ive never played this game at all .. ive heard of it in name only. i luv how untake time too try all these diffrent version of the same game out..keep up the good work.
I own the mastersystem game, was disappointed with the scrolling but it was the only version I had so I played it as much as I could stand and never played it since. Was cheap though😂
It's amazing that they managed to screw up the scrolling, even on platforms that could easily scroll the screen. That said, couple notes... There were two C64 versions, and they differed in how they scrolled. The version in this video is the European version. In the American version, the screen doesn't recenter your character when you get close to the edge of the screen. Instead the screen scrolls at the same speed as you move. So the screen is scrolling like it should, but with your character located much too close to the edge. When you stop moving, THEN the game will recenter your character in the center of the screen. It doesn't make the game any easier, since you're still too close to the edge to react to any aliens that appear, leading to a lot of cheap deaths. As for the Amiga version, I can't believe that you failed to mention the biggest deviation from the arcade original: They left out two of the levels! I could overlook its other faults, but I can't overlook the fact that it only has four out of the original six levels. What the hell were they thinking? The ST version is the same way.
Great video as always as you really get into the essence of the original game each time. It’s not a surface value comparison. Some of these games didn’t get the benefit of that, as I’ve read the UK micro devs often worked from VHS of the games and maybe had limited or no access to the arcade cabs. Alien Storm next please! I feel it’s the number one overlooked classic by Sega, and seen as a kind of inferior Golden Axe?? Madness.
Totally agree, the C64 plays so well but the scrolling is too slow, it would have been an all-time classic, its just such a shame. I've been playing it recently and really wanted to like it but its just too frustrating. And the Amstrad version does look just like curly chips coming at you :D
Please do a comparison of Nebulus by Hewson Consultants, its somtimes called Tower Toppler or Castelian as well, loads of ports to choose from :) just make sure you include the speccy! :P
The NES version is the one I have the most time into. I keep giving the SMS port a go here and there, and really want to like it, but it doesn't control very well.
For the c64 version, I have no memory of the screen scrolling so poorly, but I also had an American c64 which runs faster. I don't know if I'm misremembering, but seeing the gameplay footage, it seems just a little off to me from what I can recall.
The ZX Spectrum is pretty good, Sega Master System is really great too and despite being so low or I guess bad, I prefer playing Sega Master System version and not the slow scrolling one It took a Game Gear and NES to fix that issue, that's crazy. Overall, NES and Sharp X68000 is the way to go
Love Alien syndrome. It has always been in my top five arcade Classics of all time. Exactly what emulator were you using for the x68000? I need to seek that out and try it
Here. You will find the easy way to set it up in my playlist for computers here: Computer Emulator Guides: ruclips.net/p/PLJVdlhzi-kR9_skpoT9hQP4reR4Q22rf_
I didn't have any port of this game so I can't comment as to the validity of the list other than acknowledge differences in European arcades and the US I never saw this game in any arcade I been to within the US. We didn't have a knock off Aliens game we had ALIENS a 2d side scroller that would munch on our coins and was fairly unforgiving. A damned shame there are not any ports of that game that I am aware of.
@@JustJamie1983 Maybe the fact it wasn't around our arcades maybe because it was more of a japanese thing that crept onto home consoles of the time seeking a wider audience perhaps. But yeah never heard of this game to be honest.
The CPC port should have been coded in Mode 0 (16 Colours) not Mode 1 (4 Colours) as it didn’t need to be in a higher resolution. The Z80 versions look like they were coded by the same developer.
@ perhaps, but it looks like your typical dirty Spectrum port unfortunately, which tends to show that it wasn’t really optimised for the CPC. Typical for the time, as the Z80 programmer gets 2 commissions for essentially the same code with a few tweaks for the host platform (usually the CPC).
I purchased this on the Master System based on the box alone, I knew nothing about the game and had not read any reviews. I remember feeling sick a couple of minutes after getting it home thinking how I had just wasted £25 (a fortune to 15 year old me) on this piece of crap. Apparently that is £68 in todays money according to the bank of England inflation calculator.
The Atari ST version needs to be much lower in the pecking order based on those awful sound effects alone; makes it sound like your speakers are going bad.
The amstrad version was one of the most disappointing moments of my young life! Hence why it was never released as a full price game, even as a budget it was a total rip off. You can shoot when you die …WTF 😂
Another excellent video! I love this series
Glad you enjoy it!
Easily one of the best port comparison series around. I think it's the great commentary.
ive never played this game at all .. ive heard of it in name only. i luv how untake time too try all these diffrent version of the same game out..keep up the good work.
Thank you 😀
The Master System's version has enemies that look like zenomorphs at least. So it's got that going for it. That's about all though.
It was such a sad attempt.
I own the mastersystem game, was disappointed with the scrolling but it was the only version I had so I played it as much as I could stand and never played it since. Was cheap though😂
oh man! Yeah, the x68k is amazing. These must be a ton of work to put together, but really enjoy them.
They really are
2 vids on 1 day! Nice man.
I have been referred to as a machine several times lol
Also one of the games i had on my SMS back then. I think, that i could still have it.
It's amazing that they managed to screw up the scrolling, even on platforms that could easily scroll the screen. That said, couple notes...
There were two C64 versions, and they differed in how they scrolled. The version in this video is the European version. In the American version, the screen doesn't recenter your character when you get close to the edge of the screen. Instead the screen scrolls at the same speed as you move. So the screen is scrolling like it should, but with your character located much too close to the edge. When you stop moving, THEN the game will recenter your character in the center of the screen. It doesn't make the game any easier, since you're still too close to the edge to react to any aliens that appear, leading to a lot of cheap deaths.
