LGR - Alien Rampage DOS Game Review

# Alien Rampage: A Forgotten DOS Gem

## Introduction to a Lost Classic

It’s easy to overlook titles that didn’t quite make it big, but every now and then, you stumble upon a game that feels like it was born to be a classic. *Alien Rampage*, released by Softdisk in 1996, is one such gem. Developed by Apogee Software, the same minds behind the iconic Duke Nukem series, *Alien Rampage* (originally known as *Ravager*) was born from the ashes of another canceled project. While it may have been overshadowed by its siblings in the Duke Nukem universe, it carved out its own niche in the world of DOS gaming.

## A Tale of Resilience and Rebranding

The story behind *Alien Rampage* is a fascinating one. Originally conceived as *Duke Nukem Forever*, this side-scrolling platformer was in development during the mid-’90s under the guidance of Apogee veteran Keith Schuler. The project, however, faced cancellation due to shifting priorities at Apogee. Yet, its legacy lived on—its engine would later be reused for another game called *Ravager*, which also met a similar fate and was eventually picked up by Inner Circle Creations and Softdisk Publishing.

What’s particularly intriguing is the relationship between Softdisk and Apogee. The two companies had a history dating back to their collaboration on *ScubaVenture*, a game developed by Apogee to fulfill contractual obligations with id Software, allowing them to publish *Wolfenstein 3D*. It seems that despite the rocky history, Softdisk managed to pick up the pieces of *Ravager* and release it under the name *Alien Rampage*.

## The Mail-Order Mystery

One of the most unique aspects of *Alien Rampage* is its presentation. Purchasers would receive a generic yellow sleeve containing the game, along with an intro video featuring an eerie alien figure that vaguely resembles something out of a low-budget FMV (full-motion video) game. The package feels almost like a relic from another era, and it’s no surprise that many players in the past may have discarded the packaging in favor of just keeping the CD.

## A Glimpse into the Game’s World

The intro video sets the tone for the game, though its cryptic visuals and voiceover leave much to be imagined. The protagonist is an alien crash-lander on a desolate world, equipped with an array of weapons and tasked with battling even uglier aliens while navigating treacherous environments. The game’s premise is simple yet compelling: shoot, collect coins, purchase upgrades, and progress through levels.

The gameplay experience is a mix of run-and-gun action and methodical platforming. While it’s easy to dash through areas and obliterate enemies with Duke Nukem-style weaponry (including the infamous Freeze Thrower), there are moments where precision and puzzle-solving are required. The game features an array of unique mechanics, such as becoming a bat to traverse high ledges or piloting a submarine to bypass underwater hazards. These elements add depth and variety to what could otherwise be a straightforward shooter.

## A Nostalgic Throwback

The game’s art style is a throwback to the mid-’90s, with pre-rendered sprites that feel both charming and dated. The environments are eerie and atmospheric, with parallax scrolling effects that add a layer of visual depth. While these effects can sometimes hinder gameplay, they contribute to the overall immersive experience.

One notable omission is the lack of background music, which initially left players wondering if there was something wrong with their setup. Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that *Alien Rampage* simply doesn’t have a musical score—a detail that might have been a conscious design choice or an oversight. Regardless, the absence of music doesn’t detract from the game’s overall appeal, though it would have added to the atmosphere had it been included.

## A Legacy of Unique Gameplay

While *Alien Rampage* shares some similarities with other Apogee titles like *Halloween Harry* (which was renamed *Alien Carnage*), it manages to carve out its own identity. The inclusion of friendly aliens called Morgs, who assist the player by flipping switches or serving as makeshift platforms, adds a layer of strategy and cooperation that sets it apart from other platformers of the time.

The game’s difficulty is another testament to its design philosophy. It’s no cakewalk, with challenging puzzles, unforgiving level designs, and bosses that are as memorable as they are ruthless. Despite these obstacles, the game feels rewarding, offering a sense of accomplishment that comes from mastering its mechanics and navigating its intricate levels.

