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SPACE INVADERS EXTREME (DS)
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Publisher: Square Enix.
Developer: Taito. Released: July 2008 (Europe). Genre: Shoot 'em up. Other versions: X360; PSP. Posted 4th November 2020. By Tom Clare © 2020 |
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2008’s Space Invaders reboot, released to mark 30 years since the venerated shoot ‘em up first took arcades by storm, represents one of the series’ strongest outings of the period. After 2005’s Space Invaders Revolution had proven something of a misnomer on account of its retrograde gameplay, Extreme is far more befitting of its legacy. It brings some pizazz to the formula along with a host of nice, format-specific touches that make the Nintendo DS version one to own.
Like Pac-Man Championship Edition before it, SIE sticks to the basic gameplay tenants of the original, jazzing them up with a funky fusion of retro-modern sprites, psychedelic backdrops and a combo system that makes for a smoother, faster and more fluid gameplay experience.
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Space Invaders Extreme bristles with energy, delivering a speedy, streamlined take on the seventies classic
You know the deal, it’s Space Invaders: shooting rows of alien invaders from a 2D horizontal plane at the base of the screen. Blasting four consecutive ships of the same colour (be they green, red or blue) grants burst fire, bomb or laser weaponry for a brief period, allowing the player to mow through waves, racking up the combos and building those all-important high-scores. Shooting saucers along the top of the screen instigates a variety of quick-fire mini-challenges which reward a ‘Fever’ period, a lengthier spell with powerful weaponry. Add to this roulettes that grant shields, weapons and even a second, accompanying ship to help out in the fight and you’ve got a game that’s jam-packed with features. The phases are so seamless and rapid, there’s tonnes of action.
Why is the DS version superior to the Xbox 360 and PSP iterations? They’re all very similar in terms of design and content, but this portable outing has a couple of notable features up its sleeve. Firstly, boss fights take advantage of the dual screens, allowing for some epic encounters. One particularly clever setup involves bouncing shots off shielded enemies on the top screen, to hit a boss on the lower one. Between these and the bonus sections, the game makes great use of the vertical aspect. Secondly, the DS version offers fantastic peer-to-peer multiplayer. Taito has taken inspiration from another of their arcade classics, Puzzle Bobble, in pitting two players against one another. Successful waves and combos lead to your opponent facing divebomb attacks and additional waves of enemies. The best part? The top screen shows how your friend is fairing, displayed in a retro veneer somewhat reminiscent of the eighties home computer versions. It’s a really lovely touch.
Why is the DS version superior to the Xbox 360 and PSP iterations? They’re all very similar in terms of design and content, but this portable outing has a couple of notable features up its sleeve. Firstly, boss fights take advantage of the dual screens, allowing for some epic encounters. One particularly clever setup involves bouncing shots off shielded enemies on the top screen, to hit a boss on the lower one. Between these and the bonus sections, the game makes great use of the vertical aspect. Secondly, the DS version offers fantastic peer-to-peer multiplayer. Taito has taken inspiration from another of their arcade classics, Puzzle Bobble, in pitting two players against one another. Successful waves and combos lead to your opponent facing divebomb attacks and additional waves of enemies. The best part? The top screen shows how your friend is fairing, displayed in a retro veneer somewhat reminiscent of the eighties home computer versions. It’s a really lovely touch.
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A thumping soundtrack, gorgeous menus and eclectic, eye-catching visuals: this thirtieth-anniversary celebration absolutely nails the presentation, proving a fitting update to its source. Whilst the Arcade mode is five stages long, there are branching paths to discover, taking the tally to more than a dozen in all. High-score opportunities and a multitude of levels deliver surprisingly robust long-term incentives for fans. It loses marks for an inconsistent difficulty level and some frustrating, cheap-feeling deaths. It’s also a shame that there’s no auto-fire, which would have made for a fairly fundamental improvement. Maybe I’m just getting old, but two or three stages on the spin and you’re in for some serious hand-cramp, through hammering the fire button with such regularity.
In the scheme of things, its not as addictive or as ingenious as Pac-Man Championship Edition, nor as compelling as top-tier DS blasters like Nanostray. Perhaps because the basic formula is so familiar, it might not excite those weaned on 3D. Still, it’s a really cool game. If you’re a fan of the legendary shoot ‘em up, then this is one of the worthiest Space Invaders updates. Brilliant multiplayer and smart use of the screens make the DS version an essential choice for fans.
In the scheme of things, its not as addictive or as ingenious as Pac-Man Championship Edition, nor as compelling as top-tier DS blasters like Nanostray. Perhaps because the basic formula is so familiar, it might not excite those weaned on 3D. Still, it’s a really cool game. If you’re a fan of the legendary shoot ‘em up, then this is one of the worthiest Space Invaders updates. Brilliant multiplayer and smart use of the screens make the DS version an essential choice for fans.
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VERDICT
"It loses marks for an inconsistent difficulty level [but] this is one of the worthiest Space Invaders updates. Brilliant multiplayer and smart use of the screens mean the DS version is an essential choice for fans." OVERALL: 7/10 |