Software:Alien Sky

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Short description: 2004 video game

Alien Sky
Developer(s)KraiSoft Entertainment
Publisher(s)KraiSoft Entertainment (Windows)
Oberon Media (Xbox)
Platform(s)Windows, Xbox
ReleaseWindows
8 March 2004
Xbox
4 January 2005
Genre(s)Fixed shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Alien Sky is a 2004 fixed shooter video game developed by New Zealand studio KraiSoft Entertainment. Originally distributed as shareware for Microsoft Windows on 8 March 2004, it was later included in the launch line-up of Xbox Live Arcade for the original Xbox on 4 January 2005, where it was sold digitally by Oberon Media.[1][2]

Gameplay

The players control a starfighter that can move horizontally along the bottom of the screen while firing upward at waves of aliens reminiscent of Space Invaders and Galaga.[3][4] Power-ups award temporary weapons—including laser cannons, homing missiles and screen-clearing nuclear bombs—while certain enemy types erect barriers, steal power-ups or ram the player, requiring different tactics.[5] The campaign is divided into ten missions, each ending with an oversized boss encounter; high scores may be uploaded to a worldwide leaderboard.[6]

Development and release

KraiSoft Entertainment designed Alien Sky as an arcade homage built with in-house tools. Following its 2004 Windows debut, Russian publisher Noviy Disk issued a boxed edition titled Alien Sky. Vrashdebnye nebesa (Враждебные небеса).[7] Microsoft later licensed the game for the original Xbox’s fledgling Xbox Live Arcade service, bundling a time-limited demo on the 2004/2005 Xbox Live Starter Pack disc and offering the full version via digital download.[2][8]

Reception

The Windows edition holds an average critic rating of 74% on MobyGames, based on five contemporary reviews.[9] Andrew Williams of Bytten praised its “solid, colourful action”, but felt later stages became repetitive.[10] Retrospectives on early Xbox Live Arcade line-ups note the title’s faithful retro design and modest production values.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Alien Sky – Releases". MobyGames. https://www.mobygames.com/game/31241/alien-sky/releases/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Xbox Live Arcade 2005 Game Demo Disc". https://archive.org/details/xbox-live-arcade-2005-game-demo-disc-iso-untouched-dvd2xbox. 
  3. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (26 September 2006). "Alien Sky Review". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/alien-sky-review/1900-6158729/. 
  4. ↑ "Рецензия на игру Alien Sky. Враждебные небеса". Absolute Games. 7 October 2004. https://ag.ru/games/alien-sky/review. 
  5. ↑ Bulić, Nemanja (1 February 2007). "Test fun: Alien Sky 1.7.8". https://www.sk.rs/arhiva/clanak/19150/alien-sky-1-7-8. 
  6. ↑ "Вердикт. Локализации. Враждебные небеса". Igromania. 23 November 2004. https://www.igromania.ru/review/9648/Verdikt._Lokalizacii._Vrazhdebnye_nebesa.html. 
  7. ↑ "Alien Sky". My Abandonware. https://www.myabandonware.com/game/alien-sky-dz4. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Xbox Live Arcade's Early History – E3 2004 Announcement". 9 March 2023. https://ctrl-alt-rees.com/2023-03-09-xbox-live-arcade-early-history-e3-2004-announcement-story-lets-play.html. 
  9. ↑ "Alien Sky (Windows)". MobyGames. https://www.mobygames.com/game/31241/alien-sky/. 
  10. ↑ Andrew Williams (25 March 2004). "Review – Alien Sky". Bytten. https://www.byttenreviews.co.uk/gamereview.php?id=179. 



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