Alien Breed Evolution is a video game in Team 17's Alien Breed

Alien Breed (series)

The Alien Breed games are a series of Gauntlet-style top-down sci-fi shoot 'em up video games developed by Team17 primarily for the Commodore Amiga in the 1990s, heavily inspired by the Alien films. Later, first person shooter titles were released under the Alien Breed name...

series and the first new title in the series since 1996. It was released digitally on Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...

 on December 16, 2009. An updated version, called Alien Breed Impact, was released on PlayStation Network and through Steam on PC on June 3, 2010. In September 2010, Alien Breed 2: Assault

Alien Breed 2: Assault

Alien Breed 2: Assault is a video game in Team 17's Alien Breed series and the second new title in the series since 1996 after Alien Breed Evolution. It was released digitally on Steam and Xbox Live Arcade on September 22, 2010...

, was released on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and PC.

Gameplay

Alien Breed Evolution is a top-down isometric shooter set onboard futuristic space craft. In each level, the main character, Conrad, is set a series of tasks, such as collecting key cards, restoring power or escorting innocents, which he must complete before finding that level's exit in the form of an elevator. Standing in his way are several different types of aliens who will attack him, usually en masse. Conrad can run and shoot in all directions, and can collect a number of different weapons and items to aid him. the camera angle can be rotated manually in 45 degree increments. There are also several data pads to collect which provide information on the different alien species that Conrad encounters throughout the game, back story information on the games characters and additional information on the games locations.

Story

Theodore J. Conrad is an engineer on the spaceship Leopold when it drops out of hyperspace and has a collision with a mysterious ghost ship which is populated by numerous hostile alien beings. Conrad is visited by the android Mia just before the collision who asks him why he is against synthetics (the name for androids in the game) and saves him from a piece of debris from the ghost ship, that pierces Conrad's room when the collision occurs. Mia then sends Conrad to restart the Leopold's engines to avert both ships from crashing into the unnamed planet below. Conrad discovers that the engines are too badly damaged and boards the ghost ship to attempt to restart its engines. He discovers that the ship is controlled by an anti-human force and its defenses have been programed to attack humans on site. He eventually comes across a large pool out of which a large alien rises during a communication from Mia. Conrad says to Mia "I'll call you back" and ends the game on a cliffhanger.

In the Co-Op Assault multiplayer levels, two men, Thadeus Barnes and Eddie Vance, are trying to locate Conrad, they eventually find him in the engine room where Mia tells them that a hull breach in the hydroponics section threatens to destroy the ship. They volunteer to seal this hull breach, on succeeding in this task their campaign ends.

Alien Breed: Impact

A version of Alien Breed Evolution was released on PlayStation Network and Steam, renamed Alien Breed: Impact. This version was expanded to include redesigned aliens and an Upgrade Shop.

Reception

Alien Breed Evolution received generally positive reviews, although many reviewers found the game repetitive and complained about the lack of variety. It achieved a Metacritic

Metacritic

Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...

 average of 69%. IGN

IGN

IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...

 commented that "Anyone who played the original Alien Breed back in the day will find their simple top-down shooter is all grown up with great lighting effects, an atmospheric soundtrack, and affecting cinematic events -- but the gameplay itself is rooted in 1990." EuroGamer

Eurogamer

Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...

 praised the production values, but added that "a flawed approach to co-op play and an inherent lack of variety ultimately count against it." Edge

Edge (magazine)

Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....

gave a scathing review, stating "Repetitive and simplistic, Alien Breed Evolution may remain true to its inspiration, but this first episode does no more than reinforce Team 17's reputation for serviceable but uninspiring updates of past glories."

External links

• Official Site
• JunkieGamer, Alien Breed Release News, December 4, 2009