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How Metascores Are Calculated
54
B-Boy
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
In Alien Syndrome, players take control of the game's strong and enigmatic heroine – Earth Command Trooper Aileen Harding – and battle a variety of fearsome aliens and colossal bosses. Gamers choose from a wide selection of character specialties and skills as they progress through an engrossing campaign, protected by many different types of armor and using a variety of melee and ranged weaponry. Players can improve their heroine's statistics and discover a huge number of powerful new abilities as they fight through infested spaceships and bizarre alien planets. Alien Syndrome features two fast-paced action-RPG modes – the dramatic and engaging single-player campaign, plus an infinitely replayable co-op multiplayer mode for up to four players. Derived from the classic SEGA arcade game, Alien Syndrome's new action-RPG gameplay makes it easy to pick up and play, while its depth and wealth of features and missions keeps it challenging for all gamers. Alien Syndrome features 20 different weapons including flamethrowers, quad-barreled lasers, nanobot swarms that dissolve enemies, and incendiary grenades that shoot fire geysers from the ground. Each weapon offers advantages and disadvantages, dependent upon how it is used and the specializations players have chosen to adopt. Alien Syndrome's fast-paced combat also allows for any number of combat strategies to defeat over 100 different alien enemies at one time. [Sega]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 83
RPG Fan
The developers clearly put a lot of love into this game, and in my opinion, it paid off. I spent 40 to 50 very enjoyable hours with Alien Syndrome, and am several hours in with a second character.
 60
IGN
For fans of classic action-RPGs or multiplayer addicts Alien Syndrome would be a solid weekend rental or bargain bin purchase, but given the lack of polish throughout, the overall lackluster graphical presentation, and the $40 price tag we’ve got to put SEGA’s latest effort in the “just skip it” category. There are far better games available on PSP, and far more are on the way.
60
GamerNode
Between the PSP and Wii, the PSP is easily the superior. It offers the better controls and graphics, and just feels like a better game. It's a little harder to find three others to play with, so I guess that offsets it.
60
GameDaily
Alien Syndrome for the PSP stands out over its Wii counterpart, thanks to a less inept control scheme and a somewhat improved presentation. However, the game suffers from a host of issues.
60
Pocket Gamer UK
Resisting the action-packed role-playing adventure awaiting you in Alien Syndrome is futile. While not terribly innovative, it's a solid title with flaws that can easily be overlooked in favour of a good time.
60
Modojo
In the end, Alien Syndrome could've turned out a lot worse than it did.
55
Deeko
All in all, it's a game you'll more than likely want o pass on, even if you're a die-hard fan of the original.
53
Game Almighty
Multiplayer may have been a saving grace, but you won't find any infrastructure play on offer, meaning you'll have to find up to three other people within local WiFi range if you want to get your game on. The original Alien Syndrome was all about co-op alien killing, but the ball has been fumbled in this remake.
50
GameSpot
A sense of murky monotony sucks most of the life out of this action RPG remake of Sega's classic arcade shooter.
50
GameSpy
PSP owners will be able to gloat that their version of the game looks better than the Wii edition.
50
Games Radar
As frantic as the action is at times, its drab visuals, control issues and lack of enemy polish brought us to the point of boredom.
50
Game Chronicles
There is a fun and compelling multiplayer game lurking beneath the mindless combat and level grinding that boasts a few subtle nods toward Diablo, but you don’t want to play this alone and you don’t want to have four people paying full price for what is arguably a budget-quality title.
50
GamePro
It's a passable single-player experience but if you can find some friends to play with, it just might help you kill an hour or two here and there.
50
PSM Magazine
A disappointment. [Nov 2007, p.87]
45
PSM3 Magazine UK
Getting from one point on the map to another uses about six brain cells, leaving the rest to bitch about the boring weapons and enemies. [Nov 2007, p.83]
40
Gaming Nexus
Alien Syndrome is an all around terrible resurrection of a fun (albeit shallow) arcade game.
40
VideoGamer
The two-player cooperative mode may keep a duo of youngsters quiet for a handful of weekends, but otherwise this mismatched game has very little to offer.
40
EuroGamer
Alien Syndrome had the potential to be a decent by-the-numbers action RPG, but it struggles to even reach those heights with insipid repetition and a total lack of challenge crippling your incentive to see it beyond the first few hours.
40
Playstation Official Magazine UK
Trouble is, whichever character you pick, the game ends up largely the same. [Nov 2007, p.112]
35
1UP
Never does Alien Syndrome become fun -- and unlike the Wii version, the PSP iteration doesn't even control well enough to become quietly engaging in its own methodical, repetitive way.
Mike gave it a5: |
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