Publisher: Arena Entertainment(now Acclaim)
Developer: Probe
Size: 8 Megs
No. of players: 1
Official Ad: Yes
Grabbed it for: $6.99, cart and box only.
Wow, a game that Probe actually didn't fuck up completely! Though it ought to be played simply for that reason, I find myself playing it for something else: It's a GREAT game. You play Ripley, as she fights her way through the prison and rescues inmates who have been captured by the Aliens.

What's it all about?
More of an adventure style platformer, you run around the prison colony trying to avoid aliens and rescue inmates from becoming hosts for alien eggs. You get to move about on the surface, down in the prison and through ducts, all while mowing down aliens, to finish each level. Every three or four levels you'll encounter an Alien "Guardian"...you'll tear through it and move on. To keep the game from getting to monotonous, some levels are strictly "rescue" only, where as others you're just looking to survive long enough to make it to the exit. It's a nice mix...
Graphics - Though a little unbalanced with Ripley's extreme amount of animation mixed with everyone/thing else's three to five frames, the graphics are still quite good. I think it does an excellent job of recreating the atmosphere(notice I said ATMOSPHERE, not movie, not story, not anything else) of the prison and its various locations.
Sound - Solid! The music, especially the first few level's BGM, is absolutely perfect for the mood of the game. The sound effects are equally as nice, with the alien's explosion sound effect being the high point(gotta love dropping a grenade on them and listening to them explode).
Control - Not bad, and only hindered by what Ripley can't do. Getting around, jumping and such are all very smooth...but the fact that she can't shoot while jumping or shoot any direction other than up or down while on a ladder, etc. really hurts your chances of making it out of the level on the first try.
AI - Pretty cheap....but only because the Aliens are so AMAZINGLY fast. If you don't, and even if you do, pay strict attention to the sensor, you will STILL be run over by Aliens constantly(and, to make things that much more annoying, when hit, Ripley falls to the ground, lays there for a bit, then slowly gets up).
Replay value - Moderately high, though on the other hand, the fact that the locations of the prisoners never randomizes could have you shelving this one for long periods in between play.
Tips for better gaming experiences:
Aliens can, and will, break through doors to get to you. With that said, you too can break them down with your grenade launcher. Use it when there's a doorway guarded by unsuspecting aliens on the other side...

I HIGHLY recommend you use the Game Genie to freeze the in-game clock. It's bad enough that you not only have to find ALL of the prisoners but also escape the level in a mere 4 minutes(sometimes less). The fact that when you get killed YOU HAVE TO START THE LEVEL COMPLETELY OVER makes the clock a *REAL* bitch. You will find yourself hurrying through the levels, completely missing a lot of the finer graphics, running into Aliens constantly and just making a lot of mistakes in general. Use the GG to freeze the clock, take that pressure off and actually enjoy what is probably Probe's ONLY quality game.
Game Genie:
Freeze the Clock: AACT-CA6J

If those damn aliens are still running you down, just rub the lamp!

My rating: 87(out of 100) - Solid gameplay, great graphics and sound; an all around good game.
GamePro gave it: 4.5(graphics), 4.5(sound), 4.0(control), 4.5(funfactor) (out of 5)

JD's review: Cheap, cheap, cheap. God, from the Alien's magically appearing at every corner, to starting levels completely over each time you die, this game, even with the GG code is more aggravating than anything else.

The water and clouds both show off some impressive line scrolling.
Nothing like shooting a load into a xenomorph's ass....uh wait, I didn't mean it like *that*!

Time for a quick shower.
I don't seem to remember this section of the prison...
Gameplay Videos:
Title Screen, Stage 01 Mission - 4:33, 37.1 megs

Immediate Streaming - YouTube
Description: The game's title screen start up and a full, unedited play through of "Stage 01 Mission"(the first level of the game). As this was the very first quick review I posted on the site, I thought it very appropriate(and nostalgic, for me) that it also be the site's very first gameplay video. Though it isn't anything extensive, I think it is representative of the gameplay in Alien 3.
Note: You'll need the most recent Divx codec to watch these videos. Also, slowdown and jumps in the playback may not necessarily be the fault of the game so much as the method I am using to record them. If you are having problems watching the videos in your browser, just right-click and download them to your hard drive...