Alien Hominid Invasion Review – Roguelike Mayhem

Embarking on a nostalgic journey fueled by over two decades of gaming history, Alien Hominid Invasion thrusts players into a captivating blend of retro charm and modern chaos. Born from the legacy of a Newgrounds flash game, this sequel, crafted by The Behemoth, brings forth a reimagined arcade experience.

Departing from the conventional run-and-gun format, it ventures into the realm of roguelike adventure, promising unpredictability and excitement. Let’s dive deep into its world, revealing how it navigates its delicate balance between nostalgia and innovation.

Story And Setting

Alien Hominid Invasion brings forth a chaotic and extraterrestrial adventure that not only pays homage to its predecessor but also introduces substantial changes. As players embark on this journey, they are thrust into a retro-styled world with a unique setting that weaves through its chaos.

As the titular alien, players no longer defend Earth but are on the offensive, seeking to conquer and wreak havoc.

Its narrative takes a backseat to the frantic action, primarily focusing on the colorful, cartoonish world overrun by alien invaders. As the titular alien, players no longer defend Earth but are on the offensive, seeking to conquer and wreak havoc. I really enjoyed this reversal of roles as it adds a delightful twist to the overall story and aligns well with its sense of humor and whimsy.

The extraterrestrial invasion unfolds in a side-scrolling shooter format, reminiscent of the original game but with a roguelike twist. Instead of linear, level-based progression, players are presented with a grid-like map, offering a multitude of randomly generated missions, adding variety to each run. Stages, now vast arenas, serve as battlegrounds where players face a barrage of missions, each with its set of randomly generated objectives.

Each mission brings new challenges, often presented in the form of quirky and humorous tasks. From collecting newspapers to dispatching purple enemies, these objectives add a layer of whimsicality to the chaos. However, I found these to quickly become a double-edged sword in terms of storytelling.

The extraterrestrial invasion unfolds in a side-scrolling shooter format, reminiscent of the original game but with a roguelike twist

On the positive side, they inject a sense of purpose and direction into the chaotic gameplay, tasking players with collecting intel, eliminating specific targets, or surviving enemy ambushes. Yet, on the downside, their limited variety may lead to a feeling of repetition and a lack of individuality in the stages.

As a fan of the original Alien Hominid, I would say that despite this game’s weak mission variety, it successfully captures the essence of its predecessor’s chaos while introducing fresh elements.

Gameplay

Alien Hominid Invasion’s gameplay is a symphony of bullets, explosions, and extraterrestrial antics, creating a thrilling experience that combines retro charm with modern design.

Its core is the intense and fast-paced combat, which can be lauded for its exceptional gunplay with its relentless barrage of enemies, bullets, and explosions.

Players control their alien characters, each equipped with an arsenal of weapons ranging from traditional firearms to more unconventional options like flamethrowers and energy blades. I loved this variety of weaponry as it adds significant depth allowing one to discover and experiment with new guns.

The controls are well-tailored to its chaotic nature, allowing players to navigate its mayhem with precision and style. 

Movement is snappy and responsive, with abilities to double-jump, dodge-roll, and even dig underground to avoid enemy attacks. The controls are well-tailored to its chaotic nature, allowing players to navigate its mayhem with precision and style. 

One notable improvement from the original game, which I applaud, is an introduction of adjustable difficulty settings. One can customize their number of lives and health, providing a more accessible experience for those who found the original Alien Hominid’s difficulty to be overwhelming.

I also loved the ability to retain weaponry after death and the option to play in multiplayer which further enhanced this game’s accessibility and replayability.

A significant gameplay enhancement also comes in the form of mutations and costumes. Mutations, earned after completing a run, replace the traditional grenade button and offer unique abilities like summoning a healing orb or flying at enemies for a face-eating attack. This addition allowed me to approach each mission with varied playstyles, somewhat alleviating their repetitiveness. 

An addition of cooperative multiplayer, accommodating up to four players, amplifies the chaos to new heights. Whether playing with friends locally or engaging in online matches, this cooperative experience transforms the chaotic solo play into a collaborative effort. Its difficulty, often described as challenging in single-player mode, becomes much more manageable and enjoyable with friends.

Alien Hominid Invasion successfully evolves the gameplay of its predecessor, embracing a roguelike structure and enhancing many core combat mechanics. This blend of retro charm with modern design elements creates an engaging experience for old fans like me and newcomers alike.

Visuals And Performance

This title has a visual charm that manages to retain the nostalgic charm of its Newgrounds roots while delivering an enticing experience. It showcases a delightful blend of retro aesthetics and modern graphical enhancements, making for an eye-catching spectacle.

The hand-drawn, cartoon-style visuals that were a hallmark of the original are given a new lease on life in Invasion. Despite an enormous graphical overhaul, this game manages to preserve Newgrounds’s distinctive art style that old-timers, like me, fondly remember.

The transition to full HD on platforms like the Nintendo Switch ensures that the graphics are not only well-defined but also carry a unique, stylized flair. Its visuals, crisp and polished in their execution, deliver a captivating experience that resonates with the game’s quirky personality.

It embraces an off-the-wall sense of humor that permeates through every aspect of its visuals

The title’s chaotic nature is perfectly complemented by the humorous and vibrant design of its characters and environments. It embraces an off-the-wall sense of humor that permeates through every aspect of its visuals. The characters’ behaviors, the quirky soundtrack, and the overall design contribute to a genuinely funny and charming aesthetic. I loved its Saturday morning cartoon vibes which are highlighted by the sci-fi-infused background tunes, creating an auditory experience that complements its visual chaos.

The characters themselves, particularly the aliens, undergo subtle design changes that enhance their visual appeal. A minuscule alteration in the form of pointed, stylized feet adds a touch of otherworldly charm, making them feel more alien. Their fluid animations, whether hopping, flipping, or demolishing enemies, contribute to the overall sense of motion and energy. 

While the environmental design doesn’t always stand out due to the stages’ randomized nature, the sheer pace of action often means players don’t have much time to dwell on these surroundings. A focus on creating large-scale arenas for stages adds a sense of grandiosity, transforming each mission into a chaotic battlefield filled with lasers and explosions.

In terms of performance, Alien Hominid Invasion maintains a smooth and responsive experience. I ran it on a GTX 1060, and throughout my playtime a ran into zero problems.

While the environmental design doesn’t always stand out due to the stages’ randomized nature, the sheer pace of action often means players don’t have much time to dwell on these surroundings.

Movement, whether double-jumping, dodge-rolling, or digging underground, feels reliable and enhances the overall fluidity. The transition to cooperative multiplayer, both locally and online, is seamless, providing a cooperative chaos that amplifies the visual spectacle.

Verdict

Alien Hominid Invasion successfully revitalizes the beloved classic, introducing roguelike dynamics that inject novelty into its familiar framework. It compensates for its weak narrative with stellar, chaotic gameplay reminiscent of the series’ roots. Its vibrant, retro-inspired visuals maintain the franchise’s distinctive charm, and the addition of multiplayer elevates its experience to new heights.

While some may find the mission objectives repetitive, the addictive run-and-gun mechanics, coupled with innovative features like mutations and costumes, contribute to an engaging and nostalgic journey. This game stands as a commendable modernization of arcade classics, offering both a nod to the past and an enticing evolution for fans and newcomers alike.

This has been our Alien Hominid Invasion review. While you’re here, consider checking out some of our other articles. 

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