Alien Storm

For the Sega Mega Drive game, see Alien Storm (Mega Drive).

n/a

Alien Storm

System(s): Sega System 18, Sega Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum

Publisher:

Sega

U.S. Gold (UK)

Erbe Software (ES)

Developer:

Sega R&D 1

Sanritsu

SIMS

Tiertex

M2

Genre: Action^[1]

Number of players:

1-3

1

1-2

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1990-03^[2]	¥?	?
US	1990	$?	?

ES	199x
UK	1991-09^[3]
UK	1991-09^[3]
ES (Cassette)	199x
UK (Cassette)	1991-09^[3]
UK (Disk)	1991-09^[3]
UK (Cassette)	1991-09^[3]
UK (Cassette)	1991-09^[3]	£10.9910.99^[4]
UK (Disk)	1991	£15.9915.99^[4]
EU	1991		7075
BX	199x
UK	1991-10^[5]^[6]	£29.9929.99^[7]^[6]	7075
GR	199x
TR	199x
AU	199x
MX	199x
BR	1992-02^[8]
KR	199x		GB-2008

Alien Storm (エイリアンストーム) is a 1990 beat 'em up game released by Sega for Sega System 18 hardware (supposedly the second game for that platform).

Story

When aliens invade earth, it's up to a special forces team known as the "Alien Busters," to get rid of them.

Gameplay

Alien Storm is very similar in nature to Sega's earlier title, Golden Axe, though sports a futuristic setting and occasional bonus rounds, and the pace of play is much faster.

Playable characters

Alien Storm has three playable characters, however for unknown reasons their appearance and names differ between ports and regional variants of the game.

	Gordon/Garth (ゴードン)
	Cook of the Alien Burger when not killing xenos. Uses a lightning gun (or an oversized taser) as a main weapon. Also uses a rocket launchers (which he hilariously fires point blank range) and a machine pistol. Also punches or stomps on aliens as attack animations. In the Master System version he uses what manual calls a "Fire Blazer", a flamethrower. His special weapon is a futuristic US Air Force fighter which strafes the screen with energy weapons. (In the Master System version he uses Karla's special weapon.)
	Karla/Karen (カーラ)
	Karla is missing from the Master System version. Karla takes orders in Alien Burger van. She uses a flamethrower as her main weapon. She also uses a heavy caliber pistol as a part of her attack animation. Her special weapon is a ballistic missile. (Which for some reason does not obliterate the city they are in.)
	Scooter (スクーター) / Slammer
	The overseas Master System versions of the game rename this character "Slammer". Scooter acts as the waiter of the Alien Burgers. He (It?) uses an energy whip as a main weapon. His other weapons inclue: ankle machineguns, wrist guns and very short range back mortar. In his special attack he self-destructs while leaving only his head. A replacement body runs along and grabs the head, re-attaching it to his body. (Majority of the Alien Hunters' budget must be spent on Scooter's replacement frames.)

Missions

	Mission 1

	Mission 2

	Mission 3

	Mission 4

	Mission 5

	Mission 6

History

Legacy

Alien Storm was ported to a variety of platforms, including the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Sega Master System and ZX Spectrum, most of which being released in 1991.

Versions

Master System version

On the Master System, Alien Storm is a one-player only game.

Commodore 64 version

The Commodore 64 version was produced by Tiertex, and like other home ports of the game, only allows two players on screen at any given time (and to save on memory, both players control the same character). Introduction sequences were cut to save space, while some sections of the game were altered to reduce the impact of multi-loading (i.e. having to load data from the cassette mid-play)^[9].

Tiertex used Atari STs to program the C64 game^[9], but relied on Amiga computers for the graphics. For the Commodore 64 version, all sprites were re-drawn by hand, using ripped sprites from the arcade board as guidelines^[9], while the backgrounds were converted through a bespoke Amiga program^[9].

Music was composed on a synthesizer, imported to an Atari ST with help from the system's built-in MIDI ports, and then adjusted for use with the Commodore 64^[9].

Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum versions

The Amstrad and Spectrum versions, also produced by Tiertex, are largely the same game, however the Spectrum is played in monochrome with higher resolution graphics. Neither feature in-game music.

Production credits

System 18 version

Makoto Uchida^[10]

Source:

Uncredited

Master System version

Planner: All Members
Designer: Tommy, Arai
Programmer: Nonchan, S.Kawa
Sound: Hiko
Test Player: Kagetora
Special Thanks: Matsushima
Presented by: Sega

Source:

In-game credits^[11]

Magazine articles

Main article: Alien Storm/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Alien Storm/Promotional material.

Physical scans

System 18 version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Computer & Video Games (UK)

88

^[12]

Svet Kompjutera (YU)

88

^[13]

User (GR)

87

^[14]

	88
Based on 3 reviews

Alien Storm

System 18, US

Manual

System 18, JP
"Long" instructions
Instuction card(s)

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

25

^[15]

Consoles + (FR)

80

^[16]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

80

^[17]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

PAL

71

^[7]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

38

^[18]

Game Zone (UK)

PAL

18

^[19]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

62

^[20]

Joypad (FR)

82

^[21]

Joystick (FR)

86

^[22]

Mega Force (FR)

PAL

70

^[23]

Mean Machines (UK)

PAL

38

^[24]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

38

^[25]

Player One (FR)

69

^[26]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

59

^[27]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

80

^[28]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

78

^[29]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

87

^[30]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

80

^[31]

Video Games (DE)

60

^[32]

	63
Based on 19 reviews

Alien Storm

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Master System, BX^†
Cover
Cart

Master System, GR
<div style="margin:auto; max-width:Expression error: Unexpected < operator.px"> 320x120px Cover
Cart

Master System, TR

Cart

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU (Wide sticker)
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, KR
Cover
Cart

Master System, MX
Cover
Cart

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Amiga Joker (DE)

42

^[33]

Amiga Power (UK)

44

^[34]

Games-X (UK)

70

^[35]

Génération 4 (FR)

69

^[36]

Joystick (FR)

83

^[37]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

60

^[38]

Power Play (DE)

44

^[39]

User (GR)

61

^[40]

	59
Based on 8 reviews

Alien Storm

Amiga, UK

Amiga, ES

Disk

Amstrad CPC version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Joystick (FR)

83

^[41]

	83
Based on 1 review

Alien Storm

Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette)

Amstrad CPC, UK (disk)

Amstrad CPC, ES (cassette)
Cover
Cassette

Amstrad CPC, ES (disk)
Cover

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Génération 4 (FR)

69

^[36]

	69
Based on 1 review

Alien Storm

Atari ST, UK

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Commodore Format (UK)

86

^[42]

	86
Based on 1 review

Alien Storm

Commodore 64, UK
Cover
Cassette

ZX Spectrum version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Crash (UK)

89

^[4]

Your Sinclair (UK)

75

^[43]

	82
Based on 2 reviews

Alien Storm

ZX Spectrum, UK

ZX Spectrum, ES

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

?

CRC32	7f30f793
MD5	c60380642a89805f569124a875248d71
SHA-1	aece64ecbfbe08b199b29df9bc75743773ea3d34

256kB

Cartridge (EU)

References

Alien Storm
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Credits \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception \| Promotional material \| Bootlegs No results

[:File:AStorm_ms_eu_cover.jpg_p-1] File:AStorm ms eu cover.jpg

[:File:Sega_Arcade_History_JP_EnterBrain_Book-1.pdf_p103-2] Sega Arcade History, Enterbrain, page 103

[:File:CVG_UK_116.pdf_p16-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 Computer & Video Games, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-15), page 16

[:File:Crash_UK_093.pdf_p56-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 Crash, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-xx), page 56

[:File:SegaPro_UK_01.pdf_p9-5] Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9

[:File:CVG_UK_120.pdf_p83-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Computer & Video Games, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-15), page 83