As for the Amiga version, I can't believe that you failed to mention the biggest deviation from the arcade original: They left out two of the levels! I could overlook its other faults, but I can't overlook the fact that it only has four out of the original six levels. What the hell were they thinking? The ST version is the same way.
Some of the versions look like they have you blasting Cheetos.
Haha
Cheetos Syndrome lol
@ralang999 haha
Great video as always as you really get into the essence of the original game each time. It’s not a surface value comparison. Some of these games didn’t get the benefit of that, as I’ve read the UK micro devs often worked from VHS of the games and maybe had limited or no access to the arcade cabs. Alien Storm next please! I feel it’s the number one overlooked classic by Sega, and seen as a kind of inferior Golden Axe?? Madness.
Hey there, it's on the to do list 😀
I was just typing Watsits as you said, great minds.
It had to be said.
Yes. On Amstrad it was attack of the killer Whatsits. With that said it had potential but should of been better
100%
Totally agree, the C64 plays so well but the scrolling is too slow, it would have been an all-time classic, its just such a shame. I've been playing it recently and really wanted to like it but its just too frustrating. And the Amstrad version does look just like curly chips coming at you :D
Haha
Please do a comparison of Nebulus by Hewson Consultants, its somtimes called Tower Toppler or Castelian as well, loads of ports to choose from :) just make sure you include the speccy! :P
Hey there. Will look into it. Thanks.
The NES version is the one I have the most time into. I keep giving the SMS port a go here and there, and really want to like it, but it doesn't control very well.
Naa. The SMS port is pretty bad.
Game Gear was probably the best version of this I played back in the day
It certainly was a great version. Underated too.
Think that version may have come out 3 or 4 years after the original release. Ya doing a cracking Job J
Only played the Amiga port. Nice game, could have been one of the Amiga's best. X68000 leading the way again.
Problem is. All it took is for the devs to correct scrolling. Multiple platforms would have had fairly good versions.
@JustJamie1983 agreed. So near but so far.
The absolute best version of Alien Syndrome is literally ANY of the Alien Breed games on the Amiga 😂😂😂
100%
For the c64 version, I have no memory of the screen scrolling so poorly, but I also had an American c64 which runs faster. I don't know if I'm misremembering, but seeing the gameplay footage, it seems just a little off to me from what I can recall.
The ZX Spectrum is pretty good, Sega Master System is really great too and despite being so low or I guess bad, I prefer playing Sega Master System version and not the slow scrolling one
It took a Game Gear and NES to fix that issue, that's crazy. Overall, NES and Sharp X68000 is the way to go
Exactly. A very odd bunch of ports for sure.
Love Alien syndrome. It has always been in my top five arcade Classics of all time. Exactly what emulator were you using for the x68000? I need to seek that out and try it
Here. You will find the easy way to set it up in my playlist for computers here:
Computer Emulator Guides: ruclips.net/p/PLJVdlhzi-kR9_skpoT9hQP4reR4Q22rf_
Awesome @@JustJamie1983 thank you very much!!
@atariforever2002 you are welcome.
More Arcade Port Rankings Here: ruclips.net/p/PLJVdlhzi-kR9pLkunb1GD7Orc8zLw8VrH
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paypal.com/paypalme/justjamie1983
I didn't have any port of this game so I can't comment as to the validity of the list other than acknowledge differences in European arcades and the US I never saw this game in any arcade I been to within the US. We didn't have a knock off Aliens game we had ALIENS a 2d side scroller that would munch on our coins and was fairly unforgiving. A damned shame there are not any ports of that game that I am aware of.
Yup. I personally don't remember this in the arcade but if it was around I likely would have been a fan.
@@JustJamie1983 Maybe the fact it wasn't around our arcades maybe because it was more of a japanese thing that crept onto home consoles of the time seeking a wider audience perhaps. But yeah never heard of this game to be honest.
How old are you? I remember walking in arcade hearing the music of great games, iron horse 😊
In my 40s. I seen many arcade machines. Just not this one.
The CPC port should have been coded in Mode 0 (16 Colours) not Mode 1 (4 Colours) as it didn’t need to be in a higher resolution. The Z80 versions look like they were coded by the same developer.
Problem is, mode 0 likely whilst have made it too blocky.
@ perhaps, but it looks like your typical dirty Spectrum port unfortunately, which tends to show that it wasn’t really optimised for the CPC. Typical for the time, as the Z80 programmer gets 2 commissions for essentially the same code with a few tweaks for the host platform (usually the CPC).
I purchased this on the Master System based on the box alone, I knew nothing about the game and had not read any reviews. I remember feeling sick a couple of minutes after getting it home thinking how I had just wasted £25 (a fortune to 15 year old me) on this piece of crap. Apparently that is £68 in todays money according to the bank of England inflation calculator.
Jeez, yup. I would have been very disappointed too. A heck of a lot of money.
The Atari ST version needs to be much lower in the pecking order based on those awful sound effects alone; makes it sound like your speakers are going bad.
Naa. ST sounds like an 8 bit most of the time lol
I used to love the C64 version. Can't remember the scrolling being so bad. So unnecessary, too.
100% such a shame.
Which of these are 2 player?
From a real life TV soundie, Bro please get a pop filter and take the mic away from face a bit too. other wish great videos
Thanks. Amazon Wishlist in description.
The amstrad version was one of the most disappointing moments of my young life! Hence why it was never released as a full price game, even as a budget it was a total rip off. You can shoot when you die …WTF 😂
Yeah. It was utterly trash.