Editing Area 51 (1995 video game) (section)

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| Allgame = {{rating|4.5|5}} (ARC)<ref name="AllGArc"/><br />{{rating|2.5|5}} (PS1)<ref name="AllGPS"/><br />{{rating|4|5}} (SAT)<ref name="AllGSat"/>
| CVG = 1/10 (PS1)<ref name=CVG>{{cite web|last=Fulljames|first=Stephen|title=Area 51 Review (PlayStation)|url=http://computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=7834|website=[[Computer and Video Games]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011085057/http://computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=7834|archive-date=October 11, 2007|date=August 15, 2001}}</ref>
| EGM = 5.675/10 (SAT)<ref name=EGM91>{{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: Area 51 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=91|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=February 1997 |page=58}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.1/10 (SAT)<ref name=GSSat>{{cite web |last=Kitts |first=Jeff |title=Area 51 Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/area-51-review/1900-2532873/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=6 August 2018 |date=December 17, 1996}}</ref>
| IGN = 7/10 (SAT)<ref name="IGNSat"/>
| rev1 = ''[[Computer Games Magazine]]''
| rev1Score = {{rating|2|5}} (PC)<ref name="CGM96"/>
| NGen = {{rating|3|5}} (ARC)<ref name="NGen12"/><br />{{rating|2|5}} (PS1)<ref name=NGen27>{{cite magazine |title=Area 51 |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=27|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=March 1997 |page=84}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]''
| rev3Score = 72% (SAT)<ref name=SSM18>{{cite magazine|last=Nutter|first=Lee |title=Review: Area 51|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=18|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]] |date=April 1997|pages=62–63}}</ref>
}}
''Area 51'' was a major hit in the arcades, selling over 20,000 cabinets.<ref name=RetroMaking/> It was cited as the first step in a comeback for Atari Games which brought the company from the brink of financial collapse to being a major force in the arcade industry over just a little more than a year.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=November 1997|title=NG Alphas: Atari Comes Alive|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_35/page/n79/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=35|page=78}}</ref> Executive producer Mark Pierce recalled that the home versions had above average sales by the standards of console light gun games (which typically did not sell as well as other arcade ports, since players could not get the full experience without purchasing a light gun for the console).<ref name=RetroPierce/>

''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]''{{'}}s review of the arcade version stated that "''Area 51'' provides shooters with what they want", noting in particular the dark and varied levels, realistic and graduated scenery, intriguing story themes, and fun power-ups. Despite this, the reviewer concluded that the game "stands up better against shooters of the past like ''[[Virtua Cop|Virtua Cop 1]]'' and ''[[Mad Dog McCree]]'', and not the current crop."<ref name="NGen12">{{cite magazine|date=December 1995|title=Area 51|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-012/page/n201/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=12|page=201}}</ref> The game took the number one slot in the December 1995 "Player's Choice" chart of ''RePlay Magazine''.<ref name="twi">{{cite magazine|last=Webb|first=Marcus|date=March 1996|title=Time Warner Interactive is for Sale|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-015/page/n23/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=15|page=23}}</ref>

The Saturn port received middling reviews. Critics typically commented that the game is good fun on its own terms but does not compare well to ''[[Virtua Cop 2]]'', which was released for the Saturn at roughly the same time.<ref name=EGM91/><ref name="IGNSat"/><ref name=SSM18/><ref name=GP101/> The graphics received mixed remarks due to the graininess of the FMV and the presence of screen borders,<ref name=EGM91/><ref name="IGNSat"/><ref name=SSM18/><ref name=GP101/> and like most console light gun games it was criticized as having very low longevity.<ref name=EGM91/><ref name=IGNSat/><ref name=SSM18/><ref name=GP101/>

