Alien Hominid Invasion Review: Extraterrestrial Chaos

It’s absolutely wild to think that two entire decades have passed since Alien Hominid was originally released as a browser game, and even wilder to think that we’re getting a full-on sequel after two decades. But we live in crazy times, and here we are with Alien Hominid Invasion, a fully fleshed-out sequel that carries over enough of its predecessor’s charming chaos to make it a worthwhile time in spite of a couple of missteps here and there.

Retro With A Twist

You’d be forgiven for looking at some of the in-game screenshots of Alien Hominid Invasion and thinking this was just more of the same. Indeed, moment to moment, it does, of course, feel very similar to its predecessor’s brand of chaotic run-and-gun action. You’ll realize very quickly upon booting it up, however, that Alien Hominid Invasion changes up the formula quite drastically by taking the series down the roguelike route.

Starting a new run, players will immediately notice the difference. Rather than adopting a simple, linear, level-based format similar to what came before, Alien Hominid Invasion instead presents players with a grid-like map that effectively functions as a mission select screen, with players being able to pick and choose their path across. The missions are randomly generated, and no map will ever be the same, with the objectives within each mission also being randomized. Yes, you read that correctly, Alien Hominid Invasion’s levels now contain set objectives that the player must achieve in order to complete the stage. While these initially feel fresh, adding a new layer to the run-and-gun action, they soon start to become a bit of a drag and actually detract from the impeccable gunplay on display.

See, the problem is that there just isn’t enough of these objectives to keep things fresh over the long term. You’ll repeatedly gather intel, take out specific targets, and be instructed to make your way to certain points of the map and interact with something. There are a few more, but, nowhere near enough to sustain the gameplay loop that Alien Hominid Invasion is going for, and before long, you’ll be audibly groaning as you’re asked to collect intel and deposit it for the third time within a single level. Yes, there really are so few objectives that they frequently repeat within the same stage, again adding to the sense of repetition that quickly seeps in.

It’s a shame that the focal point of progression is the repetitive distractions, as the moment-to-moment gunplay is as excellent as it’s always been, and when you get a string of objectives that require you to do little more than simply engage in the gunplay the brilliance of Alien Hominid Invasion shines through. Levels are as jam-packed with enemies as ever, and the weapon variety is incredible, with a constant stream of loot showering the player as each run progresses. Whether you’re using a simple blaster, rocket launcher, shotgun, or flame thrower (and I’m really only scratching the tip of the iceberg there), it simply feels fantastic to shoot things. Movement is snappier than ever, and dodge rolling and burying yourself underground to avoid damage all feeling responsive and reliable, a much-needed trait given how frenetic the action can feel. There’s also a further layer of depth to character building than there was in Alien Hominid, with the new mutation and costume systems allowing you to improve your characters’ stats or bestow new abilities upon them. There are some genuinely neat ideas here, which, when coupled with the impeccable run-and-gun action, result in a sequel that feels both fresh and familiar at the same time.

Dying With Friends

Where Alien Hominid Invasion really shines is in its multiplayer. Taking on stages with up to three friends is an absolute blast and actually feels like the intended way to play. At times, the difficulty here can feel insurmountable – Alien Hominid was already a notoriously difficult experience, and the randomized objectives, level design, and enemy placement of its sequel only increase the frequency with which rage-inducing moments are likely to occur. There are bots alongside you when playing single-player, but they are about as useful as a chocolate teapot, so they may as well not be there. Adding friends to the mix makes things a hell of a lot more approachable, and, in my experience, at least, the vast majority of my successful runs came when partied up with other people.

While I played the majority of my time in co-op with a buddy, it’s worth noting that there are also plenty of people available to play with via the game’s matchmaking systems. I never waited long to be joined up with other players, indicating that for the time being, at least, Alien Hominid Invasion has a healthy player base capable of supporting the multiplayer functionality. Teaming up with randoms naturally doesn’t involve the same level of fun as playing with a friend does, but it’s a suitable alternative for those who don’t have anyone else to team up with.

Flashy Looking

Alien Hominid Invasion is a blast, then, and helping add to that moreish nature of it is that it looks fantastic in motion. With an art style that retains its origin’s charm, it frequently looks great, with both player characters and enemies delightfully animated in a way that injects a ton of life into each level. The environmental design doesn’t stand out as much, largely due to the randomized nature of the stages, making memorable sets a bit more difficult to come by, but the action is so fast and frenetic that you’ll barely have a moment to notice anyway.

The audio is just as delightful, with the wonderful sci-fi-infused background tunes doing a great job of capturing the Saturday morning cartoon vibes that the visuals target. There are some real earworms here, addictive to the point that I was humming certain standouts long after I had put the game down.

A Worthy Throwback

Despite not enjoying the direction taken with the randomized roguelike map progression, the moment-to-moment gunplay and chaotic nature of the original are retained in full and feel better than ever in Alien Hominid Invasion. Played solo, it can be a bit of a slog, with difficulty spikes that don’t feel tuned for solo play, but when teaming up with up to three other players, it’s an experience that shines as you aim to make sense of the chaotic firefights with friends alongside you. I didn’t think it was possible, but the developers have done it with Alien Hominid Invasion and created a sequel two decades after its predecessor that manages to make the series feel fresh all over again.

Final Verdict: 4/5

Available On: PC (Reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch; Publisher: The Behemoth; Developer: The Behemoth; Released: November 1, 2023; Players: 1-4; ESRB: T for Teen; MSRP: $19.99

Full Disclosure: A review code was provided by the publisher.