Jeremy Parish

NES Works 148: Alien Syndrome & Vindicators (Patreon)

Published:

2025-07-02 11:43:44

Imported:

2026-06

Tags:

alien syndrome atari games nes works sega tengen vindicators

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You know, it's strange. I had it in my head as a kid that unlicensed NES games were generally pretty terrible. I guess I really bought into Nintendo's corporate messaging after reading all those Nintendo Powers. However, that's not really been the case so far. Neither Alien Syndrome nor Vindicators belongs in the pantheon of NES all-timers, but they're pretty good. Frankly, at this point, Tengen has an infinitely better track record than, say, Seta.

Sorry, Tengen. I was wrong about you. You're good people.

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Squad up: Alien Syndrome & Vindicators | NES Works 148

Tengen brings us a pair of space-themed (yet ground-based) shooting games: one from Sega, and one from Atari Games. And both turn out pretty OK in their NES incarnation despite looking infinitely more feeble than the arcade source material. Ain't that always the way, though? Sega's Alien Syndrome looks disgraceful on NES compared to the Master System version, but it does offer something Sega's own release didn't: cooperative mulitiplayer. Vindicators does, too, despite its much simpler and more linear design. Please support this channel by buying books—by me! Based on these videos! https://limitedrungames.com/collections/books Production notes: Video Works is funded via Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/gamespite) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! Master System footage captured from MiSTer (thanks to MiSTerAddOns) with a SNAC adapter for Light Phaser material. Video upscaled to 4K with RetroTink 4K. RGB cables courtesy of StoneAgeGamer.com and Allie Bellrose.