Retro-style shoot ‘em up Squadron 51 takes off later this year

Aliens have found earth and the human race is under threat. It’s up to you, an ace pilot of Squadron 51, to take to the skies in one of four old-school fighter planes and lay waste to the invaders in this dimension-bending shoot ‘em up. If you fail, humanity is doomed to a dark future of oppression under alien rule.

Squadron 51 is all action and features 2D combat in a world of deep 3D environments. If the name didn’t give it away, Squadron 51’s style is inspired by 1950s science fiction classics like War of the Worlds, Godzilla, and Dr. Strangelove.  It’s all in black and white and features live-action cutscenes to help tell the story.

Fight and flight

When they first arrived, the aliens promised a brighter future for humanity. However, a darker side to alien occupation was soon revealed. Director Zarog, leader of the VEGA Corporation, is performing violent and oppressive acts on humans. That’s where you come in.

You will play as Lieutenant Kaya, one of the leaders of the rebel forces. In your fight for freedom, you’ll battle an unrelenting fleet of alien aircraft, flying saucers, and monsters in 11 different environments – from snowy mountains, to forests, to cityscapes, and more.

Bullet hell meets shoot ’em up as you battle hordes of alien aircraft.

Squadron 51 features dynamic difficulty. Whether you’re a rookie or a veteran, you can still enjoy the game’s non-stop dogfighting action. While this game does borrow classic themes, it features some modern features. For example, a second player can also enter a level as your wingman at any time. Together, you’ll be able to unlock new weapons and upgrades for your fighter planes.

Squadron 51 is scheduled to release on PC through Steam later in 2021. There’s no release date yet. However, you can add it to your Steam wishlist to ensure you don’t miss the launch.