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Silpheed Alternative: Menace from Beyond the Stars hits Android

by Jordan Mallory on Aug 8th 2011 10:30PM

We don't know which is more astounding, the fact that there's a new Silpheed game, or the fact that it's for Google's Android OS. Silpheed Alternative: Menace from Beyond the Stars is the first entry in the series in over a decade, spiritual successors notwithstanding. Much like its predecessors, Silpheed Alternative pits the player against impossible odds and an immense armada of warships in one of mankind's few available fighters.

Unlike its predecessors, however, Silpheed Alternative eschews the series' traditional isometric viewpoint and shmup gameplay in favor of three-dimensional dogfighting, ala X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. The game is available now on the Android Marketplace for $2.99, compatible with Android devices running 2.1 or higher.

Source: Siliconera

Tags: android, game-arts, GungHo, mobile, silpheed, silpheed-alternative-menace-from-beyond-the-stars

Reader Comments (9)

It...I...what?

I'm tempted to pick this up just to see how a game like that could possibly control on an Android. Seems completely insane & overkill.

"Silpheed Alternative: Menace from Beyond the Stars is the first entry in the series in over a decade, spiritual successors notwithstanding"

Does "Project Sylpheed: Arc of Deception" not count? It was released in 2007.

It looks freakin' awesome! Hopefully, joystiq will cover some review on this game. xD

Neither article links to the Market. Great job. Here's a market link.

https://market.android.com/details?id=jp.gungho.silpheed_alternative_full

It's fully 3D so weak devices shouldn't bother. I'm on an Optimus V (same thing as an Optimus One or Optimus S,C, and whatever other letter goes behind it) and don't have the specs for it.

Those ships don't feel right to me. It's just not Silpheed unless it has the SA-77 Silpheed involved. Such a deliciously chunky design, with lots of flat surfaces and hard edges due to the limitations of polygon graphics at the time. I loved it. Streamlined ships like these...it's just another space shooter.

"or the fact that it's for Google's Android OS"
OMG Android has games!!! I am a member of the gaming media, when did this happen!!!

This looks more like the flying bits in Halo: Reach and NOT like X-Wing Vs Tie Fighter.

In fact, there has yet to be a game that captures the greatness that the old X-Wing/Tie Fighter games had - which is a damn shame, because they were incredible.

The ability to divert shield power to your front or rear shields depending on the situation, the ability to tail an enemy and with the press of a button - lock in the same speed, the sheer vastness of the space battles. Taking on huge Star Destroyers with a large group of X-Wings, B-Wings, etc... damn I miss those games. And to think how much more awesome they could be nowadays with online multiplayer....

why does today's spacecraft design suck so hard? I'd rather want a port of the PS2 port on my 3DS

I bought this as soon as I saw it and quickly regretted it (although not quick enough to get a refund)

It's nice that it has Nintendo 3DS-like 3D effects but 3D and tilt-controls are frankly stupid and useless.

So that was quickly turned off.

The second problem is the control system. I tried every combination available but they all feel clunky and outdated next to other Android shooters. It really ruined the experience for me.

The third problem is the gameplay, its just dull. Spin around in space shooting tiny homing rockets at tiny purple blobs in the distance. Really disappointing.

If you want to see a good space shooter pick up Star Battalion by Gameloft instead. The graphics are far better, the controls are silky smooth and it doesn't feel like something that was rushed out of development 10 years ago.

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