[:File:CVG_UK_123.pdf_p20-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Computer & Video Games, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-15), page 20

[:File:Supergame_BR_07.pdf_p28-8] Supergame, "Fevereiro 1992" (BR; 1992-02-xx), page 28

[:File:Zzap64_UK_075.pdf_p29-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 ^9.3 ^9.4 Zzap!64, "July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-13), page 29

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20221028010301.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Ffb.2Fsegavoice.2F050120.2F01.html-10] ttps://sega.jp/fb/segavoice/050120/01.html (Wayback Machine: 2022-10-28 01:03)

[:File:Alien_Storm_SMS_credits.pdf_p-11] File:Alien Storm SMS credits.pdf

[:File:CVG_UK_106.pdf_p66-12] Computer & Video Games, "September 1990" (UK; 1990-08-16), page 66

[:File:SvetKompjutera_YU_093.pdf_p64-13] Svet Kompjutera, "Jun 1992" (YU; 1992-xx-xx), page 64

[:File:User_GR_17.pdf_p94-14] User, "Septémvrios 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 94

[:File:ASM_DE_1992-02.pdf_p129-15] Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 129

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_006.pdf_p110-16] Consoles +, "Février 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 110

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p137-17] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 137

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p127-18] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 127

[:File:GameZone_UK_05.pdf_p38-19] Game Zone, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-21), page 38

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_007.pdf_p100-20] Hobby Consolas, "Abril 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 100

[:File:Joypad_FR_004.pdf_p44-21] Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 44

[:File:Joystick_FR_023.pdf_p135-22] Joystick, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 135

[:File:MegaForce_FR_02.pdf_p89-23] Mega Force, "Septembre/Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-13), page 89

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_17.pdf_p104-24] Mean Machines, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-27), page 104

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p132-25] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 132

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_016.pdf_p93-26] Player One, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 93

[:File:SegaPower_UK_28.pdf_p48-27] Sega Power, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-06), page 48

[:File:SegaPro_UK_05.pdf_p34-28] Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 34

[:File:SegaPro_UK_13.pdf_p25-29] Sega Pro, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 25

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p70-30] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 70

[:File:SegaForce_UK_02.pdf_p72-31] Sega Force, "Februrary 1992" (UK; 1992-01-23), page 72

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1991-04.pdf_p40-32] Video Games, "4/91" (DE; 1991-12-06), page 40

[:File:AmigaJoker_DE_1991-11.pdf_p45-33] Amiga Joker, "November 1991" (DE; 1991-10-31), page 45

[:File:AmigaPower_UK_09.pdf_p97-34] Amiga Power, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-19), page 97

[:File:GamesX_UK_19.pdf_p22-35] Games-X, "29th August-4th September 1991" (UK; 1991-08-29), page 22

[:File:Generation4_FR_040.pdf_p108-36] 36.0 ^36.1 Génération 4, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 108

[:File:Joystick_FR_022.pdf_p242-37] Joystick, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 242

[:File:Micromania2_ES_043.pdf_p26-38] Micromanía (segunda época), "Diciembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 26

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1991-12.pdf_p133-39] Power Play, "12/91" (DE; 1991-11-13), page 133

[:File:User_GR_23.pdf_p46-40] User, "Aprílios 1992" (GR; 1992-0x-xx), page 46

[:File:Joystick_FR_020.pdf_p204-41] Joystick, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 204

[:File:CommodoreFormat_UK_13.pdf_p36-42] Commodore Format, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-19), page 36

[:File:YourSinclair_UK_70.pdf_p54-43] Your Sinclair, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54

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Alien Storm

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Playable characters

Missions

History

Legacy

Versions

Master System version

Commodore 64 version

Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum versions

Production credits

System 18 version

Master System version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

System 18 version

Master System version

Amiga version

Amstrad CPC version

Atari ST version

Commodore 64 version

ZX Spectrum version

Technical information

ROM dump status

References