Activision's recent update to Space Invaders has a great nostalgic feel to it. Anyone who remembers the original can think back to groups of aliens
flying side by side in a dance-like sequence, inching every closer to your spaceship. Better graphics and new weapons are great in this update, but it's
that old-school gameplay that keeps this game afloat.
The premise is simple. Fire at the aliens in front of you that are lined up like ducks in a shooting gallery and head to the next level. Activision didn't
stray too far from the original Space Invaders, and that's a good thing. There are some subtle game changes though. Shoot four aliens in a row and you
can gain a super weapon that'll wipe out more than one alien. A two-player mode is also available for those who don't want to take on aliens alone.
The look of the game is clean and has a dark feel to it. Flat 2D backdrops sets the playing field to blast aliens, while the aliens themselves are in sharp
metallic robot form. The aliens and your spaceship are made out of polygons, and make all objects are well animated as they move about on the screen.
Blasting aliens can get a little boring without some good music to pump up the adrenaline. Space Invaders has some cool thumping beats during all of
its levels that keeps the action fast paced. The expolsions of enemy ships are loud and blow up with enough base to make it feel gratifying.
There isn't all that much new in the Space Invaders update, which is both good and bad. The classic gameplay is intact, but there isn't a reason to get
this game unless you feel compelled to play the original.
-- Marcus Lai
