SNES Action Beat 'em Up 1993

Alien vs. Predator

Reviewed by Marcus Webb & Elena Castillo · Updated June 2025

Capcom's 1993 SNES beat-em-up — Alien vs. Predator is not the arcade game but a distinct SNES-exclusive action game where players control Dutch Schaefer or Linn Kurosawa fighting Aliens across seven stages. Two-player co-op, weapons including plasma cannon and smart discs, and dark action that captures the sci-fi horror tone.

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💡 Alien vs. Predator — Key Facts

→ Alien vs. Predator was developed by Capcom and published by Capcom
→ Released in 1993 on SNES
→ Genre: Action, Beat 'em Up
→ We rate it 8.6/10 — highly recommended
→ Capcom's 1993 SNES beat-em-up — Alien vs. Predator is not the arcade game but a distinct SNES-exclusive action game where players control Dutch Schaefer or Linn Kurosawa fighting Aliens across seven stages. Two-player co-op, weapons including plasma cannon and smart discs, and dark action that captures the sci-fi horror tone.

Overview

The corridors are dark. Aliens come from vents in the floor and from the shadows at screen edges. Dutch Schaefer’s plasma cannon or Linn Kurosawa’s smart disc — the choice determines whether you fight at range or up close.

The atmosphere is what the license required.

Two Characters

Dutch brings his Predator film credentials — the mercenary who survived a Predator hunt. His weapons are military: the plasma cannon reaches the full horizontal screen width, creating safety that Linn’s close combat doesn’t provide.

Linn’s speed and blade precision make dense Alien groups manageable in ways the slower Dutch struggles with. When a wave of warriors floods the screen simultaneously, close-range clearance is faster than ranged precision.

The two-player combination — Dutch providing fire support from range while Linn clears close threats — is the intended format. The roles are different enough that co-op creates genuine division of responsibilities rather than just doubling the same approach.

The Alien License

H.R. Giger’s Alien design — the black biomechanical nightmare aesthetic, the lifecycle from facehugger to queen — translates to beat-em-up because the different life stages create genuinely different enemy behaviors. Facehuggers scuttle across the floor too fast to ignore. Chest-bursters erupt and disorient. Warriors are the steady combat problem throughout.

Capcom used the license’s enemy variety to create enemy type variety. The Alien lifecycle became the game’s enemy progression.

Not the Arcade Game

The 1994 Capcom arcade game came later and had different characters, mechanics, and design. Players who found AVP through the arcade in 1993-1994 and came to the SNES expecting the same game found something genuinely different.

Both games use the Dark Horse Comics crossover concept. The SNES game came first. The distinction matters for understanding what each version is.

Our Review

8.6

Excellent / 10

🎮

Gameplay

★★★★★

🎨

Graphics

★★★★★

🎵

Audio

★★★★★

🔄

Replay

★★★★★

Gameplay

Alien vs. Predator (SNES) is a side-scrolling beat-em-up where players control Dutch Schaefer (mercenary with military weapons) or Linn Kurosawa (combat specialist with bladed weapons) through seven stages of Alien-infested environments. This is a SNES-exclusive game distinct from the 1994 arcade game. Combat uses melee attacks, special moves, and collected weapons: Dutch uses a plasma cannon; Linn uses a smart disc. Two-player co-op allows both characters simultaneously. Enemy Alien types include facehuggers, chest-bursters, warrior drones, and a Queen. Boss encounters escalate through the stages. The game uses the Aliens movie license with dark, atmospheric environments.

Graphics

Alien vs. Predator's SNES visuals create appropriately dark sci-fi horror environments — the Alien-infested settings are detailed and atmospheric. Character sprites for Dutch and Linn are large and detailed. Alien enemy designs reflect the H.R. Giger aesthetic of the source films.

Audio

The AVP SNES soundtrack provides atmospheric sci-fi horror music — dark ambient compositions for Alien-infested environments, driven tracks for combat sequences. The audio maintains the films' tension appropriately.

