Alien Breed: Tower Assault

Alien Breed: Tower Assault is Team17’s 1994 follow-up to Alien Breed II. It was released for the Amiga 1200/4000, Amiga CD32 and DOS, with music by Allister Brimble.

A distress signal comes from a science facility on an uninhabited planet. The rescue ships are shot down by automated lasers, and two soldiers survive the crash outside the facility. They must fight their way through the complex to destroy the alien threat.

Gameplay

Tower Assault keeps the tense top-down shooting of the series but makes the structure much more open.

• Non-linear levels: Many levels have multiple exits, and the box claims more than 276 ways to finish the game.
• Retreat mode: Fire while walking backwards to hold off advancing aliens.
• Weapons and shopping: Buy and upgrade weapons at Intex terminals.
• Two-player co-op: Play with a friend.
• CD32 extras: The CD versions add FMV intros and outros.

The graphics and sound build on Alien Breed II, with detailed sprites and atmospheric effects. The difficulty is still high, especially early on.

Verdict

Alien Breed: Tower Assault is the most refined game in the series. Its open level structure adds replay value, and the retreat mode improves the combat. It’s one of the best action games of the late Amiga era.