A 1950s alien invasion shoot 'em up
Squad 51 vs. the Flying Saucers is a side-scrolling shooter where you fly an aircraft against flying saucers, alien fighters and monsters. The action runs on 2D gameplay inside 3D environments, and the whole thing is dressed in the look of 1950s sci-fi cinema: black-and-white visuals, live-action FMV cutscenes and dubbed voices carry the story between fights. You take the role of Lieutenant Kaya, one of the rebel pilots of Squadron 51, rising up against the VEGA CORPORATION and its leader Director Zarog, whose promised partnership with humanity turns into oppression.
Playing it with a friend
The campaign is built for one pilot, but a second player can drop into a level at any time, so nobody has to wait for a fresh session to join in. You earn points side by side, and those points go toward unlocking new special weapons and upgrades together, which gives co-op runs a shared goal beyond just clearing the level. Remote Play Together is supported, so a friend can tag along even if they do not have the game installed.
What to know before starting
There are 11 levels to work through, each pitting you against enemy ships and bosses across varied settings such as snowy mountains, forests and cityscapes. Four different aircraft are available, and each one can be set up with its own special weapons, so loadouts are worth experimenting with as you unlock more options. Dynamic difficulty is in place, which means the game adjusts to how well you are doing and keeps both newcomers and experienced shoot 'em up players in a workable spot. Expect a fast-paced arcade rhythm between the cinematic sequences, and expect the story to be told as much through the live-action footage as through the flying.