It’s time to dust off those blasters. The cult hit comes to the XBLA!

Beginning as a web-based Flash game on newgrounds.com, Alien Hominid amassed a quick cult following among desktop gamers nearly five years ago. In 2004, a home-console version of the shooter was released for PS2, Gamecube and XBOX.  In its third incarnation, Alien Hominid still remains a blast to play and is worthy of revisiting.

You play as an alien who has crashed down onto Earth and is searching for a way back home. On the way you will shoot, slice and chomp into waves of enemies like CIA “men in black” agents and Russian KGB troopers. The story is thin, yet whimsical and is more than enough to hold together the scenarios presented in every level.

Anybody who has played games like Contra or Metal Slug will feel right at home with Alien Hominid HD. You can run and gun, throw grenades for added damage and, if you are close enough to an enemy, you can slice it up with a combat knife. The game even offers the unique ability to burrow into the ground and pull enemies down for a kill as they walk past. You can also jump on top of enemies and bite their heads off. The game is violent but it is executed so comically I doubt it will seriously offend anybody. These little touches help give Alien Hominid its own identity, making it more than just a tried-and-true formula with a new coat of paint.

The game has been output to high-def and the visuals are all the more vibrant and crisp. All of the levels and characters have been hand-drawn and this gives the game a more organic traditional 2D feel. The fluid animation and high quality effects keep this game on par with next-gen titles. Everything fits together so well stylistically that sometimes it feels as if you are watching a pre-generated cartoon clip.

The soundtrack bounces back and forth between sci-fi techno beats in some levels to classical and grandiose in others. It all seems very appropriate for whatever scenario is playing out. The character sound effects are silly and are reminiscent of the Looney Tunes era of animation. There are times when the constant clanging of bullets hitting a boss will become a bit grating, but those moments do not come often. The sound design is a mish mash, but it works well.

Aside from the meaty main game, the package includes 7 mini-games to challenge your boss fighting and shooting skills. One mini-game in particular, called “PDA games”, offers a series of micro-sized platform challenges that are surprisingly addictive. These challenges alone could have been released as their own game. Performing well in the main game and mini-games unlocks new hats that your character can wear which allows you to personalize your alien avatar. All these features add up to make one very well-rounded package.

At 800 Microsoft Points ($10), Alien Hominid is an amazing bargain. It is one of the most content heavy XBOX Live Arcade games out there and worthy of a purchase, even if you have already played it before.  Its unique style and features earn the game some serious cred. Extra content, Achievements and online co-op make this double-dip all the sweeter.