On paper, it seemed like a winning formula: take a bunch of cowboys, pit them against invading aliens, and see who comes out of it alive. Hot on the heels of a major theatrical release, GameLoft is releasing a Cowboys & Aliens game to the Market.

However, instead of the star-studded film (which, if you figure the $89 million earnings and $160 budget, was a huge flop), this game chooses to focus on the comic they used as source material.

Gameloft seems to have taken the title of "tie-in" developer, as they have experience releasing apps featuring properties like Shrek, Assassin's Creed, Fast 5, Avatar, and Spider-Man. Let's hope this game isn't a quick cash-in on a film's success.

From the look of the screenshots, the game uses an on-screen keyboard to control your character, who has a number of weapons and tools (both man-made and alien) at his disposal. The game reminds me a lot of the classic arcade game Sunset Riders, or even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time; it has a lot of the same aesthetic to it, and hopefully provides a great arcade experience.

 

While neither Gameloft nor Cowboys & Aliens (the film) are in my good graces, I'll give the game a chance based on the fact that it provokes some weird sense of nostalgia for me. You can expect a full review soon.

The game retails at $2.99 and can be purchased from the link below.