"A good concept gone bad"

I don't think there is a bar room in America where this game cannot be found, it's Area 51! Despite having an innovative plot (although it's not really detailed), poor controls, lame graphics, and less than spectacular sound make the game a dud. Here's how it rates:

Story: 9/10 - Although the story is VERY unclear (do you have to save area 51 from invading aliens?) and there are really no scenes that explain why you are fighting, the very idea of making Area 51 a shooting game is quite innovative and the developers should be commended for that. This game is basically every nerd's fantasy, that Area 51 is exposed and you can see hot virtual reality chicks with low cut tops (in the bonus rooms). If they could have tied in Dungeons and Dragons, they'd be set.

Gameplay: 2/10 - While games like Time Crisis and Silent Scope add unique perspectives to shooting your enemies without getting shot yourself, this game does the traditional lethal enforces ''shoot them fast enough so they can't shoot you'' approach. It's obvious that this game was aimed at drunken hilljackers (which may be why it is found in bars so often) because most video game playing teenagers have seen this done to death already.

Graphics: 4/10 - Nothing great here either, especially since other games at the time (SS and Time Crisis) look MUCH better. Many of the aliens and other objects look fuzzy when up close and they all pretty much have the same stances when shooting. Also, when you shoot a body part, no matter which, the whole alien explodes, a problem which shouldn't exist. Why do the aliens dress up in Rythem Nation outfits?

Sound: 2/10 - The music is not noticiable at all and the only other sound you hear is ''HORREN!!'' when aliens get killed. About as much fun as listening to n'stink.

Replay Value: 2/10 - If you play the whole game through, you already know everything that is going to happen the next time around too, a problem that virtually all shooters have had. Randomizing the enemies would have been a very nice feature. I wouldn't mind a refund feature as well.

Final Thought: If you are in a bar and see the game, try it out once or twice, you'll probably not remember the morning afterwards, but it passes the time if you are bored. Aside from it's story line though, the game offers nothing that would make you want to play it over. Oh yeah, the ending STINKS, even compared to some of the old nintendo game endings. I guess they thought that the people who were playing it would be so drunk that they wouldn't even care.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 07/10/01, Updated 07/10/01