Alien Hominid [PS2]

Pop quiz: what's the most entertaining and original shoot 'em up this side of the Super Nintendo and Genesis era? Bzzzt! Smack yourself if you cited Contra: Shattered Soldier or Ikaruga. The correct answer: Alien Hominid, a side-scrolling blaster from independent developer The Behemoth and upstart publishing house O3 Entertainment.

Oddly, the title was originally released as a Flash game for Web users. And while the original was well received (over 6 million downloads were recorded at www.newgrounds.com), the program has since evolved into a full-fledged console outing. Stranger still, it's also the most creative and cathartic button masher since cult favorite Gunstar Heroes.

The story is simple enough: a bug-eyed, yellow cartoon alien who looks more like an insect than extraterrestrial crash lands on Earth. FBI agents quickly give chase. And that's the long and short of it --you simply spend the next few hours butchering pursuers. Mind you, the task would be a lot easier if it weren't for the fact they were heavily armed or allied with killer robots.

The action is equally straightforward. Moving along a side-scrolling plane, you'll attack anything that moves. At your disposal are charged shots, grenades, and close-quarters knife attacks. Supplementing one's arsenal are abilities such as the option to temporarily burrow into the ground and pull adversaries in or leap on top of opponents and bite their heads off. Further talents include provisions for throwing enemies into each other or controlling random vehicles (car, tank, missile launcher). And these skills aren't just for show either; use them to score style points, which go towards additional life awards at the end of every scenario.

Ostentatious power-ups are available as well, handed out by friendly fat kids whom you'll encounter. Armaments -- which rely on limited ammo supplies -- range from spread shots to flamethrowers and ice beams which literally freeze assailants dead in their tracks. Glop guns that melt victims, rapid-fire magazines, and laser beams that cut baddies in two also make an appearance. Likewise for shields, shotgun blasts, and bullets which sail right through targets, letting you kill multiple foes in speedy succession. All told, the collection of weapons is impressive, even if the items' effects aren't particularly discernable.

Divided into levels, the adventure involves crazed romps through city streets, forays into snowy Russian forests, and scenes where you're speeding alongside a train in a snowmobile. Most segments are fairly clear-cut: the men in black or KGB agents rush your position and must be repelled. Doing so requires destroying tanks, helicopters, and jet-packed equipped adversaries. Some sequences do mix things up though, e.g. the one which puts you in control of a flying UFO and plays as a classic 360-degree space-based gunfight would. Think Metal Slug, albeit in a more modern setting, and you'll get the gist.

As challenging as it is creative, expect the game to aggravate. Facing off against a constant stream of bosses (one-eyed androids, balloon-like bots armed with hammer and sickle, etc.), you'll go through lives and continues with quickness. But that's the point -- you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll fling your controller across the room before inevitably going at it again. Two players can even tackle the escapade together, teaming up during driving segments (one handles the wheel, the other shoots out the window) or fighting side-by-side. Beginners should do themselves a favor though, and start by setting the difficulty level to easy, plus make liberal use of features which let you load the last stage visited.

Unfortunately, replay value suffers as a result... the quest can be completed in one sitting. It's precisely why the designers have also added PDA mini-games -- picture platform jumping challenges starring stick figures -- that support up to four players. If you'd believe, a whopping 200 levels await. Of course, it's possible to unlock additional diversions too, and even create your own amusements using a built-in level editor. These touches add class, if not much in the way of long-lasting content.

Way more noteworthy is the program's presentation. Completely hand-drawn and animated, backgrounds and characters prove captivating. Between oddly-named structures (i.e. the "Krappy Cone" ice cream shop and "Fish Are Like Plants" pet store) and enemies who turn into ash and eyeballs when executed, comic relief is abundant. Not that much was needed; gory as the game is (you'll see blood, bones, and bellies split open as the tale progresses), you won't want to take your peepers off it. Sound effects and music aren't nearly so exceptional, clocking in as on par with the average arcade game. Regardless, the experience is almost as fun to watch as it is play.

Alien Hominid's poor longevity and repetitious antics are certainly issues potential owners must consider. However, given the game's reasonable price point, wide assortment of activities, and obvious originality -- riding on a rampaging Yeti is priceless -- they're problems worth overlooking. Despite the lack of otherwise standard hype surrounding the game's launch, trust us: it's out of this world.