Space Invaders is one of the most recognized games ever created. If offered simple yet addictive gameplay. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Space Invaders returns in an all new game.
The game offers several modes of play, each with 5 main stages where each stage has different branches to choose from. The first is "arcade mode" which allows you to go through the game at your pace and allows you to save and restart from the beginning of levels should you fail. So if you find yourself not able to always complete a full round of games or are new to the game this mode is a good way to practice.
The 2nd mode is "Ranking Mode" which is the same as Arcade mode except that you get no continues and you can't save progress. Whatever score you get is then flagged for upload when you look at the online leaderboard.
Both arcade and ranking mode are then split into two categories Normal and Extreme. Normal starts you off on an easier stage 1 and as you progress it lets you decide which route to take, either an easier or harder one, based on how well you do. Do well and you can pick the harder stage but if you do poor then you are forced to take the easy stage.
Extreme consists of 5 hard stages. You follow a set path and cannot pick different stages. As you would guess, the stages get harder and harder allowing for a much more difficult space invaders experience.
For offline ranking, both arcade and ranking are tracked for both normal and extreme modes. Online ranking consists only of Ranking mode. More on that in the multiplayer section.
Gameplay in Space Invaders Extreme is simple. You can move left to right at the bottom of the screen and you shoot with either A or B.
The thing that is different in terms of gameplay from the original space invaders is that there are several colors of ships, several ship shapes, several special ships, etc. If you kill 4 of the same color of ship in a row then you get a power up. Powerups range from a huge laser that blasts things, a spread shot, a bomb shot, a shield, etc. The more ships you kill also increases your "level" which makes your shot both stronger and bigger. A higher level also makes the powerup you have stronger, e.g. a level 1 blue-powerup is a lot thinner than a level 10 blue-powerup.
Another new addition is the Round feature. If you kill 4 colors in a row then kill 4 different colors in a row then a flashing colored UFO flies overhead. Destroy it and you get a brief bonus stage. This stage varies from killing a lot of enemies, certain enemies, formations, getting items, etc. in a time limit. If you succeed you enter "fever" mode in which your ship is temporarily boosted to Level 10 and given a power up to destroy the invaders. It's quite a fun addition to the game.
The graphics in Space Invaders Extreme is that of a very vibrant game. It uses simple colors and shapes that hold true to the original game. The invaders and your cannon use the same graphic that was used in the 1978 Arcade classic and it works well. The background is a trippy kind of graphic that changes a lot and can be distracting at times but can also be turned off in the options.
The audio of this game is pretty unique. Instead of having the classic shooting sounds they have replaced it with sounds that work with the game's music track. When you shoot you get a tune that goes with the song. When you kill invaders you get more tunes. It really adds to the gameplay in my opinion.
The multiplayer aspect of this game is great, it's basically who can live the longest. It can be played both offline and online via wi-fi. You are on the bottom screen while you watch your opponent on the top screen. You both have the same waves of enemies to get through and as you clear one wave another appears. While killing invaders you have a gauge on the top screen which fills. If you kill a UFO as it passes (they pass very often) then any of the invaders in that gauge will be sent to your opponent. They can do the same to you.
The online version of this consists of a ranking system that starts you off at 5,000 rating and increases or decreases as you win or lose. Only wins are tracked and shown in your rating window. Rating will determine who you face. You can battle players from all over the world as well. The game also supports friend codes.
As mentioned earlier, your high score from the Ranking Mode will be uploaded to the leaderboards and compared to those of other people. The game only shows the top 10 players worldwide but will also display your score underneath that along with your rank, for example I am ranked about 150ish in Extreme mode for ranking.
I was worried at first that they would only show top 10 and not give you an idea of where you were but I was pleasantly surprised to see that I can see my rank. The game makers also seem dedicated to making sure no cheaters stay on top for long. When I first started playing I looked at the scores and saw a score of "14,065,500,000" as first place with the 2nd place person being only "9,744,000". Within a few hours this bogus score was removed and now all scores appear to be legit. I hope this trend keeps up as I would like to have a chance to appear on the top 10 someday.
Final Verdict:
If you like shmups, classic gaming, or are just a fan of quick and fun to play games then this game is for you. I bought this game on a whim and am glad I did. It is one of the most addicting games I have ever played. The hours seem to just fly by. At only a $20 price tag, you should pick this game up, no questions asked.
This product is available as Renewed.
Space Invaders Extreme - Nintendo DS (Renewed) $27.00 + $11.05
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Product information
| Publication Date | June 17, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Computer Platform | Nintendo DS |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00662248908021 |
| UPC | 662248908021 |
| ASIN | B00161I5IG |
| Release date | June 17, 2008 |
| Customer Reviews |
3.5 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #120,335 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #1,818 in Nintendo DS Games |
| Product Dimensions | 4.75 x 5.25 x 0.5 inches; 4 ounces |
| Type of item | Video Game |
| Rated | Everyone |
| Item model number | 662248908021 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | Yes |
| Item Weight | 4 ounces |
| Manufacturer | Square Enix |
| Date First Available | March 16, 2008 |
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