 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| ||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
|
Space Invaders Extreme (PSP) By: Adam Waddilove Can an old classic like Space Invaders still be fun? SPACE INVADERS EXTREME is the most extreme embodiment ever made of SPACE INVADERS, the arcade classic that ignited an entire entertainment medium! By combining the essence of the original game with a stunning alliance of futuristic graphic design and cutting-edge audio, overhauled gameplay details and a whole new range of amazing power-ups, the basic concept of the iconic shooter from TAITO has transformed into a whole new way to take the fight to the alien invasion and enter the high score table! Features: Ah, Space Invaders. The most famous videogame of all time, even now it’s still as memorable as it once was, although I don’t think we play it nearly as much as we used to. Extreme recreates the classic but spruces it up with fancy visuals, widescreen support and new power-ups. But is it enough to make it a worthy purchase? Oh who am I kidding? Space Invaders Extreme is a ton of fun; it adds small changes to what is otherwise a good classic. You still play the game as you would, but it’s been stepped up a gear due to the new space invaders design. Some will form different lines, while you’ll get bonuses for taking out rows of enemies and other things. Power-ups are the big change; no longer do you have to use a useless one blaster. Now you can use a pulsating laser gun that pretty much clears the screen of invaders, a firebomb attack and a broadshot, which is like the gun from Contra in its bullet blasting.    By hitting certain types of enemies, you will go into bonus stages and be asked to clear a number of invaders in a few seconds for an additional bonus score, it’s simple but fun. At the end of each stage is a boss fight, an example of one being a big Space Invader with a shield of smaller invaders circling him and a weak spot in the middle of it. The game itself plays out like a typical arcade mode, once you have no more lives its back to the start of the level, so it’s not 100% traditional as an arcade, but that might have scared of potential players. The backgrounds on the game are somewhat distracting; depending on your own take of it. I found them to be pretty and make good use of the PSP, but it did take away the classic nature of the game. You can turn off some effects in the options menu, so that’s helpful for those who find it too distracting. The soundtrack compliments the game nicely enough, although I can’t imagine the tunes being as catchy as the original game noises. The lack of online leaderboards or online multiplayer is disappointing, but if you have a buddy with a PSP you can play over Ad-Hoc, so it’s not all bad news. It would have been great to pit your scores against that of the world, so that’s a real shame. The Verdict Space Invaders Extreme does a fine job in keeping the traditional formula intact, while making new additions to make it fresh. It’s good, old simple fun and that’s what games are all about. It would have been nice to have online functionality, but it’s a small price to pay for another great PSP game. 
|
iTunes
