Space Invaders Classic
PlayStation · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Area 51
| System | PlayStation |
|---|---|
| Released | 1996 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Tantalus Interactive |
| Publisher | Midway |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Area 51 |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 8 |
Developed by Tantalus Interactive and published by Midway, Area 51 arrived on the PlayStation in 1996 as a shoot 'em up. It blends shoot 'em up and action elements.
It came out in the PS1's second year on the market. Other notable PS1 releases from 1996 include Resident Evil, Tomb Raider and Crash Bandicoot. Among the 60 PS1 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #9 by legacy score.
It is part of the Area 51 series. The series also appears on other systems with Area 51 (Saturn). Tantalus Interactive also made South Park Rally and Mary-Kate and Ashley: Winners Circle for the PS1.
Area 51 supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you have a friend to play against
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Area 51 is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Area 51 cheats & codes
53 codes on file (Action Replay, GameShark). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:
| Lives Player 1 | 8006D970
0005 |
|---|---|
| Health Player 1 | 8006D968
000A |
| Credits Player 1 | 800699BC
0009 |
| Ammo Player 1 | 8006D944
0008 |
| Grenades Player 1 | 8006D948
0001 |
| Auto Shotgun Player 1 | 8006D954
0003 |
Area 51 walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Area 51.
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Playing PS1 games today
PS1 games range from quick arcade racers to 60-hour RPGs. A selection is available through PlayStation Plus Premium, and if you own the discs you can play your backups in an emulator such as Rec0m88.
Area 51 FAQ
When did Area 51 come out on the PS1?
Area 51 was released for the PlayStation in 1996.
Who made Area 51?
It was developed by Tantalus Interactive and published by Midway.
Is Area 51 multiplayer?
Yes. Area 51 supports up to 2 players.
How long does Area 51 take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Area 51 typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Area 51 on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.