Heart of the Alien - Out of this World Part I & II
Getting to Know Heart of the Alien - Out of this World Part I & II
Heart of the Alien - Out of this World Part I & II is a SEGA CD compilation that bundles the original cinematic platformer Out of This World (also known as Another World) with its sequel, Heart of the Alien. Released in 1994, this was an exclusive for the SEGA CD platform, developed by Interplay Productions and published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment. The game is a rare official expansion of Éric Chahi's groundbreaking original, bringing the story of the stranded scientist Lester and his alien ally to a new audience on Sega's CD add-on.
The player controls the character through a side-scrolling world where puzzle-solving, careful platforming, and occasional combat are the core. The game is known for its rotoscoped animation, minimal interface, and a gameplay style where one mistake often means instant death. You use a gun that can fire plasma bolts and also project a protective force field to deflect certain attacks or solve puzzles. In Part I you play as Lester, while Part II shifts perspective to the alien companion, offering a different viewpoint on the same narrative events.
Today this title stands out as an interesting piece of gaming history, offering a full retelling of the original Out of This World plus a direct sequel that many players missed. It is a cult classic for fans of atmospheric, cinematic platformers who appreciate the era's focus on storytelling through gameplay. The SEGA CD version also features a high-quality soundtrack and enhanced visuals compared to the original, making it a worthwhile experience for retro enthusiasts even if its difficulty can feel unforgiving.
How to Play Heart of the Alien - Out of this World Part I & II Online
Getting Started
When you boot up the SEGA CD game, you will be presented with a title screen offering a choice between Part I (Out of This World) and Part II (Heart of the Alien). Use the D-Pad to highlight your selection and press X to confirm (A button). The game has no menus in English; the interface uses simple icons and text, but the navigation is straightforward. You can press Start to pause during gameplay.
Movement is controlled with the D-Pad; X makes your character jump or confirm actions, and S fires your weapon or cancels. In both parts, you will explore a series of interconnected screens, solving environmental puzzles and avoiding hazards. There are no health bars or lives; any hit from an enemy or trap results in instant death and a reload from the last checkpoint. The game auto-saves progress after certain scenes if running on real hardware, but on emulators you may need to use save states.
For newcomers, patience is key. Pay close attention to enemy patterns and interact with objects by walking into them. The force field power (activated by holding the attack button after obtaining it) is essential for blocking projectiles and solving some puzzles. If you get stuck, try observing the environment for cues or experiment with your gun in different contexts.
Heart of the Alien - Out of this World Part I & II Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button
- S: B button
- Z: C button
- A: X button (6-button pad)
- Q: Y button (6-button pad)
- E: Z button (6-button pad)
- Enter: Start / Mode
Comments (0)