Alien Shooter 1 was a small game. I think its popularity mainly had to do with how good it was for its size, not its general quality. It was the kind of game that could only flourish in the era of early internet, when you didn't have access to pretty much any game you wanted in the matter of seconds like we do today.I don't think there's much reason to revisit it now beyond curiosity.

Alien Shooter 2 on the other hand tried to jump over its head. I remember first seeing the footage of it in a TV program and just being astonished. I couldn't believe this was the sequel to that tiny little budget isometric shooter. Its pre-rendered 2D graphics with dynamic shadows and lighting looked prettier than any 3D game in 2006. I was so intrigued that at the first opportunity I bought it.

Once I jumped into the game, I was quick to discover RPG elements, like stats, one primary skill that can be upgraded, inventory and equipment, etc. It really felt almost like a Diablo clone. You could even move by right-clicking. All these mechanics really elevate Alien Shooter 2 from its humble roots to what seems like a AAA title.

I played through the game back in 2006 and thought it was great. Clearly with time my levels of tolerance have decreased. To begin with, the gameplay is rather simple despite the added RPG elements. That's not necessarily a problem in itself, but the less complexity a game has in its mechanics, the better execution of those mechanics is expected.

This game has some massive problems with balance and pacing. A lot of fights drag on, a lot of enemies are bullet-sponges. Sure, you can always buy better equipment, but the money isn't that easy to get. There is a skill that can increase the amounts of money you discover, but then you have to put skill points into it over other attributes. Skills in general are rather useless. I remember playing through with the hypnosis skill back in 2006, and even in later locations it took so long to hypnotize big enemies that it was not worth it, while smaller enemies would die so quick there was no point in doing that at all. Some skills like boxing are a joke. Good luck boxing your way through hordes of enemies that surround you and attack you from all sides.

Bottom line is: the game ends up being a grindfest. Sigma Team really tried to play the big leagues, but failed. I don't know if the game sold well (it was certainly getting enough promotion and good reviews in Russia), but the devs would never attempt something this ambitious again. For the rest of their existence they kept on rereleasing the same games with slight alterations or constructing new games from existing assets. Basically Alien Shooter 1 and 2 are their only completely original games.

It's a shame because I think there was a lot of potential there. The early areas of the game are really atmospheric and gradually ease you into the massacre, which genuinely feels fun at first. The game keeps surprising you with introductions of new enemies, new weapons, scripted scenes and vehicle-driving sections. The progression would feel very natural if it wasn't for the pacing resulting from you constantly backing away from overwhelming crowds or big tanky monsters.