Alien vs Predator (Arcade)

Alien vs Predator is a 1994 beat ’em up game developed and published by Capcom for Arcades. It was actually released several months after the SNES Alien vs Predator. They’re similar side-scrolling beat ’em ups but the Arcade version is superior in many ways. The game was well-received by players and media outlets and has become a classic in the beat ’em up genre.

Official Description

Choose either a marine or a Predator as you fight your way through the various stages, wiping out the Aliens as you go. The game is a very up-to-date version of Final Fight with wonderful graphics. The game has four selectable player characters: Predator Hunter, Lt. Linn Kurosawa, Predator Warrior, and Major Dutch Schaefer.

Gameplay

Aliens vs Predator is a side-scrolling beat ’em up and the arcade machine features a joystick which can be moved in eight directions. You have three buttons which can either attack, jump or shoot. The main cabinet can accommodate three players but there were some smaller cabinets with only two joysticks.

You can play as one of four characters: Major Dutch Schaefer and Lieutenant Linn Kurosawa who are two cyborgs, or two Predators: a Hunter and a Warrior. Linn has a katana weapon, the Hunter has a naginata staff while the Warrior has an extendable spear. Dutch doesn’t really have a melee weapon but he can hit enemies with his cybernetic arm and can also pickup weapons dropped by other characters and swing them.

All four characters have a ranged weapon: Linn has a handgun while Dutch has a smartgun as part of his cybernetic arm. Both Predators have their signature weapons, the shoulder cannon. The amount of ammunition is displayed at the bottom of your screen and once it’s empty, you’re unable to fire again until it’s refilled. Linn’s meter refills the fastest but she’s vulnerable to attacks while Dutch and the Predators can still fight while their meters refill. Apart from Linn’s, the other characters’ meters refill by themselves when you’re not firing. Other weapons like grenade launchers and flamethrowers can be picked up but you only have so much ammunition. You’ll also find food or medicine along the levels to restore health and jewels to get bonus points.

Development

This game is based on an early script for an Alien vs Predator movie that was based on the original Dark Horse comic series. The script was later rejected but by this point, the game had been completed and Capcom released it as a standalone title. Aliens vs Predator was going to be ported for the Sega 32X for a 1995 release but it was never released. Alien vs Predator was later released on Capcom’s Home Arcade machine in 2019.

Trivia

• Lieutenant Linn Kurosawa made a cameo appearance in the background of Ken’s stage in “Street Fighter Alpha 2”.
• Chad Johnson holds the record for this game with 3,074,408 points.
• Out of all the games in Capcom’s catalogue, Alien vs Predator is the most requested game that fans ask for an HD remake.

Related Images

Screenshots

Magazine Articles

Gameplay Footage

Reception

The game was widely appreciated by fans and media publications alike and is still highly regarded even today. Gamepro scored it 5/5 in all categories praising the controls, graphics and sound: “Don’t mistake this game for a simple walkie-sockie, though. There are tons of different moves, and the only way to find them is sinking your quarters in and practising. If fighting hordes of alien intruders sounds like a job you’d
enjoy, then Capcom has your work cut out for you. ” EGM said it’s “All of these aspects make this one of the best side-scrolling action games, regardless of the fact that it is somewhat like the other Final Fight games in the arcade. You’ll enjoy this game a whole lot.”