685th played so far
Genre: Shoot ‘Em Up
Platform: Iphone
Year of Release: 2009
Developer: Taito
Publisher: Taito
Finally, this is the last of the rushed iOS games – everything else has an off-iOS alternative or just works. Here, you’d imagine that a company the size and age of Taito would have the ability to port one of their games, but apparently it hasn’t happened.
We’ve already played the first two listed Space Invaders games: both the original and Space Invaders Extreme. The new game is focused more on evolving gameplay, which should make for an interesting shift in the game.
Our Thoughts
While the game starts off like Space Invaders, the game’s whole point is that it starts to play with the formula – evolving it, as the game says. It’s a good way to modernise it – you don’t get the sudden change you might have in normal sequels, it doesn’t stay too simple, but gets a chance to ramp up quickly.
A good example of this comes early. A basic component of Space Invaders is you stuck in the bottom row, aliens advancing while you can only move left and right. Free movement feels like something of a later era. Here, however, it’s one of the evolutions that is introduced and gives the game a different atmosphere. It really changes the game, but with the ‘narrative’ justifying it, it becomes more natural. Beyond that, a lot of it seems to come down to weapon powerups and changes, as well as enemy behaviour.
Final Thoughts
I am not sure I would have accepted this game as much if it hadn’t been Space Invaders – so far, it hasn’t offered anything other shooters haven’t done. As a way to evolve a franchise, however, it has its high points.