Review by: Cole Jones

As a kid, there was nothing more terrifying than the thought of aliens hiding in my attic. Knowing my luck, those Martians would be nothing like E.T. or Alf, and I'd be chased screaming down the street no matter how many cats I offered up for dinner. Maybe that's why I feel like I can relate to Revisitronic's adaptation of 20th Century Fox's latest kid flick, Aliens in the Attic. Even though there's far more robots than aliens along the way, the action is just as hectic as I'd always imagined in my nightmares.

For a movie tie-in, Aliens in the Attic comes off surprisingly polished and playable. As a trio of children looking to rescue their parents and neighbors from alien enslavement, your task is pretty simple: run and gun your way to freedom. You're able to switch between each of the three children with a simple tap of the shoulder buttons, and must utilize the brawny Jake, brainy Tom, and tiny Hannah to make it through just about every level. While I tended to favor Jake for his slightly more powerful weapon, the ability to quickly switch between Hannah's double jumps and Tom's alien arsenal proved to be absolutely invaluable throughout the game

The controls are relatively straightforward, as you move with the D-pad and use B to jump, Y to fire your weapon, and press A (as Tom) to use your acquired alien artillery. Alien weapons are procured after the boss fights that come every few levels, and range from a power flash that stuns enemies, to a gravity gadget that can be used to lift and slam enemies to pieces. Each weapon recharges on its own and can be used at any time, which really can be a lifesaver whenever you end up drenched in enemy fire.

While the music won't leave much of a lasting impression, Aliens in the Attic is an attractive game with surprisingly tight controls that don't let you down in the heat of battle. For a "kids game" it packs a surprising punch, and many of the boss battles have more in common with a "bullet hell" style shoot-em-up than a traditional platformer. As such, some little ones may grow frustrated with the constant barrage of bullets and baddies, but if you've built up a bit of muscle memory playing Mega Man or comparable twitch-heavy platformers, you'll be able to fly through the game with relative ease.

Alien in the Attic won't take more than a few hours for skilled players to complete, but then again, skilled players aren't exactly this game's target clientele. It's extremely generous with hit points, grenades, and first-aid packs, so even if you aren't the platforming king you should be able to make it though most stages within a few tries. It rewards your persistence with the golden bolts necessary to apply weapon upgrades, and just like in real life, no alien stands a chance once heat seeking lasers enter the equation.

At the end of the day, Aliens in the Attic is a brisk, enjoyable platformer recommended for anyone interested in playing through the movie. With 25 levels, multiple weapons, and lots of fast-paced action, it's greatest shortcoming is its lack of replayability -- a "hard mode” would have been very welcome. As far as kid-centric movie videogames go, Aliens in the Attic is a blast to blaze through -- and chances are your little brother or sister wouldn't mind giving it a try, too.

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