When doing reviews, I tend to like trying to sum up the video game in question using a single word. In the case of Alien Hominid, that word is ‘pretty-freaking-mother-loving-hard.’ Saying that Alien Hominid is a difficult game is a given. You know immediately that the statement is true, but until you’ve played the game, you don’t realize just how true that statement is. An upgrade from the popular flash game found on Newgrounds.com, Alien Hominid is a chaotic blend of blood, gore, and unique style that makes for a good first title from the rookie developers, The Behemoth. Considering the game sells at a $29.99 price tag, Alien Hominid looks all the sweeter.

Features:

Classic 2D side-scroller

Based on wildly popular flash game

Two player co-op mode available

Handful of minigames included, including PDA games

Level builder/editor for the PDA games

Colorful art from lead artist Dan Paladin

MSRP retail price of $29.99 new.

So Many Colors, So Little Time
Immediately booting up a copy of Alien Hominid, one first notices the quirky art design the game has taken, which is reminiscent of its flash game form. The style has changed little from the popular flash game, but the quality has been increased significantly and the vibrant colors appear to explode across your screen with each new frame. Aside from the hideously ugly green background surrounding most menus, Alien Hominid is eye candy and a treat to look at. The design for the characters alone is ingenious because while the Alien may look cute and cuddly, he’s pretty vicious.

Once presented the initial menu screen, you have the option of either diving immediately into the main game or exploring the handful of minigames available at your disposal. The main game itself is the meat and potatoes of Alien Hominid, but taking a peak at the minigames (Uh…the A1 sauce of the game?) is worth the effort because they are rather clever and fun to mess around with. In one such minigame, the developers have taken basketball to a whole new level. Playing one on one, the objective is to get the ball into your goal by throwing it. However, one will find this is more difficult than it sounds, particularly because your opponent has a knife and can hack you to bits as soon as you try to pick up the ball. It’ll distract you for a few minutes, but overall, nothing that you’ll come back to time and time again.

Slicey, slicey

The main game, however, has a certain charm that may keep you playing for hours on end, assuming you don’t snap your controller in half. In the main game, you play as the Alien, who has been shot down by FBI agents and conveniently crashed in front of their headquarters. The FBI immediately confiscates the broken UFO but ignorantly leave the Alien laying on the ground. Coming to consciousness, the Alien discovers his ship is gone and decides that it’s go time.