Heart of the Alien is a video game released only for Sega that serves as the sequel to the very popular cult classic Another World. While Another World was a much better seller, it is not necessarily because the sequel is not as good. With Heart of the Alien being released only on a single format instead of multiple formats (which was true of Another World) it simply didn’t have the same sized base to work with. It is still a very good game.
Heart of the Alien is very similar to its predecessor, but the protagonists have changed.
Instead of the human hero (Lester) found in AW, Heart of the Alien focuses on his alien friend, called Buddy. The game begins with a series of flashbacks experienced by Buddy as he walks through what is left of his village. It is ruined, and Lester remembers the events leading up to his and Lester’s capture, as well as their escape. These flashbacks trigger a fire within Buddy, and the rest of the game revolves around him seeking the red-eyed alien who annihilated his village and captured his people. Lester joins him as Buddy’s buddy, with roles reversed in this sequel.
Buddy and Lester share very similar controls, but the alien is somewhat more difficult to control because of the addition to his arsenal.
He carries a giant whip that acts like a multi-purpose tool. It serves as a devastating weapon, a rope for swinging about on ceiling fixtures and an energized shield (which is much better than Lester's). Buddy is also stronger, but not necessarily faster, than his human counterpart. In all, their respective strengths and weaknesses seem to balance out.
As platform games go, this uses good graphics and smooth play. There is a good balance of hack and slash and shoot ‘em up styles and precision timing for jumps and coordinated sequences. The story line is good, and it flows together seamlessly with its predecessor. Not to be a spoiler, but the ending is a huge let down due to a tragedy that happens about midway through the game. Where Another World was open-ended, leaving room for a clear sequel, HotA has a real sense of finality to it. Other than that, however, Heart of the Alien is an interesting, side-scrolling action adventure.
