I remember Alien Breed when I was a kid. Back then I had to put up with a two level demo from a disk which came with a gaming magazine, so getting the full game has been 21 years in the making. What a great game. The top down graphics are a true classic of pixel art and the game play is really good fun. Yes, Alien Breed is dated. The graphics and movement options obviously can't compare to games created since and the game lacks "realism", whatever that means in the context. I couldn't help smiling when the aliens disappeared in a puff of smoke whenever they were shot, or when they bumped into me. The only minor issue I had with the game was the Alien AI, which really hasn't stood the test of time. The Aliens lack the aggression that characterises aliens in later games of a similar ilk, such as the Alien Shooter series. In the early levels the alien's sheepish behaviour made me feel almost guilty for shooting them! If you want an all guns blazing, total immersion gaming experience pick something else. If you want a classic 2D arcade shooter with a good atmosphere and a large side helping of nostalgia, then look no further than Alien Breed.
