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I’m yet to find a downloadable release that can really scare me like Dead Space, maybe I’m looking for a needle in a haystack but I’m remaining optimistic. Alien Breed, which initially looked like a contender, is not scary nor frightening or even mildly disturbing. It’s a great action game but as far as survival horror is concerned, Alien Breed is far from the stuff of nightmares. However, Alien Breed does so many things right as an action game that I can’t help but adore it.

Alien Breed is one of the most adrenaline fueled XBLA shooters that I’ve seen in a long time and it wastes no time in letting you know. From the moment you are given control, the game gives you a few seconds before pelting you with more aliens than you can shake a stick at.

It’s a great action game but Alien Breed is far from the stuff of nightmares

However that isn’t what the Survival Horror tone suggests. Survival Horror isn’t about giving you enough ammo to start your own war, it’s about giving you four shots and forty enemies and letting you run around praying to god that you find ammo somewhere under a floor boards. Resident Evil 4 – among others – used an over the shoulder view that just screams ‘Be Scared’ and Alien Breed would have benefited undoubtedly from something akin to this.

The game does take influences from games like Max Payne that made full use of comic strips as a story telling mechanic. The story it’s self is of a ship that comes out of transport and collides with another dead ship – not the Ishimura – that is immediately attacked by aliens. You play as a solider as he tries to stop the aliens that have boarded your ship along with occasionally manoeuvring from enemies and reparing your craft. The latter of which requires a little bit of user ignorance as the protagonist isn’t an engineer, he’s simply a solider. However it seems that everyone is content to sit back while you fix the entire ship all by your lonesome. Thanks.

It’s difficult to pick holes in the controls, however, they are a shining example of top down twin stick bliss. Additionally the left and right bumper rotate the camera often providing an often helpful view of your surroundings and it’s usually just in time to see the next alien charging at you in an attempt to rip your face off for a snack

As is the case with most arcade games it’s often difficult to find someone playing online, however, if you do find a partner you have the formula for a great co op experience. It’s my belief that every game is better with co op and Alien Breed is no exception. You are given carte blanche on the rules of engagement and terms in which you complete the mission. Things get frantic quickly as you can easily become overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemies coming down on you. Delivering exactly what you are looking for, panic.

Elite difficulty should only be taken on by the extremely brave or the ridiculously stupid.

Throughout all of this you’ll be witness to the excellent music in Alien Breed, which unfortunately is the only creepy thing about the entire game. In every stage, the game kicks out a constant stream of music that seems designed to scare the daylights out of you. However you’ll only be scared if you’re in another room since the game still has that action shooter feel to it.

If you’re still looking for more, you can up the ante to the game’s Elite Mode. I love the challenge that Survival Horrors throw at you and let’s be honest they’re at their best when backs are against the wall. Long story short, after three days of persevering, I’m still on the first levels. Survival Horror veterans should be warned, the hardest difficulty should only be taken on by the extreme brave or the ridiculously stupid.

Alien Breed is a great action shooter but somewhere along the line of development, the survival horror half made a wrong turn. If you can find a buddy that loves this game then you’re bound to have a blast but if you’re here for the single player or you just don’t have any friends…well you’ll still have fun but you’ll miss out on the longevity. For all it’s attempts to be scary Alien Breed just doesn’t do it for me, but as a co op action game Alien Breed is one of those rare XBLA games that will have you screaming for more after you beat it for the billionth time.