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Alien Carnage cover

1993 · Interactive Binary Illusions · Adventure · Halloween

Alien Carnage

Originally released as Halloween Harry, is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Interactive Binary Illusions and SubZero Software, and distributed by Apogee Software. The game features 256-colour VGA graphics and background music in MOD format. Alien Carnage is composed of four episodes. The first episode was released as shareware, and the rest were distributed commercially.

Released
10 October 1993
Platforms
MS-DOSWindowsmacOS
Genres
AdventureHalloweenPlatformerShooterSide-scrolling
Developers
Interactive Binary Illusions
Publishers
3D Realms
Modes
Single-player
Perspective
Side view
Themes
ActionScience fictionHorror
Country
Australia
Age ratings
ESRB E
Languages
English

About

Alien Carnage, originally released as Halloween Harry, is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Interactive Binary Illusions and SubZero Software, and distributed by Apogee Software. The game features 256-colour VGA graphics and background music in MOD format. Alien Carnage is composed of four episodes. The first episode was released as shareware, and the rest were distributed commercially.

In May 2007, John Passfield and 3D Realms released Alien Carnage as freeware. In 2014, the game was re-released with Windows support.

›Story

Earth is on the verge of a takeover by aliens intent on turning humans into mindless slave zombies, who can be used in their conquest of the universe. Harry's called into action to Space Station Liberty and given orders to penetrate the alien ship which has burrowed itself under a high-rise city.

In addition to the flamethrower, Harry can use weapon dispensers, giving him access to weapons like the photon cannon, guided missiles, grenades, shields, micro nukes, and the very powerful Omega bomb. It's an arsenal that will have the aliens shakin' in their slimy shoes.

Keywords

  • aliens
  • steam
  • time limit
  • hostages
  • freeware
  • shareware
  • high score
  • single-player only
  • checkpoints
  • secret area
  • difficulty level
  • vending machine interaction

Media

Alien Carnage screenshot 1

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

In the game, the player has to shoot zombies and aliens with his flamethrower and other weapons, rescuing hostages along the way. Instead of jumping, Harry uses a jetpack to reach higher platforms. His jetpack shares ammo with his flamethrower, which means it is best for the player to use both sparingly. Harry can drink and eat junk food to gain health (rescuing hostages also restores Harry to full health), and upgrade to different kinds of ammo by using ammo dispensers.

The player needs to collect coins dropped by killed enemies to buy this ammo. They can also pick up other power-ups with various effects, including a wrapped gift (additional ammo for Harry's current weapon), a money bag (30 additional credits; coins dropped by enemies are worth 5 credits each), and a 1-up icon (an extra life, plus full health). The game progress can be saved through the use of computer terminals scattered across the levels. To advance to the next level, Harry needs to rescue all the hostages, then use the elevator.

Story

The cartoon-style game features agent Halloween Harry, who has to save the world from aliens that want to take control of Earth by turning its population into green-skinned zombies. Some of the enemies reference Aliens, Gremlins, and Elvis Presley. Harry is helped by controller Diane, who gives him information via a video link.

Development

Alien Carnage was originally titled Halloween Harry, and was released under this title for its first two versions. It was a remake of a 1985 game with the same name by John Passfield for the Australian Microbee computer system; inspired by Ghostbusters (1984), he created a "haunted house platform game" in six weeks featuring a "ghost hunter searching a haunted house for a malevolent witch" and submitted it to a local publisher, earning a small amount of money.

Several years later, a friend suggested that they start a company and make a new version of Halloween Harry. After an initial prototype for Amiga computers, collaboration with programmers Rob Crane and Tony Ball led to a PC version, now very different from the 1985 game. The game was published locally through Manaccom, which contracted with Apogee Software for non-Australian sales. Apogee suggested to the developers that the title should be changed because it might be viewed as a seasonal Halloween-themed game, limiting sales during the rest of the year.

Reception

Alien Carnage sold well upon release; Passfield later recalled that the game was at the top of the shareware games sales charts for its first month, before being overwhelmed by the release of Doom, which suppressed the sales of non-3D games.

In 1996, a sequel titled Zombie Wars was released. This game takes place three years after the original story. The aliens return to Earth to try to enslave its population. Harry and Diane, who has been promoted to field agent and is now also a playable character, have to save the world again. A number of other friendly characters have been added as NPCs.

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
MS-DOS2 November 1994Worldwide

Editions and related releases

Included in
3D Realms Anthology

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Collections2 collections

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.