Area 51 (1995 video game)

Not to be confused with Area 51 (2005 video game).
Area 51
Developer(s)Mesa Logic[a]
Publisher(s)Time Warner Interactive (Arcade)[4][b]
Producer(s)Rob Rowe
Designer(s)Mike Hally
Robert Weatherby
Steve Caterson
Programmer(s)Charlie Grisafi
Artist(s)Guy Fumagalli
Hector Silva
James Mestemaker
Composer(s)Jeanne Parson
Michael Stein (Uncredited)[5]
SeriesArea 51
Platform(s)Arcade, Windows, PlayStation, Sega Saturn
Release
November 1995
  • Arcade
    • NA: November 1995
    Windows
    Saturn
    • NA: 20 November 1996[2]
    • EU: 14 March 1997
    PlayStation
    • NA: 26 November 1996[3]
    • EU: 1 May 1997
Genre(s)Light gun shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemAtari CoJag

Area 51 is a light gun arcade game released by Time Warner Interactive in 1995.[6] It takes its name from the military facility. The plot of the game involves the player taking part in a Strategic Tactical Advanced Alien Response (STAAR) military incursion to prevent aliens, known as the Kronn, and alien-created zombies from taking over the Area 51 military facility.

Produced as a last-ditch effort to reverse Atari's struggling fortunes, Area 51 largely underwhelmed critics, who compared it unfavorably to contemporary light gun shooters such as Virtua Cop 2, but was well-liked by players and became a major hit. The game was ported to the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and personal computers. Atari further capitalized on its success with Maximum Force, which used the same arcade board and similar graphics techniques and gameplay, and a direct sequel, Area 51: Site 4.

  1. ^ "Area 51". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 5 February 1997. Retrieved 9 July 2024. Released: 10/96
  2. ^ "Recently Released Titles". Sega Saturn. Archived from the original on 15 December 1996. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Available Titles Released in 1996 (172) (222 Total)". PlayStation Galleria. Archived from the original on 15 August 2000. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference twi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Area 51 (Arcade)". arcade-history.com. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  6. ^ Matt Cabral, "Area 51: A History of Violence," PlayStation: The Official Magazine 004 (March 2008): 82-83.


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