#alien challenge

'Alien Challenge'

[ARC] [AUSTRALIA] [MAGAZINE] [1995]

Have some more Alien Challenge promos, now with 75% more bootleg Goku!

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Alien Challenge (1994) IGS (International Games System)

Legendary Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-Hung and Werewolves - name a more iconic rivalry

SEPTEMBER 2017 UPDATE www.arcadequartermaster.com

The IGS fighting collection shrines are now live in the site, along with Data East’s commando run-n-gun Midnight Resistance! 

ALIEN CHALLENGE: IGS’ first attempt for a one-on-one game was during the height of fighting games in the mid-90s. While graphics, sprites and backgrounds are fairly consistent with the other games of the era, it managed to have around 6 specials + 1 super move for each character with uniform commands to get accustomed to the general playstyle. Despite the the space-themed title, its “plot” revolves around 8 celestial gods banished to earth as mortals, including a clown, a werewolf, a living flame, a football player, along with Chinese heroes Wong Fei Hung and Hua Mulan... with Father Christmas as the final boss. The game’s international edition got some of the weirdest translations by giving the characters the most western names possible like the ninja Jean Paul and renaming Mulan as Melanie.

THE KILLING BLADE: This weapon-based fighting is a step-up with regards to better controls, overall presentation, and introduction of various combo strings. This time, this title is a nod to numerous Chinese martial arts B-movies, including a character based on the One-Armed Swordsman (including the use of a broken sword) and one loosely based on Guan-Yu. After facing an eclectic cast of warriors, you’re off against the two biggest battles against Chinese demons. 

MARTIAL MASTERS: One of the most overlooked fighting games near the turn of the millennium, Martial Masters is a deep and complex game with fluid controls and animation, rightfully so for a title that references the entire genre of wuxia's superb fighting choreography. Each character has his/her own style of Chinese fighting arts, from Shaolin-quan, Drunken Fist, to the numerous animal-based combat forms. With its concepts of Flash & Shadow Moves, along with powerset inputs that are player-friendly to pull-off, IGS managed its own brand of Mark of the Wolves with pure Chinese combat.

MIDNIGHT RESISTANCE: Data East’s pseudo-sequel to Heavy Barrel, it follows two commando brothers who found their family abducted by a nefarious drug cartel and forcing their scientist grandfather to work for their evil schemes. It’s now up to the brothers to infiltrate the cartel’s massive fort to save their family from the Crimson King’s vile grip. Aside from the early stages stylized after Super Contra, Midnight Resistance adopts Heavy Barrel’s key system by unlocking various caches of equipment between stages. It does follow its own style of sidescrolling shooting with the rotary joystick dial for aiming. After surviving numerous enemy outposts with hi-tech or biotech weapons, rescue your family before the final face-off with the Crimson King’s psychedelic space lair!

Back when I did the twitter poll for the order of shrines, I was actually expecting IGS to be the first one. :D Even Midnight Resistance was planned to be released in early 2017 but was eventually sidelined as more titles came through.

As seen in their games, Taiwanese IGS really loves Wong Fei-Hung as their fighting games has the obligatory Shaolin archetype given Fei-Hung’s folk hero status.

Due to rarity of IGS (and they still exist to this day!) material, some of the super move commands in Alien Challenge are still missing. If there’s anything from the other IGS games you can contribute, they’re greatly appreciated! Enjoy the new shrines, as the obscure fighting game features continue next update! 

Alien Challenge (1994) IGS (International Games System)

'Alien Challenge'

[ARC] [UK] [MAGAZINE] [1994]

"Alien Challenge is a 2D versus fighting game in which you take control of one of eight eight fallen gods (according to the introduction story) and participate in a fighting tournament. The fighters to choose from are the ninja Jean Paul, warrior Melanie, American footballer Dougster, werewolf Fang, jester Drew, oriental fighter Nic-San, burning Burnie and golden Stevareno. Each fighter has their own fighting techniques witch include kick, punch and special attacks. The fights are best of three. After defeating the playable fighters the non-playable boss old man Claus must be beaten. Under certain conditions a bonus level follows were you have to destroy as many objects as possible before the time runs out to increase your score. You can play solo or against a friend." ~MobyGames