It's a shame a game like this is now a financial risk. In a perfect world, Alien Hominid would sell millions as a great throwback to the previous generations. Now a 2-D shooter isn't enough, and Alien Hominid is reserved for the hardcore gamer. That's not to say this is a perfect game, because it's not by any means.
Still, a game shouldn't have to be perfect or controversial to sell. This is your basic 2-D platforming shooter, and the obvious comparisons to Metal Slug are necessary. Both games toss heaps of style on top of simplistic and wildly fun gameplay. Hominid's biggest problem is the unfairness of it all. Bosses are ridiculously huge, with equally sized weapons, some of which are literally impossible to maneuver around even when you have the pattern down.
Those too frustrated by the difficulty have the option of playing the game with 99 continues, which is more than enough to just see the sights. Those who enjoy playing their games legitimately will be disappointed. Co-op gameplay doesn't make it any easier. Instead, it crowds the screen with yet another character, and one more thing to make enemy fire harder to see.
When it works though, this is a near classic. The game's internet Flash roots are apparent, with a barren graphical style and generic enemies. It's a wonderful case of style over substance, and it's probably the strongest asset. Gameplay is made to be picked up and played without long tutorials. There's a variety of ways to mow down the brain dead enemies, which keeps this from becoming a basic game of running and jumping.
There's gruesomely funny gore whenever an enemy is blasted, giving the little alien creature the player controls a stronger mean streak than without it. A few stages break it all up, including some space shooters that play like a variation of Asteroids. These tend to be confusing, with little idea of where the player is supposed to be going. With a little movement, you can generally find the spot where the game needs you to be.
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