If you grew up playing video games in the early 2000s there’s a slight chance you’ve dabbled with flash games on your PC browser. Among the many titans of online flash games was a website called Newgrounds, which was home to a cult classic in Alien Hominid. This run and gun game still proves challenging today even after all my years playing it. Having revisited this title with Alien Hominid HD, I am still amazed at how well it plays and how unforgiving it is when it comes to core gameplay despite its cartoonish yet comedic appearance.
Familiar In All the Right Ways
Upon booting up Alien Hominid HD on my PS4 Pro, I was greeted with the classic cartoon style that can be credited to the lead animator and artist for this game, Dan Paladin. Aside from getting hit with a wave of nostalgia, I was eager to hop back into a game like this simply because my gaming preferences nowadays stray far away from this genre. The side-scrolling adventure really promotes a run-and-gun gameplay that will keep you on your toes from the jump. The other aspect of this game that I admittedly forgot about was simply how unforgiving it is. Unlike many of the arcade games of old, you are one hit away from a game over screen, which I saw many times in my return to this game.
While the difficulty knocked me down a few times, what draws me back into Alien Hominid HD is how many funny baked-in moments there are. While I was focused primarily on not dying for the ten thousandth time, my attention was drawn to a moment in which I noticed my alien had jumped on top of a screaming FBI agent’s head and began gnawing at his brains. It is those smaller “blink and you’ll miss it” moments that add a layer of charm to the gameplay worth looking for in the finer details.
Another aspect of Alien Hominid HD that stands out is the various offerings for power-ups and weapons. While at face value, you are equipped with a standard blaster, close range melee attacks, and a handful of grenades, your little yellow friend is capable of much more destruction. There are more advanced moves available to the player such as rolls, shields, unique ammo sets, and the ability to ride a Yeti or UFO. It is this wide variety of weapons and power ups that will prove most useful especially when encountering the wide range of boss battles that range from simple ones like battle ready robots to the more over the top ones like a giant pudding monster.
I think there is a lot to be said as for how much content is available in Alien Hominid HD. While the core campaign is short, there is a ton more to unpack outside of it. This can be seen in the various offerings through multiplayer modes, PDA virtual console minigames, and the Pinata Fiesta mode. The latter mode specifically stood out to me in how it places you in a precarious balancing act while you try to knock a roaming pinata and collect candy all while avoiding the boss enemies from below. The game shines its brightest here in how it blends the usual aspects of run-and-gun with a challenging arcade offering.
A Little Too Unforgiving
While Alien Hominid HD is a very fun game, it is also too short, with its difficulty being the only thing prolonging the experience. By the time I finally found my sea legs, it was over. While I do love a good challenge in a video game, I think that this situation is a little too overbearing. Primarily, this is a fault I can credit to how hellbent levels are designed. There are times where all was good and well, and I had rather smooth sailing, but at a moment’s notice, FBI troops had me surrounded with multiple rounds of bullets flying in every direction which made death feel inevitable.
While I love the over-the-top action and lively animation, this is also where those elements became an Achilles’ heel to me. There were moments in my gameplay where I would end up falling victim to a stray bullet that was cloaked within all the madness. When I think about potential new players who’ve never picked up a title like this, I have a hard time seeing them get invested in it for the long haul.
The Final Verdict
With its charming hand-drawn animations and snappy, yet demanding gameplay, Alien Hominid HD is a game that has stood the test of time. The revitalization of this title in 2025 means that gamers who were born after the golden age of flash games can get a peek into the past and come across the origins of key gameplay mechanics that are standard issue in today’s gaming climate. If you happened to be one of those kids who enjoyed flash games in your youth, this title will hit you with a wave of nostalgia that you didn’t know you needed. Be warned, though if you happen to be unfamiliar with this franchise, while all looks cute and funny on the surface, prepare for a world of hurt courtesy of this little yellow alien.
