Metacritic Games

Alien Hominid (Playstation 2)

Alien Hominid is a fast-paced 2D side scroller where players must run, jump and shoot their way across the globe in persuit of the alien's coveted UFO. This version of Alien Hominid has been built specifically for consoles and it shows. The backgrounds ooze with parallax. Shrapnel scatters all over the screen. The explosions are the greatest hand-animated explosions to ever grace a television screen. Some of the bosses are so huge that we need to zoom out the camera to show them in their entirety (it's a cool feature, kinda like the scaling in Samurai Shodown). There are 16 hot levels, complete with mini-bosses and main-bosses. We've brought back all your old favorites and thrown in tons more. This game is overflowing with enemies, and they come armed to the teeth. Have no fear, the alien's arsenal has been taken up a notch! You now have seven power-up weapons, which also upgrade your grenades. A charge shot has been added so you can hold down your button and unleash a giant ball of destruction. You can dig into the ground for defensive measures, then reach up and pull your enemies under. Enemy riding and head biting is still intact, but you can now also flip over an enemy and carry him, or throw him in eight directions! Even two-player has been added, with the classic "press start to jump in at any time" mechanics! Twice the firepower! [Behemoth]

O3 Entertainment
Action, Shooter
Players: 4
T (Teen)
Developer: The Behemoth
Released November 21, 2004