## A Forgotten Treasure Waiting to Be Rediscovered

It’s unfortunate that *Alien Rampage* has faded into obscurity over the years. Its unique blend of action, puzzle-solving, and unconventional gameplay mechanics makes it a standout title in the DOS era. While finding a legitimate copy today is no easy feat, platforms like Archive.org offer a chance to experience this forgotten gem once more.

For those who do manage to track it down, *Alien Rampage* offers a glimpse into a bygone era of gaming—a time when creativity and innovation were just as important as polished visuals or catchy soundtracks. It’s a reminder that even the most overlooked titles can have their own charm and deserve a place in gaming history.

## Conclusion

In the world of DOS gaming, *Alien Rampage* stands out as a testament to the ingenuity of its developers and the unique experiences that defined an entire era. While it may not be a household name today, its legacy lives on for those willing to look beyond the mainstream and dive into the archives of forgotten gems. So, if you ever come across *Alien Rampage*, don’t hesitate to give it a try—you might just discover a hidden treasure that’s been waiting for someone to appreciate it all these years.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enTime to talk about another DOS gamethat's unfortunately been largely forgotten.Alien Rampage,published by Softdisk in 1996 and developed by...Well, that's where things get interesting.Ever heard of Duke Nukem Forever?No, not that one, dang it.Duke Nukem Forever,the side-scroller,being developed in the mid-'90s,headed up by Apogee veteran Keith Schuler.It was a 2D platformer set to follow in thefootsteps of the first two Duke Nukem gameswith pre-rendered sprite art andthe weapons of Duke Nukem 3D.It was ultimately cancelled dueto other projects taking priority,but the name was then used forthe eventual sequel to Duke 3D.The work wasn't tossed out entirely, though,as its engine was also used for another Apogeeplatformer in development called Ravager.This one ended up beingcancelled by Apogee as well,but the whole project was pickedup by Inner Circle Creationsand Softdisk Publishing.Which itself is amusingbecause Softdisk and Apogeehad a strange relationshipgoing back several years.The Apogee-developed ScubaVentureresulted from contractual obligationsbetween id Software and Softdisk.It was created by Apogee inorder to fulfill the contract, soApogee could then publishWolfenstein 3D by id Software.History was made.Softdisk got the short end of the stickyet stuck around forseveral years and eventuallypicked up some scrapsfrom Apogee's table yet again:Alien Rampage, aka Ravager,built on the foundation of theoriginal Duke Nukem Forever.This is the mail-orderregistered version from Softdiskwhich came packed inside this generic yellow sleeve.I was pretty psyched to find this,since the few people that actuallybought this game back in the dayprobably just tossed all this and kept the CD.Speaking of which, on that sleeveis one ugly-looking alien dude.Looks like a still from a bad FMV gameand kinda makes me wonder if it was goingto have live-action cut scenes at one point.Alien Rampage begins with an intro video that...well, it's kinda hard totell exactly what's going on,or even understand the voiceover for that matter.By the blood of my Gwonarian ancestors,I vow revenge againstthe Untharian scavengerswho did this to my ship.For I am Krupok.- Ah well, thankfully the rest of the game ismuch higher quality than whatever that was,starting with the main menu.Ah, it's like going back home again.The demo gameplay in the background,the spinning icons around the menu text,the difficulty selection screen.It's unmistakeable that this was originallya project from Apogee and 3D Realms.Start the game up and you'redropped right into the action.As it should be.You're an alien dude that'scrash-landed on an alien world,shooting alien guns at uglier aliensand sending them to Alien Hell.There's probably a story, but who cares?It's chock-full of blood,gore and mid-'90s attitude.Really, the only things missingare some catchy one-linersand an awesome soundtrack.Or, really, any soundtrack.There's no music in the game whatsoever.I actually thought there wassomething wrong at first, but nope.There are no music files oraudio tracks on the CD at all.Beyond this unusual omission,everything in Alien Rampagejust screams awesomeness.You can kind of tell this was basedon the setup of a Duke Nukem game,from the crashed-ship storylineto the seven weapons, which includeanalogs for most of Duke's guns,even the Freeze Thrower.Although, actually, it reminds meeven more of another Apogee game,Halloween Harry,not only due to