Attack of the Saucerman
Attack of the Saucerman is a PlayStation shooter game released in 1999 developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It centers on combat encounters, resource or business management, and aiming and shooting, with controls and information arranged around the directional pad, shoulder and face buttons, plus DualShock twin analog sticks and vibration where supported.
- AI score · out of 10
- 5.2 / 10
About this game
Attack of the Saucerman is a PlayStation shooter game centered on combat encounters, resource or business management, and aiming and shooting. Missions pace progress through enemy waves, routes, objectives, and weapon opportunities, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Aiming feedback, projectiles, hits, and danger zones need to remain readable, while early 3D graphics, pre-rendered backgrounds, CD audio, and full-motion video need to preserve targets and interface readability on a television. The genre-specific limitation is that camera turning, aiming methods, dense encounters, and peripheral support can increase control pressure. Platform conditions also include disc loading, Memory Card saves, regional video standards, digital or analog control support, vibration, and dedicated peripherals affect original-hardware use. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features or conveniences from remasters, emulators, or other console editions.
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PlayStation
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
A charming B-movie premise and sizable route struggle against the PlayStation game's camera and controls.
Attack of the Saucerman! casts Ed as an alien trying to stop his own people's scheme on Earth. Its cartoon B-movie parody mixes third-person shooting with a hovering helper, weapons that have situational uses, creature collection and light platforming. Twenty-four main levels and four bonus stages provide a real route rather than a tiny novelty, and the sarcastic tone and science-fiction music give it character. The cost of reaching all that material is control friction. A contemporary PS1 review reported jerky movement, awkward aiming, a camera that can hide Ed, clipping and disappearing textures. A later first-person PS1 retrospective is more fond of the game, but likewise describes sudden directional changes and difficult jumps over pits, particularly later on. Their disagreement about enjoyment should not erase their overlapping observations about traversal. Emulator quick-saves make modern replay less punishing, but they were not part of the original PlayStation release and are excluded here. This assessment also does not borrow keyboard handling or improved rendering from the PC edition.
Strengths
- The alien viewpoint and B-movie humor stand out.
- Weapons, helper tools and capture goals vary the action.
- Main and bonus stages give the adventure substantial scope.
Weaknesses
- PS1 camera and movement shifts undermine aiming and jumps.
- Contemporary play found clipping and disappearing textures.
- Difficulty spikes and later pits hurt pacing.
Who it is for: Retro players interested in obscure comic science fiction and tolerant of early 3D controls.
Play notes: A retrospective used emulator quick-saves; they are not credited as features of the original PlayStation disc.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension The level count and timed capture goals add breadth, while abrupt spikes and late pit-heavy sections disrupt progression. | Reviewed | 5.7 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Weapons, a helper robot and light puzzles add texture, but shifting camera controls make crucial jumps unreliable. | Reviewed | 5.4 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension B-movie music and alien humor give it identity, but sparse scenery and repeated effects undercut the presentation. | Reviewed | 5.4 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension PS1 reports of jerky movement, obstructive camera, clipping and vanishing textures make control friction central; emulator save states do not repair the disc. | Reviewed | 3.4 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Sony Interactive
- Publisher
- Fube IndustriesSony Interactive
- Release date
- 1999
- Platforms
- PlayStation
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Shooter · Primary genreAdventure
- Tags
- Fast-pacedShootingLinear Levels3D GraphicsSolo-friendlyDodgeReplayableResource ManagementMain Story Under 10 HoursReal-time CombatPlayer versus EnvironmentThird Person
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Third person
Release editions
- PlayStationWorldwide1999
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided