Alien 8

Lore & Background

Alien 8 was written by Chris Stamper, with graphics designed by Tim Stamper. It uses the same image masking technique as Knight Lore, allowing composite structures without visual overlay, a technique copyrighted by Ultimate as the Filmation game engine. The game is rendered in isometric projection. Development began immediately after Knight Lore's release, as the Stamper brothers anticipated competitors would try to copy the Filmation technology. The game was developed in monochrome to avoid attribute clash, though the Amstrad release displayed dual-colours.

Reader's Guide

Alien 8 entered the Gallup Top 30 sales chart at number one for the week ending 19 February 1985, replacing Ghostbusters after 13 weeks, and held the top spot for two weeks before being replaced by Football Manager. Critics praised its graphics and presentation, with Crash calling them 'excellent' and more 'imaginative and pleasing' than Knight Lore. Amstrad Action cited the graphics as 'amazing' and 'brilliant', while Amtix! described them as 'breathtakingly stunning'. The game's new features, including a time limit and collectable items, were praised as 'compelling and exciting' by Crash. However, some reviewers expressed minor disappointment due to its similarities to Knight Lore. The game's significance lies in its refinement of the isometric adventure formula and its commercial success, though it did not achieve the same landmark status as its predecessor.

Did You Know?

• The game uses the Filmation game engine, which was copyrighted by Ultimate Play the Game.
• An unofficial port for the Commodore 64 was released in 2019.
• The Amstrad CPC release of Alien 8 exclusively displayed dual-colours.