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

78 / 100

Critic Reviews

93 Gaming Target
Any game that can reference Contra, GodlenEye, Fargo, Mega Man, Tremors and include two Atari 2600-like mini games (Super Soviet Missile Mastar rules!) would already be alright in my book. But to do it like Alien Hominid does it is incredible.
90 AceGamez
It's a shame that Alien Hominid ends - that's my only gripe with the whole game. It ends. But then, you can play through it again and again with friends, turning up the difficulty a notch each time.
90 TotalPlayStation
It really is that well done. I shudder to think what this level of talent is capable should they try this whole milieu again, but I'm even more excited about what it could mean. You must, for the love God, support this game and give it the money it deserves.
90 GamerFeed
Loaded with features and pound for pound one of the best games of the year (and it's only $29.99), Alien Hominid's a treat for the senses.
90 Gamer's Hell
I love this game. Frantic, old school gameplay plus a great visual style, multiplied by a terrific sense of humor equals a lot of fun.
90 Warcry
Nostalgic, frantic and fun. At $30, it's well worth buying for anyone who loved the side-scrolling shooters of the 8-bit console era.
89 netjak
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.
87 BonusStage
Grabs you by the funny bone and tender parts and body slams your senses right from the start, and if you just don't love that little guy the first time you lay eyes on him, you're just too jaded.
85 VGPub
The style is thick, the charm is oozing over and the alien is an instantly loveable character.
85 eToychest
It brings itself to the table as a purely fun game, modeled after a true classic, and doesn't try to impress with flashy graphics or a deep story--because it doesn't have to.
85 Gaming Nexus
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).
85 GamingTrend
Those of us that lived through the Atari and original Nintendo years will find this game to be a blast from the past, but you probably already knew that if you played the web game.
85 WHAM! Gaming
There's enough originality and heart-pounding action to warrant a look by any fan of retro action gaming.
84 GameSpot
While its gameplay design may appear to be derivative, there truly isn't anything else quite like Alien Hominid on consoles today.
84 My Gamer
If this review has not convinced you to go buy this game, then just go buy it anyway. Then come back to Mygamer and thank us for telling you to get it. The character design is precious enough to warm even the coldest Grinch.
84 PSX Extreme
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.
83 Next Level Gaming
A very unique game. The minute your space ship lands in the city, Alien Hominid is non-stop booger-nosed funk action from top to bottom.
81 IGN
It looks good, it's cute and funny, the bosses are interesting, the control is tight, and the game is intense.
80 Game Informer
One of my favorite games of the year...It makes up for its lack of finesse with sheer style and quirkiness. [Dec 2004, p.168]
80 Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
It never stops being either stylish or fun, though, and how many games can you say that about that feature a goofy-looking yellow alien? Just one.
80 G4 TV
You'll adore Alien Hominid. An attractive price, original concept, and splendid execution outshine issues such as its short-lived thrills and shallow premise.
80 GameZone
A game that has charm, challenge and it is addictive fun.
80 Yahoo! Games
The most creative and cathartic button masher since cult favorite "Gunstar Heroes."
80 DarkStation
It's fast paced, has beautiful visuals, and just a whole lot of fun.
80 games(TM)
Alien Hominid is a joyful experience, an unashamedly simple game that makes you want to play until you can’t feel your hands anymore... The perfect budget game. [Jan 2005, p.104]
80 GMR Magazine
If you want to relive the good old days and hat that your favorite 2D franchises are being recast as crappy 3D shooters, give Hominid a try. [Feb 2005, p.94]
80 Gamenikki
Alien Hominid is a shiny, bloody cartoon you can play by a team of guys who wanted to make a shiny, bloody cartoon you can play. It works.
80 GameShark
The Behemoth has to be commended for bringing gamers a really nice shooter with a fantastic look and feel. In these days of development teams with a cast of dozens, it is nice to see a small group of passionate individuals produce a game that is clearly a labor of love.
80 Armchair Empire
If you are looking for a game that provides ample opportunity to blast the tar out of legions of enemies, that challenges your fingers dexterity, isn’t afraid to challenge its players, and, most importantly, keep a smile on its players’ faces while all of this is happening, Alien Hominid is well worth buying.
80 Gamestyle
Alien Hominid might lack a scripted storyline, but trying to reach the end is a wellspring of emotion.
80 Boomtown
Plaster up your thumbs, buy a new control pad, call in sick and lock up your family because this little extraterrestrial is going to take over your life.
80 Game Over Online
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.
78 Electronic Gaming Monthly
Great bosses, plenty of maneuvers, maybe a little short, but packed with quality fun. [Holiday 2004, p.100]
78 Xequted
A refreshingly devious action game long overdue in the sea of 3-D platformers and first person shooters.
75 Play Magazine
AH is a manic, rock-hard, 2D assault on your motor skills that may lack the polish of the best of this mighty genre, but gets a pass for being the coolest homegrown game ever. [Nov 2004, p.75]
75 Detroit Free Press
An incredibly fun action game, either playing solo or with a friend. And, once you've played through it, there are plenty of mini-games to keep you occupied.
75 DailyGame
Fun, but frustratingly difficult at times.
74 Gamers' Temple
It has a very unique, underground comic look to it that makes the game almost as much fun to watch as to play.
72 Worth Playing
This is a very buggy game.
70 Thunderbolt
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.
70 Edge Magazine
Alien Hominid is just about an essential title for anyone who’s caught themselves yearning for a forgotten past, or to any young blood wondering what people mean when they say they don’t make them like they used to. [Jan 2005, p.97]
70 GamePro
Alien Hominids control scheme doesn't allow for players to fire diagonally. Also, the console version is intended for 2 players--single player games are frustratingly hard due to the cheap AI.
70 GameSpy
The fundamentals of gameplay are strong, but when you start getting into the details the roughness becomes increasingly apparent.
70 1UP
Fortunately, the developers have done a good job of implementing that cartooney and sarcastic style, so those players who like the Alien Hominid universe will find a lot to like in the game.
67 Game Revolution
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.
50 PSM Magazine
With frequent cheap deaths and enemy shot sthat are often lost amid the hordes of bad guys, the difficulty is just unholy. [Holiday 2004, p.88]
50 Pelaaja (Finland)
Alien Hominid was brilliant and inventive on net browsers. On consoles, it loses much of its charm. Silly graphics and straightforward violence entertain for awhile, but the idea does not translate well enough into a full console game. [June 2005, p.66]

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