Replayability

Seven stages with two character choices and two-player co-op. Dutch and Linn's different weapon sets create different combat styles for replay. The two-player co-op is the game's strongest replay context.

Historical Significance

Alien vs. Predator (SNES, 1993) is a SNES-exclusive beat-em-up distinct from the Capcom arcade game of similar name (1994). Both games use the Aliens vs. Predator concept but have completely different designs. The SNES AVP predates the arcade version and represents Capcom's first AVP game. The game was rated T (Teen) — unusual for a SNES game in 1993 — reflecting the mature horror content. The dark atmosphere and licensed sci-fi horror content made it stand out from most SNES action games of the era.

✅ Pros

+ Two distinct characters with different weapon sets
+ Dark sci-fi horror atmosphere from Alien/Aliens film license
+ Two-player simultaneous co-op
+ Varied Alien enemy types from facehuggers to Queen
+ Capcom beat-em-up production quality

❌ Cons

- SNES version distinct from arcade AVP — may disappoint arcade fans seeking the same game
- Short seven-stage campaign
- T rating reflects dark content that may limit audience
- Beat-em-up genre conventions limit innovation

Also Known As

AVP SNESAlien vs Predator SNESエイリアンVSプレデター SNES

Alien vs. Predator FAQ

How is the SNES Alien vs. Predator different from the Capcom arcade game?

The SNES Alien vs. Predator and the Capcom arcade game (1994) are completely different games sharing the same license. The arcade game is a three-player beat-em-up where players control two Predator types and an android against Alien forces. The SNES game is a two-player beat-em-up where players control Dutch Schaefer (from the Predator film) and Linn Kurosawa (an original character). The stages, enemy encounters, combat systems, and visual styles are entirely different. The SNES game predates the arcade release by approximately one year. Players expecting the arcade game on SNES will find a distinct experience. Both games use the Alien vs. Predator concept from the Dark Horse comics crossover that preceded the feature films.

Who are the playable characters in Alien vs. Predator SNES?

Alien vs. Predator SNES features two playable characters. Dutch Schaefer is the mercenary protagonist drawn from the Predator film — he carries military weapons including a plasma cannon that fires energy projectiles at range, and uses his military training in close combat. Linn Kurosawa is an original character — a Japanese combat specialist who excels at close-quarters combat with blade weapons and throws smart discs as her ranged option. The two characters have different strengths: Dutch's plasma cannon provides better ranged coverage; Linn's close combat is faster and more effective against dense enemy groupings. In two-player co-op, combining Dutch's ranged support with Linn's close-quarters aggression creates natural role division.

What types of Aliens appear in the game?

Alien vs. Predator SNES features multiple Alien life stage and variant types reflecting the Aliens film series. Facehuggers are small, fast-moving early-stage threats that charge across the floor. Chest-bursters erupt from hosts and move erratically before maturing. Warrior drones are the primary enemy type — adult Aliens with melee attacks and the series' characteristic black biomechanical appearance. Alien soldiers appear in larger configurations in later stages. The Alien Queen boss encounter escalates the threat scale significantly. The variety in Alien types reflects the H.R. Giger-designed creature's lifecycle from the films, creating enemy encounters that match the source material's different threat categories.

Is Alien vs. Predator SNES available on modern platforms?

Alien vs. Predator SNES has not received a modern digital re-release. The Alien vs. Predator license involves multiple rights holders — Alien (Fox/Disney), Predator (Fox/Disney), and Capcom's game design — creating licensing complexity for re-release. Original SNES cartridges are available through retro game stores at moderate to above-average collector prices. The Capcom arcade AVP game (1994) has received limited inclusion in Capcom compilations but the SNES game specifically remains uncompiled. The AvP concept has continued through films (2004, 2007) and other games but the original SNES Capcom game has not been legally re-released on any current platform.