The four reviewers of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' also found the game too easy, though they praised the retention of all the secret rooms from the arcade version.<ref name=EGM91/> Lee Nutter summarized in ''[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]'', "As shoot 'em ups go ''Area 51'' is not a bad effort, but outclassed by the [Virtua] Cop games in every conceivable way."<ref name=SSM18/> ''[[GamePro]]'' gave ''Area 51'' one of its more positive reviews, praising its frenzied pace and concluding, "''Area 51''{{'}}s sizzling action easily overcomes its sizable flaws. It's a must for diehard shooters and a superb rental for everyone else."<ref name=GP101>{{cite magazine|author=Air Hendrix|date=February 1997|title=Saturn ProReview: Area 51|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_101_Volume_09_Number_02_1997-02_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n81|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=101|page=80}}([[Wayback Machine]] [[PDF]])</ref>

Jeff Kitts of ''[[GameSpot]]'' called it "a topnotch shooter". Unlike other reviewers, he found the game's challenge and multiple difficulty levels give it sufficient longevity, and deemed the graphics "superb", citing the constant action and plot development playing out in the photorealistic backgrounds.<ref name=GSSat/> In a 1998 review of the Saturn version, [[IGN]], while remarking that the game lacks sufficient playtime or extras to last long and does not measure up to ''Virtua Cop 2'', found it to be a well-designed and fun experience in both single player and two-player mode.<ref name=IGNSat>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/01/02/area-51-6|title=Area 51 Review|last=Schneider|first=Peer|author-link=Peer Schneider|date=January 2, 1998|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=August 1, 2015}}</ref>

Steve Bauman of ''[[Computer Games Magazine]]'' gave the PC version two stars out of five and wrote, "This is a perfect example why you don't convert some arcade games to the PC." Bauman called the game "repetitive and boring" because of its lack of the arcade version's light gun.<ref name="CGM96">{{cite web |url= http://www.cdmag.com/action_vault/area_51_review/page1.html|title= Area 51 (PC) Review|last= Bauman|first= Steve|date= 1996|work= [[Computer Games Magazine]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/19961220102106/http://www.cdmag.com/action_vault/area_51_review/page1.html|archive-date= December 20, 1996|pages=1{{ndash}}2}}</ref>

The PlayStation version was largely ignored by contemporary reviewers. A ''Next Generation'' reviewer criticized the conversion, but mainly emphasized that ''Area 51'' as a 1997 console game lacked the excitement it had aroused as an arcade game in 1995. He did, however, praise the music and sound effects.<ref name=NGen27/>

In a retrospective review of the arcade version, Brad Cook of [[AllGame]] wrote, "Not only is this game fun, it's not incredibly hard either. [...] The graphics are extremely well done, and it's very fast-paced." He also praised the storyline, [[attract mode]], and varied backgrounds.<ref name="AllGArc">{{cite web|url= http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9515&tab=review|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141115122341/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9515&tab=review|title= ''Area 51'' (arcade) Review|website= [[AllGame]]|archive-date= November 15, 2014|first= Brad|last= Cook}}</ref> Anthony Baize of AllGame called the PlayStation version "very exciting." Baize remarked that while the graphics are not as good as the arcade version, they are still solid, and the unlimited continues gives it an advantage over the arcade version.<ref name="AllGPS">{{cite web|url= http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2017&tab=review |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141115122402/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2017&tab=review|title= ''Area 51'' (PlayStation) Review|website=AllGame |archive-date= November 15, 2014|first= Anthony|last= Baize}}</ref> AllGame praised the Saturn version's music and sound, and recommended that players use a light gun instead of a joypad. AllGame also wrote that the graphics were, "Not as crisp as the PS and PC versions but good for the Saturn."<ref name="AllGSat">{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1805&tab=review|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141115122148/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1805&tab=review|title= ''Area 51'' (Saturn) Review|website= AllGame|archive-date= November 15, 2014}}</ref> In 2001, Stephen Fulljames of ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' reviewed the PlayStation version and wrote that it "plays as if it's on rails - the pre-rendered environments offering a totally predictable environment. We challenge anyone not to be bored within a week."<ref name=CVG/>