Aliens is a sliding run ‘n’ gun game for one or two players based on the classic 1986 science fiction film of the same name. Players take on the role of either Ellen Ripley (in single-player mode) or Corporal Hicks (in two-player mode) and must navigate through the levels of the LV426 base, which has been invaded by aliens, to carry out their escape. Newt, the young girl who survived the alien invasion of the settlement, is the key to their escape.
Players start the game armed with only a pulse rifle, but they will have opportunities to upgrade to other weapons, including flamethrowers and grenade launchers. Players can also find bombs that deal more damage to enemies. Each player’s life starts with eight health points, which deplete upon contact with an alien or enemy bullet, and when all health points are lost, the player loses a life. Each stage ends with a Boss encounter, with the final boss being the Alien Queen.
In addition to the standard side-scrolling stages, there are intermittent on-screen stages that allow players to hit the alien armies while riding in the Marine’s APC vehicle.
Alongside the standard Aliens and Facehuggers from the original film (now available in various colors), there are many enemies created exclusively for the arcade game that have never appeared elsewhere in the Alien series. These include flying aliens, mutated humans, and all the stage-ending bosses leading up to the Alien Queen.
