Back

Game Data
Title - Area 51
Japanese Title - エリア51
Developer - Tantalus / Perfect Entertainment

Catalogue No. - T-18613G

Type - Shooting
Video Link

 

 It's time to get your Saturn's light gun out again (for about 5 minutes) for a blast on Area 51. For those who don't know, Area 51 is a conversion of the Atari arcade machine of the same name. The plot is that for some unknown reason you are in Area 51. Maybe you're a visitor or something, Anyway the place has been taken over by boiler suit wearing aliens no less! So it's up to you and the rest of the badly acting soldiers to take out these nasty aliens in the only way Atari seem to know how. Yes, that's right more bloody digitized live action over dull CG backgrounds. Why American game companies always go for this “realistic” look is a mystery, Its a game! It doesn't need to be realistic. Anyway, it is so I should just except that and move on.

The gameplay is pretty dull to be honest. There's no real thought been put in to where the Aliens are going to spring up from or how the level is designed. When you compare this to the likes of House of the Dead or Virtua Cop, it looks very stale indeed. There are no real dynamic camera movements, characters just look like extras from the A-Team and worst of all it plays in a tinny box in the center of the screen.

Unless you really need another gun game or just love badly digitized shooters then avoid this and get House of the Dead or Virtua Cop or even Henry Explorers instead.