Alien Syndrome is one of those classic SEGA arcade ports that somehow feels both frantic and methodical at the same time. You're dropped into these tight, maze-like spaceship corridors with aliens popping out everywhere—some crawl along the floor, others swoop down from above. At first, it seems like just another shoot-everything-that-moves game, but then you realize you've got to actually rescue hostages while avoiding friendly fire. That's where the tension kicks in.

The Master System version tones down the arcade's intensity a bit, but it still nails that retro sci-fi vibe with chunky pixel aliens and that distinct SEGA synth soundtrack. The two-player co-op is where it really shines—nothing like accidentally blasting your buddy while trying to save a hostage, then laughing it off as another wave of creepy-crawlies swarms in. Just don't expect deep strategy; this is pure '80s arcade action with a side of panic.