Think of what attracted you to Space Invaders in the past? It certainly wasn’t killer graphics or sound effects. Gameplay has been and always will be its selling point. Even with a simple plot and ridiculously repetitive stages, it was addictive — a narcotic, more appropriately, that kept us up for hours and ate tons of our hard-earned quarters. The objective: wipe out waves of aliens from your land-based vehicle, armed only with a laser cannon, while dodging enemy fire in coordinated attack formations. Simple in theory, yet so freakin difficult to accomplish.
Twenty years later, the goal remains the same. The mission begins on Pluto and if you’re lucky enough to survive the onslaught, you’ll end up on Earth. In between, you’ll encounter a slew of enemies, much smarter than before. Thirteen different alien species round out the roster, from your basic blue or yellow bugs to your more complex Blockers, Shifters, Kamikazes and Splitters. Don’t expect them to quiver and die either. Some avoid your fire, some move out of their coordinated positions, and others try to damage your tank after being shot down. If that’s not enough, you get to face a boss before moving on to another planet.
