Ludography
Alien Mind cover

1988 · Action · Adventure

Alien Mind

1988 video game

Released
1988
Platforms
Apple IIGS
Genres
ActionAdventure
Developers
—
Publishers
PBI Software
Themes
Action
Country
United States

About

Alien Mind is an action-adventure game for the Apple IIGS, published and released by PBI Software in 1988. It is the final game from PBI, and notable as a GS-only title, in taking advantage of the graphics and sound capabilities of the machine to present an arcade style game.

Keywords

  • aliens

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

As an overhead 2D multi-directional scroller, the player navigates large rooms, corridors and maze-like passage ways aboard the Zekford Space Station. The player starts off with a needle-gun to defend himself against enemies that continually re-spawn. More powerful guns can be found and collected as the game progresses. Other collectable items include: ammo, health packs, energy conductors (slows enemies), energy shields (temporary invincibility) and key cards.

g. repair tool kit, elevator passes, printed schematics, chemicals, weapon parts).

Story

Two unhatched alien eggs, discovered in the Herzgod IV solar system, have been brought aboard the newly built five level Zekford Space Station. Timothy Hunter, after receiving a telegram from Aaron Avery–a long-time friend and associate Biologist, boards the Zekford Space Station to join him to study the eggs. The player takes the role of Hunter, who upon arrival, discovers everyone on the station has been killed. Avery, the only survivor and in hiding, informs him one of the eggs has hatched and released a super-intelligent alien.

It has reprogrammed the station's security and maintenance robots to kill all humans, and is mind controlling lesser alien animal lifeforms (freed from the on-board research labs) to do the same. The alien itself has gone off into hiding and tapped into the station's central computer system, which is linked to everything. The alien closely monitors the computer terminals, the only means of communication between Hunter and Avery.

Reception

Alien Mind received generally positive reception. John Munn reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "Alien Mind is an easily embraceable game designed with a relatively simple blending of strategic role-playing with the finger-itching excitement of an arcade game." Computist writer Philip G. Romine praised the game, feeling that it reflected well on the developer's work ethic and the capabilities of the platform due to the quality of sound, animation, and display.

Guida Videogiochi staff felt similarly about the graphics and sound as well as the challenge of the game. They considered it one of the best games on the platform.

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