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Alien Hominid Breaks New Grounds In Console 2D

Posted by simoniker on from the that's-a-pun dept.

Thanks to GameSpot for its first look at GameCube/PS2 side-scrolling 2D shooter Alien Hominid, an interesting-looking title that had its genesis after "a rough prototype for the game was uploaded in 2002" to the Newgrounds Flash movie/game website. The article notes: "The core [game] mechanics are clearly inspired by classic 2D shooters such as Contra and Metal Slug. However, while Alien Hominid has obviously been influenced by those games, it doesn't end up being derivative", and concludes of the The Behemoth-developed, American-created title, due out this October: "The straightforward, accessible gameplay found in the various game modes is rock solid and a blast to play. The multiplayer modes are an awesome addition to the mix, and the level editor in the PDA [sub-game] is icing on the cake."

4 of 22 comments (clear)

  1. This game looks great by DourSalmon · · Score: 4, Insightful
    By which I mean the graphical style is amazing. It's like you're watching a cartoon. I've seen cel shading before, but it is really well done in this. Adittionally, there are a whole lot of subtle animations that make it more cartoony, like when the hominids are biting the spooks in half (one of many, many apparent attack animations) the spooks actually see it coming and panic briefly. Tycho of PA plugged it a few days ago, apparently looking forward to it with much anticipation. It looks very quirky, fun, and cool. Hopefully the game will live up to the (as of yet fairly limited) hype.

    --

    I have little to say, but even less to lose by saying it.

    1. Re:This game looks great by tarun713 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, it doesn't qualify as cel shading. The official site said they tried cel shading, but resorted to completely hand drawn animations and sprites instead.

      Cel-shading, on the other hand, "is a style of rendering computer-generated imagery that resembles hand-drawn, cartoon images".

  2. The original Flash version by mobby_6kl · · Score: 5, Informative

    is here, 1903 KB

  3. Finally.... by Elmdor · · Score: 4, Insightful

    More small companies are getting some publicity, and showing everyone that it doesn't take $5,000,000 to create a great game. This is yet another small example of showing how self-funded companies can truly experiment with game-play & graphics, and remind the world why games are fun to play. (I'm wonder how difficult it was to self fund for console)