License to thrill
Aliens of Gold is the first in a pair of low-rent but enjoyable Wolfenstein 3D-style shooters and while it might not be as memorable as its rivals like Doom, it remains a fun experience. It's got that very familiar look to it, similar to other shooters from the period, and a fairly engaging plot to go alongside the action-packed run 'n' gun gameplay. Here, you take control of Blake Stone, a sort of futuristic James Bond-style agent (shades also of Rick Dangerous 2, but without the quiff) who finds himself up against a classic power-mad insane genius who wants to unleash a wave of mutants on the world. The game itself is split into chapters, and each one sees you pursuing the mad doc through a series of sci-fi environments while blasting your way through his seemingly endless hordes of mutants and other assorted enemies. There's the usual array of weapons to pick up, including some very innovative ones for the period, such as silenced guns which introduce an element of stealth to proceedings. While Blake Stone has undoubtedly been overshadowed by its better known rivals, it does retain a certain degree of charm which makes it worth adding to the collection of any serious shooter fan. The visuals are quite nice, in that nineties way, with some nicely detailed environments and some lovely chunky character design. The levels look a bit uniform, making it a little confusing to navigate them at times, so do expect to do some exploring alongside the blasting. Overall, this is a decent enough little game, but there's a reason it's not as famous as other games from the period, so don't go in expecting too much.