weaponslike heat-seeking missiles,but the fact that you'recollecting coins by killing enemiesand then you buy weapons and ammothroughout each level at these little kiosks.It even has a similar progress system,where you save your game between levelsbut in each level you'll find checkpointsthat let you respawn over and over.Huh!You know, Halloween Harry waseven renamed Alien Carnage.Quite a similar name, indeed.And on top of that, Alien Rampagewas released for Halloween of 1996.Hmm...The conspiratorial side of me wonders ifthis was going to be a Halloween Harry sequel,even though there was alreadyone called Zombie Wars,but, eh, I'm getting off topic.Despite these similaritiesto those other games,Alien Rampage has somemechanics of its own, too.For one thing, it's got an interestingmix of run-and-gun actionalongside methodical platforming.You can speed through areas andblast through just about anythingin seconds if you have the ammo,but every so often you'll have to slow downand figure out the exact path to the next area.The way you walk and how yougrab and pull yourself up onto ledgesbrings to mind games likePrince of Persia or Blackthorne.But thankfully it's not as slowand there's no fall damage.It also makes prettycopious use of puzzle solving,which provides a nicebreak from all the actionand makes you rely on yourbrain instead of reflexes alone.Sometimes it'll be as simple ashitting the right switches in the right order,or figuring out a teleporting system ofteleporters that teleport you everywhere.And other times, it'll involve rescuingone of these friendly aliens called Morgs.Once they're on your side, they'll followyou around and stay out of your way,until you reach a point where they'lleither flip a switch you can't get toor act as an impromptu stepstool to a ledge you can't reach.It also does this thing wherethe camera flings back and forthto either side so youcan see what's coming,which looks worse whenyou're just watching it,but actually it works prettywell when you're really playing it.And it takes a bit of getting used to, butI'm glad it's there because of how zoomed inthe camera is and how large the sprites are.You can turn it off, but it makes the gameway harder to play, believe it or not.Speaking of camera stuff,Alien Rampage makes heavyuse of parallax scrolling,sometimes using three or four layers at once.While this looks darned impressive,it can also get in the wayof the action sometimes.This is one of the fewinstances in a game whereturning down the graphicssettings on certain levelsactually makes for a better experience.The unexpected stuff doesn't stop there.There's also some areas thatplay like another game entirelyand, surprisingly, these work quite well.For instance, you canbecome a demon bat thingand fly around to parts ofthe level that are too highfor you to reach as a biped,and flip switches to unlock new areas and stuff.Or you can jump into asubmarine and go underwater,bypassing the crap above ground andprotecting yourself from water hazards.There's even a couple levels thatturn into a side-scrolling shoot 'em up,complete with its own uniqueweapon upgrades and power ups.And at the end of each episode,you've got a boss battle,each of which is absolutely nutsin terms of its design and how they fight.Dude,how is Alien Rampage not more well-known?The art style, the action, the violence,the puzzle solving, tons of unique enemies,gameplay that keeps changingup the routine, and on and on.If it only had some kick-assmusic to go along with itand maybe a more fine-tunedcamera with higher a frame rate,this would be on my all-timebest list of DOS platformers.In fact, it might just be up there anyway,regardless of it being tough as nails.And make no mistake,this is no cakewalk.Alien Rampage is brutally difficultand sometimes tremendously unforgiving,even on easier difficulty levels.But it's done in such a way thatI really enjoyed playing through it.So it's kind of sad that sofew people care about it.Unfortunately, that also means thatthere's no legit way to get a copy nowadays.But hey, that's the purposeof places like Archive.org.So, however you can,I'd say find a copy and give it a shot.Even if you ignore its fascinatingDuke Nukem-related origins,Alien Rampage is DOS gaming done right.And a quick shout out and thank youto Mr. Joe Siegler of 3D Realms famefor helping me track downsome of the details about this one.This has been really fascinatingto research and play through,so I hope you enjoyed this videoas much as I enjoyed making it.And if you did, why not subscribeor at least check out some ofthese other related videos right here?Or just stick around.New stuff every Monday and Friday.And as always, thank youvery much for watching LGR.\n"