engaging as the main game. The main game and at least some of the mini-games can be played multiplayer as well. Overall, this is one of those games where, although it is a simple game, it is not so simple as to be repetitive and boring, but is rather simplistic and entertaining. If you've been holding out on getting this game for some reason, and you're a fan of Contra, hold out no longer. This game is definitely worth what you're likely to pay for it.

Jeuxvideo.com (15 out of 20) (75%)

Plus longue que la version originale en flash, plus complète avec des mini-jeux et quelques nouvelles possibilités, Alien Hominid sur consoles surpasse le soft que l'on connaissait déjà. Si le genre vous interpelle et que vous n'avez pas peur de vous heurter à une difficulté extrême, alors foncez !

Club Skill (7 out of 10) (70%)

All in all, Alien Hominid is a fast, fun shooter, which will appeal to many who actually give it a chance. The ambitious animation lets it down in places and it is not without its flaws, but the plus points do enough to outweigh the minus. Without the addition of the PDA games, this might have scored a bit lower, but the lastability they offer is undeniable.

MAN!AC (70 out of 100) (70%)

Nieder mit den Vertuschungsmethoden - Aliens an die Macht! Trotz banalem Spielprinzip und unfairem Schwierigkeitsgrad ist der extraterrestrische Frechdachs eine wahre Spaßgranate. Spielerisch bekommt Ihr eine dreiste "Metal Slug"-Kopie serviert, die das ausgefeilte Leveldesign und die motivierende Lernkurve des Vorbilds aber nie erreicht. Dass "Alien Hominid" Ballerfreunde dennoch zu Freudentränen rührt, liegt am rabenschwarzen Humor: Von der witzigen Kritzel-Aufmachung über die drolligen Animationen bis hin zu urkomischen Bossgegnern treffen die Entwickler punktgenau den Lachnerv eines jeden "South Park"- oder "Happy Tree Friends"-Anhängers. Schließlich verhelfen die kultigen Extras zum Sprung über die magische 70er-Hürde.

GameSpy ( ) (70%)

Right in the midst of this holiday season of big-budget blockbusters, Alien Hominid is unassumingly released by both a new publisher and developer. Like the proverbial story of David and Goliath, here is a game that spits in the face of today's video-game trends. This is not an epic adventure. It does not offer 50+ hours of gameplay. You won't be roaming freely across a gigantic "living" city. You won't see any fancy 3d effects, or even any 3d graphics at all. Contrary to the status quo, Alien Hominid is a stark reminder that you don't need big budgets, big technology, or trendy features to make a decent game.

HonestGamers (Staff reviews only) (7 out of 10) (70%)

In brief, Alien Hominid probably has more than its share of quirky memorable moments, and the "cool" factor is very high, which is precisely why it attracted so many downloads and merchandise sales in the first place. But on the PS2 platform, we've left the world of free downloads and entered the world of high-powered hardware and similarly high expectations. And AH doesn't quite live fit comfortably into the 'great shooter' garb I've seen it masquerade about in on the net--those clothes fit noticeably loose. Still, it's fun with a friend, a decent way to spend a few frantic hours, and one can't help but appreciate what was attempted here. The publishing guys at Behemoth show potential for greatness; their first flawed, but fresh effort falls only just short of the mark.

GamePro (US) (3.5 out of 5) (70%)

A highly stylized 2D shooter slightly tarnished by control and AI issues. Can a game originally intended to run on Macromedia Flash hold its own as a full-length console title? Alien Hominid attempts to answer that by breaking thru preconceived boundaries and showing that solid concepts work well in any form. Don't expect Hominid to be a straight port of the Flash game, the graphics, sound, and game engine have been totally revamped for its console inception.

Thunderbolt Games (7 out of 10) (70%)

In brief, Alien Hominid probably has more than its share of quirky memorable moments, and the "cool" factor is very high, which is precisely why it attracted so many downloads and merchandise sales in the first place. But on the PS2 platform, we've left the world of free downloads and entered the world of high-powered hardware and similarly high expectations. And AH doesn't quite live fit comfortably into the 'great shooter' garb I've seen it masquerade about in on the net--those clothes fit noticeably loose. Still, it's fun with a friend, a decent way to spend a few frantic hours, and one can't help but appreciate what was attempted here. The publishing guys at Behemoth show potential for greatness; their first flawed, but fresh effort falls only just short of the mark.

Game Revolution (B-) (67%)

Don’t let that stop you from checking it out, though. With a great style taken directly from the pages of a deranged art student’s sketchbook and fun if occasionally frustrating action to boot, this little alien proves that you don’t need a big, fancy ship to invade a home console.

Daily Game (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

Arc the Lad: End of Darkness is the follow-up to 2003’s Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits, but that’s not to say it’s more of the same experience. While Twilight of the Spirits is best known for it’s strategic and fast-paced gameplay, End of Darkness takes the gameplay in another direction altogether as a hack-and-slash action RPG with card-based spells and an equipment system.