Do you have what it takes to get a review published right here on Kotaku? Ben does, as he pews pews pews all over his handheld.
More levels, more bosses, more enemies, and two classic arcade emulators add even more extreme to Space Invaders Extreme as new DLC for the Xbox Live Arcade version drops from the sky tomorrow.
The Taito corporation double teams Xbox Live Arcade this week with the release of two high-definition remakes. Arkanoid Live! and Space Invaders Extreme lead the week’s new additions, with Zombie Wranglers bringing up the rear.
Taito will release Space Invaders Extreme on Xbox Live Arcade later this month, a high-definition remake of one 2008′s best portable games. Xbox owners get more than just extra pixels—they also get extra Jeff Minter.
Yes, there will be a Space Invaders Extreme 2. Those early retail listings weren’t lying, with importer Nation Console Support adding new information on what the sequel will bring. It’s bringing bingo.
Taito is readying two classic arcade franchises for handheld release this year, hoping to introduce a new generation of gamers to the joys of Space Invaders and Arkanoid. Arkanoid DS takes the old favourite and slaps on new modes, colorful backgrounds, and multiplayer options for what sounds like a pretty nifty DS experience. Space Invaders is being re-imagined as the faster-paced and more intense Space Invaders Extreme for the PSP and DS, which I assume will play best while eating Doritos and drinking Mountain Dew while skydiving. I really despise the adjective extreme. “Both SPACE INVADERS and ARKANOID are milestones in computer game history,” said Akira Ohtsuki, TAITO’s General Manager of CS R&B Development, AM Business Division. “We are thrilled to introduce these legendary games to a new generation of players and reignite the excitement for fans of the original titles.”
Both games will be available on June 17th at an extreme game store near you.
Taito’s Space Invaders Revolution didn’t quite reinvent the archetypal arcade series for a new generation as its titled promised, but the company is giving it another go with Space Invaders Extreme. Like the previous Nintendo DS game, Taito adds new power ups and weapons to the formula, but takes the shooting action in an entirely new direction. Focusing on combos, rhythmically driven gameplay and fast paced, more Galaga-like invader formations, many may look at the game and assume it’s developed by Lumines creator Q Entertainment. In fact, it seems to follow the Q design formula so closely, others may call it a rip off.
Not unlike Q’s Gunpey and Every Extend Extra, Space Invaders Extreme adds layers of trippy effects, filling the screen with an excessive amount of visual noise. Even more suspect, your shots will trigger sound effects that I could swear were ripped straight from Rez.
Gameplay-wise though, it does add a handful of fresh elements to make the constant shooting a bit more exciting. You’ll get bonuses for destroying invaders by column, by color, by shape, or by row and be rewarded for doing so with points and alternate stages. There’s a Fever Mode that’s essentially a point grabbing free-for-all and a Roulette Shot that awards you with extra lives.
With the slight sketchiness of latching on to the Q schtick of success, it may seem like Space Invaders Extreme is a me-too gimmick filled attempt at bringing relevance to a 30-year old arcade game. It was enjoyable for the first fifteen minutes, but it’s unclear whether this simple enjoyment will last beyond that. We’ll know more when the game hits early 2008.
