Aliens (US)
Aliens (US) on arcade
Aliens (US) is the American arcade release of Konami's 1990 side-scrolling run and gun shooter based on the 1986 film. You take control of a colonial marine fighting through hives of xenomorphs. The game was developed and published by Konami, running on their custom hardware of the era. This is the official US version, identical in gameplay to the original but with region-specific labeling.
Players blast through multiple horizontally scrolling stages, gunning down alien drones, facehuggers, and larger creatures. The core loop is straightforward: move right, shoot everything that moves, and avoid taking damage. You can pick up weapon power-ups and extra lives along the way. The game supports two-player co-op, so a friend can join in for double the firepower. There are no complex mechanics here - just pure arcade action rooted in twitch reflexes and pattern memorization.
For a licensed arcade game from the early '90s, Aliens holds up as a solid time capsule. It's not particularly deep, but the combination of the established film license with Konami's usual crisp spritework and sound makes it worth a few credits. If you enjoy other arcade shooters from the same period like Contra or The Punisher, this one scratches a similar itch. It's a straightforward, no-nonsense action game that faithfully translates the movie's atmosphere into an arcade experience.
How to Play Aliens (US) Online
When you first start the game, you'll see a title screen. Press Enter to proceed. Use the D-Pad (Arrow Keys) to highlight options and X to confirm. If playing solo, choose one marine; for two-player co-op, the second player presses their own Start button.
The action is pure side-scrolling shooter. Your marine runs and guns through each level, moving right automatically. Use the D-Pad to move your character up, down, left, and right on the screen. Press S to fire your weapon - hold it down for continuous fire. Jump with X to dodge enemy attacks or reach higher platforms. You can also press S + a direction to perform a dive roll, which makes you briefly invincible.
Your main goal is to survive to the end of each stage and defeat the boss at the end. Pick up weapon power-ups dropped by enemies or found in crates to increase your firepower. Keep an eye on your health bar; if it depletes, you lose a credit. Extra lives are rare, so play carefully. There are no continues in the later areas, so conserve your fire and learn enemy patterns.
Aliens (US) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: Joystick / Movement
- X: Button 1
- S: Button 2
- Z: Button 3
- A: Button 4
- Q: Button 5
- E: Button 6
- Enter: Start / 1P
- V: Coin / Insert
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