Quoted from Whysnow:ok, that helps. When you say multiball, I am going to assume it is the 2 ball mutiball that is part of that distinct flavor of the game. Also sounds like you specifically like the Gottlieb sound package and theming.
I will agree with Ryan that TX-Sector and RoboWar would be the closest.
Excalibur fits also, but that is a bigger focus on drop targets.
Maybe Devils Dare or ForceII, but less so based on pf dimensions and overall layout.
Tag Team is not in the same feel and more clunk and just not as well done on the whole so I would not include that one. It does have a certain flavor but not the same style as AlienStar for me.
I would likely toss in Starlight (sorry, that one will be much harder to find) if you want similar but Williams.
I would then suggest Fathom or Centaur is you want some similars but Bally.
Just bored at work so figured I'd argue my case. I've included a side by side diagram of the playfields. The color lines and circles denote things that the games have in common. The white areas are things that I view as different between the machines.
Alien Star vs. Tag Team: Are the Games Similar?
Similarities:
1. Both games are made by the same company in roughly the same time frame (roughly 1 year apart) and even share the same designer.
2. Both games use a saucer as a ball lock. While Alien Star only has one saucer and a 2-ball multiball, Tag Team has two saucers and thus a 3-ball multiball.
3. Both games for you to spell words by hitting targets to light the locks. Alien Star = ALIEN (lock lower left) , Tag Team = TAG (lock upper left) TEAM (lock lower right)
4. Both games have an inlane to spinner shot/rule, and both games this shot is Shatz-able.
5. Both games have 3 pop bumpers all located in the upper half of the playfield.
6. Both games have playfield scoring multipliers in multiball.
7. Both games have a method to multiply your bonus.
8. Both games possess and orbital shot that feeds the pops, denoted in a curved purple line.
9. Both games plunge into the upper rollover lanes and feed the pops.
10. The inlane and flipper geometry is very similar if not identical between the machines.
Differences:
1. The most obvious difference to me is the inclusion of the third flipper on Tag Team.
2. Tag Team uses drop targets where Alien Star instead uses standup targets.
3. The kicker shot on the lower left is what starts the multiball on Tag Team, although this shot is similar to the lock shot to start multiball on Alien Star I believe it makes the multiball more difficult to achieve and is again a difference.
4. Tag Team has a virtual ball save on the lower left with its dual outlane design. Again, to me, this is an additional feature that potentially improves gameplay.
5. Tag Team has roving bonus collect shot that provides more varied scoring opportunities and strategy potential.
6. Alien Star has the randomized award collection via coordination of the standup targets and upper rollover lanes.
I believe based on the evidence I have provided in this list as well as the corroborating photographic and diagramed evidence you can now see that these two games, again designed by the same company, at roughly the same time, by the same person actually have a lot in common in their layouts, rules, and overall gameplay.
Alien Star vs Tag Team Chart (resized).jpg