Alien Breed + Tower Assault

I like old games, top down shooters and aliens. By all means I should love this game but its just terrible. To its credit: the controls are fine and can be remapped. Considering its age, the game also looks really, really good. But its just neither fun nor a challenge. The respawning aliens wander around the level aimlesly until you get very close and then just run at you in a straight line. They are only ever a threat to you when they suddenly pop into the screen right before you as you walk forward. And thats just cheap because it forces you to either advance very slowly or take damage. Just stay away, I regret even having paid 59 Cents for it.

I'm disappointed with how this amazing old game installs and plays from GOG. Firstly, I'm not sure why it isn't packaged with a native install for Linux, when I still enjoy playing the CD32 edition in UAE, and it runs fine. (Windows or Linux) I just wanted to have a download I could install and fire up without digging out the CD. (or ISO) Second, this seems to come from a DOS version, when I'm pretty sure the CD32 is generally considered the ultimate original version. (everything else is already a "port" from that) In Windows, it's just barely playable compared to my existing UAE solution, though admittedly easier to install. The intro animation works surprisingly well, considering it's emulating Windows emulating DOS converting an Amiga anim8 animation. Obviously it doesn't work nearly as well as the Amiga CD32 version under UAE. There is a PlayOnLinux script for the GOG installer in Linux, but it forces the desktop to 640x480, then overlays the window border and task bar over the game in my DE. (Pantheon / Gala) The game started much better from native DOSBox in Linux with a simple bash script, but didn't go further than the intro. (that may be my version of DOSBox 0.74, as I know GOG tinker to fix stuff like that, and in Windows native it froze at that point a couple of times) I don't know why GOG don't package a UAE based installation for the Amiga CD32 version for Windows, Mac, and Linux alike. (Kickstart licensing? Maybe it doesn't work on 3rd party, open licensed firmware like AROS Kickstart replacement?) This would make for a better play experience and be more inclusive of modern systems. If anyone wants to work on the Linux DOSBox method and see if they can get further, here's what I dropped in the install dir:- #!/bin/bash cd "$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")")" dosbox -conf dosboxABTA.conf -c 'mount C "."' -c "c:" -c "TA.exe"

Dear GoG, I'm all for re issuing old classics, but in this case I really wish you modified the game (or added a layer) to make it work with game pads. Without updated controls, legacy arcade classics are not much fun. I would pay 10-15$ for a Amiga version updated to work with a game pad.

What a great game this is! A classic labirynth game, where you must memorize every corner, corridor, door. Although I'm a bit old for this kind of brain challenge, but I still love to sit down for a half an hour to clear a level. The password system is old, and may be frustrating, but somehow it works for me, as I usually struggle with saved games, where I'm at, where I'm heading, what's the objective, when I load a game after a few weeks pause. The control is easy and very straightforward, nothing fancy. It's just you, the aliens and some levels to complete. So much fun, I highly recommend it!

Alien Breed was one of THE top-down shooters during the Amiga era and "Tower Assault" is arguably the best in the whole series. For the first time it wasn't strictly levels based but let the player chose the path through the stages themselves by branching out into two or more exits in some stages. This can result in shortcuts but also in much tougher enemies before aquiring better weapons. Ultimately all ways progress the game so there's no real free exploration. Merely longer or shorter routes. The game has to be played several times to check out the best options for the own playstyle. It has two player coop gameplay as well which makes shooting enemies easier but also shortens supplies as the credits to level up throughout the game are not doubled. So it doesn't really make the game easier but more just different. The controls feel tight and work pretty flawless. Other than the first two games Tower Assault also has a retreat option that lets you shoot in one direction while walking backwards away from danger. For all the good things in the game it is tough as f*ck, though. And not just for the right reasons unfortunately. As is tradition in games from the days - gamedesign wasn't always made to be able to succeed all the time. You can play yourself into a corner and screw up your whole progress: The game uses keycard mechanics in the later levels which means that you have to have keys to open doors. If you run out of keys doors can be shot open but it takes a LOT of ammunition and time in which you are overrun by enemies. Ammunition is NOT infinite so you will also have to keep track of it or buy new one if you are lucky enough to have credits and be close to a terminal. Worst of all some levels have an auto destruct mechanic in which you are required to reach the exit through a maze in a very short time. Otherwise: GameOver! These three mechanics should be your make or brake factors for deciding to buy. So: be aware of Amiga game difficulty before buying. ;)