Attack of the Saucerman stands as a distinctive entry in the late 1990s action gaming landscape, blending retro sci-fi aesthetics with fast-paced arcade mechanics. Developed by Fube Industries Ltd. and published by Psygnosis, this title arrived in 1999 for both PC and PlayStation platforms. The game offers a unique mix of third-person shooting and light platforming elements wrapped in a tongue-in-cheek alien invasion narrative that pays homage to 1950s B-movies and pop culture phenomena like Men in Black.

Attack of the Saucerman: Genre and Gameplay Mechanics

Focused squarely on the action genre, the game delivers a third-person shooter experience augmented by mascot platformer influences. Players navigate through 28 arcade-style levels that span diverse 3D environments, ranging from dense forests and sprawling urban zones to outer space. Movement is handled through an intuitive scheme that allows for precise navigation, including strafing, jumping over obstacles, ducking under low ceilings, and executing quick U-turns. The gameplay also incorporates a hoverboard mode that transforms the vessel for rapid traversal across open maps, adding verticality and speed to exploration.

Combat revolves around a versatile dual-weapon framework that requires players to manage plasma charges carefully. Users can cycle through multiple ammo types to adapt to different enemy formations, including single-shot bursts, ricocheting projectiles, wide spread shots, homing missiles, sustained beam lasers, chargeable energy blasts, and expanding hoop lasers. Each weapon type serves a distinct tactical purpose, encouraging players to experiment with different loadouts. Boss battles punctuate the campaign, testing both reflexes and strategic ammunition selection.

Story and Setting Overview

The narrative follows Ed, a blue-collar alien worker from the planet Grimloid who serves the Grimloid Protection League. Initially content with monitoring terrestrial television from his orbiting ship, Ed is abruptly pulled into duty when a rogue faction known as NEDCO, commanded by the nefarious Big Bubba, begins invading Earth. NEDCO's goal is to colonize the planet solely for the purpose of farming NEDs, yellow creatures that serve as a premier food source back home.

As the only Grimloid-owned ship in the area, Ed is entrusted with protecting Earth, though he is quickly shot down by Big Bubba and crash-lands near Area 51. Waking up in a lab being probed by scientists, Ed must use his disintegrator ray to escape and navigate the facility. Alongside his robot companion, a gold ball known as P.O.D., Ed fights through soldiers, scientists, and evil aliens to collect as many NEDs as possible and repair his ship before the invasion takes hold.

Notable Features and Platform Availability

  • Platform Availability: The game was released for Microsoft Windows (PC) and the PlayStation console, bringing its quirky charm to home computers and Sony's 32-bit system.
  • Soundtrack: Players can access an in-game Jukebox to play the title's excellent soundtrack, adding to the retro atmosphere.
  • Collectibles and Objectives: Missions involve finding parts to repair the ship, collecting NEDs for points, and activating switches by walking into them or shooting them.
  • Progression: Checkpoints are strategically spaced throughout the levels to assist players in the campaign.

Who It Appeals To

Attack of the Saucerman appeals to fans of late 90s arcade action and third-person shooters who appreciate a humorous twist on the alien invasion trope. The game is ideal for players who enjoy mascot platformer mechanics combined with shooting, particularly those with an affinity for retro sci-fi aesthetics and B-movie culture. Its collection-heavy gameplay and variety of weapon loadouts also attract players looking for tactical experimentation within a fast-paced framework. While some reviews note repetitive elements, the game remains a niche collector's item for enthusiasts of Psygnosis's catalog and unique 1990s gaming experiments.