Us vs. Them

About

Us vs. Them is a 1984 arcade shooter that leans into the wild side of laserdisc technology. You take on the role of a soldier battling alien invaders using a mix of pre-recorded video footage and computer-generated overlays. The screen scrolls dynamically as you aim and shoot in any direction, fending off waves of extraterrestrial threats. Both single player and split-screen multiplayer modes let you tackle the same chaotic scenarios, with the gameplay feeling like a glorified VHS tape spliced together with digital doodads. What sticks out is how it weaves snippets of live-action performances into the action. For its time, this was a gimmick that few others tried, actors playing soldiers and aliens are clearly visible in the footage, making the game feel more like a warped movie set than a traditional video game. While not everyone’s cup of cyber-punch, retro enthusiasts often cite it as an early experiment in blending cinematic elements with gameplay. The novelty hasn’t aged perfectly but fans of glitchy tech history still give it a 7.2 average on the PlayPile forums.