I reaaly think the best handheld game I've purchased this year is Space Invaders Extreme for the DS. It replaced Geometry Wars as my favorite DS shoot 'em up. That why it's really been bothering me lately that I see wave after wave of DS suggestion threads go by, and virtually no one suggests this game. No one I've mentioned it to seems to know about it, even the GameStop I bought it at on launch day had no idea it was coming out.

The name Space Invaders might make you think of the classic arcade game, with the thwump thwump thwump soundtrack. However SIE is the best example I can think of on how to update a classic.

Yes, this is Space Invaders.. definitely. It is, but then again it's not. It's new, hip, challenging, trippy, amazing, but yet it still is very much Space Invaders.

Square-Enix truly has made something old feel amazingly new again. It's respectful of the classic 1978 game, but this is NOT just a rehash or classic rereleased. In other words "This ain't your daddy's space Invaders". This achieves a very high level of quality for a "classic remixed" game. That's really a true rarity, you might find it only a few other places (Pac Man Championship Edition, and New Super Mario Brothers would be 2 good examples. Contra 4 might also fit here, though it is much more similiar to the original. I don't think MM9 will fit into this category either, because it is more like a continuation of MM1+2 (not that that's a bad thing, it's what the series needs.)

This is the new definitive version of Space Invaders. Forget all the endless rereleases that have come out through the years, this is "the one".

It's still 2d, with movements limited to left-right-shoot. D-pad & A button are all you will be using. But, there are new stategies. There are new enemies. There are enemies that hide behind other enemies, sometimes many of them. 2D sprites that turn sideways so they are "paper thin".  There's an incredible variety in the types of invaders, and they have various attack patterns and formations. The invader attacks are much harder to avoid, especially without the bases to hide behind. The bases used to hide behind in the traditional Old School Space Invaders are no longer there to help you.

You can use several weapons, and have to strategize which invaders to hit to get them . Invaders have new weapons as well. Some invaders shoot the traditional bombs, others shoot large lasers, others have shields that block against certain types of your attacks, others wear armor so you have to shoot them several times. Others move around the screen similiar to Galaga or Galaxian.

There are opportunuties for many bonus rounds within levels. These are plentiful and varied. You might have to shoot UFO's before a timer runs out, shoot giant Invaders, or shoot a certain amount of invaders before the timer runs out.If you can beat the bonus round you earn Fever Time, where you can power up for a short time, and earn massive points.

Shooting a group of the same colored Invaders can yield bonus points and various power ups, like lasers, bullet spreads, and bombs. You get score increases for taking out rows or columns of invaders.

There are Boss Fights. Yes, there are Boss Fights. In Space Invaders.

There is multiplayer. Local (from one cart), or flawless online. There is a Worldwide Rankings board. (The PSP one only has local multiplayer, the DS one is MUCH better).

The music is trippy, technoey electronic, and influenced by your gameplay. As you shoot, you add sounds to the soundtrack. It all seems to stay in rhythm with your gameplay. And the music is an essential part of the game. Every level has it's own sound (I'm biased to level 4). Trippy, groovy, and perfect for the game.

There is only one downside to Space Invaders Extreme. No paddle controller for America. In Japan, Taito made a weighted knob peripheral for the DS that plugs into the GBA slot at the bottom. It lets you play with a quick twist of the knob, and gives you a big advantage. SE/Tatio did not make this Paddle Controller available in the states but the game will support the paddle if you able to get one from Amazon Japan or PlayAsia. It also works for new new Arkanoid DS game. A definite purchase if you can.

For 20 bucks you won't find a better shooter than this. Buy this game. Now. If you like Space Invaders 1978, you should see what happens when a classic grows up. 

Space Invaders Extreme is actually so good it could be handheld GOTY.  I kid you not.

If you have any doubts about how amazing Space Invaders Extreme could actually be, watch entire levels of gameplay on YouTube, just search Space Invaders Extreme DS....

Has anyone else experienced the gaming bliss of Space Invaders Extreme?

I am a fiend for Space Invaders, but I think it's the runner up because Bangai-O Spirits rocks the house harder. Buy both everybody.

Did you write this review? Good review if you did.

SE knows remakes.

I want this. I just have to find $20.

Whatever you have to do to find the $20, do it. And thank you.....

I like the fancy beats everytime you hit enemies.BOSS battles are unique.

The soundtrack is out in Japan. I usually don't buy game soundtracks, but the music in SIE gets really stuck in my head. Might wind up being a purchase for me.

Square-Enix didn't make Space Invaders Extreme, they only published it. Taito still made it. Square-Enix simply owns Taito. Get your facts, people!


And while Space Invaders Extreme is indeed fun, it's also much harder than I thought it would be (grrr!), and I'd be hard-pressed to say it's the best on the DS with the knowledge that a shmup by Treasure (Lords of the Shmup, and all games with high-intensity action) is coming out in August in the form of Bangai-O Spirits.

The last two new (not used) games I bought were Geometry Wars for the Wii and Space Invaders Extreme for the DS. The next two new ones planned are also shmups: Blast Works and Gyrostarr.

Also, last night, I played UN Squadron on ye olde SNES.

I really love Shoot Em Ups, but damn if I don't suck at 'em. About the only one I've actually finished is Ikaruga (well, okay, and Gunbird2 on the Dreamcast, but that was a long time ago, and I don't actually own that game). Funny, the Genesis game I bought last night on eBay is also a kick-ass kind of Shmup: Forgotten Worlds. Ahhhh, that'll bring back some hardcore memories from my youth!

You finished Ikaruga and say you aren't good at. Shoot em ups? You have to be pretty good to do that! I own every game you mentioned except for Blast Works and they are all good!

I have recommended it to people buying PSP. I plan to get it for PSP once it goes down to $7 used :P

edit- How good is the multiplayer? All my friends have DSes and we sometimes play DS multiplayer but have run out of games.