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First hypnotic footage of Space Invaders Extreme 2
We've been anxious to see footage of Space Invaders Extreme 2 since we first found out about the game. Admittedly, it hasn't been very long, but we've still been in total agony. As expected, SIE 2 doesn't stray far from the original formula: the player shoots at Invaders of various colors, shapes, and sizes, with the sounds of the shots syncing to both the thumping and psychedelic backgrounds. You can see the new "bingo" system in the beginning of the video, in which a bonus round is unlocked by shooting Invaders of the same color, corresponding to a line of colored blocks in a square.And now for some wishful thinking: who thinks the announcer is just part of the video and not in the actual game?
Warning: Space Invaders Extreme 2 screens approaching
Finally! After NCSX pretty much confirmed its existence, Famitsu has come to our rescue with some new details and screens for Space Invaders Extreme 2. We know the game's power-up system is getting the once-over and being fleshed out a bit more in the sequel, and that a Bingo Fever mode is being added. Considering how great the first game was, you can bet we're extra excited about this.Hit up Famitsu here to check out the screens and details. Or click here if you want the Japanese translated for you (badly).
DS Daily: Space Invaders Moderate
So we were thinking about Space Invaders Extreme, as we often do (it's so dreamy), and a few things occurred to us: first, that a lot of DS owners are really young, and second, that Space Invaders is, in video game years, not young at all. Which means that a lot of people could have picked up Extreme without ever having experienced the original. If you'd never played Taito's epochal 1978 shmup, did Extreme make you curious enough to give it a try? Or maybe you had played it before and the new sequel just inspired you to pick it back up? Does it still hold any appeal to you?%Gallery-14613%
Gaming to Go: Space Invaders Extreme
My fingers hurt. If Space Invaders Extreme is anything, it's an absolute workout for the fingers, a test of endurance, passion, and an opportunity for developer Taito to take an old formula and crank things up to 11. Very rarely does slapping on the word 'extreme' actually mean anything, but this latest incarnation of Space Invaders is an exception to that rule, as my sore thumbs can attest.Did you miss out on the original Space Invaders? The classic was before your time, perhaps, or deemed unworthy for whatever coins you could bleed out of your piggy bank. Dry your tears, friend! This extreme update of a retro classic is your greatest chance to find peace in these discordant times. Come along with this week's edition of Gaming to Go to see why saving quarters all those years ago might have been a good idea after all.**So now you can buy this, see? Not because the original was bad or ... nevermind. #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } NEXT >> %Gallery-14613%
Deal of the Day: Space Invaders Extreme for $10
Want a cheap stocking stuffer for a PSP owning friend? Well, Space Invaders Extreme might fit the bill. GameStop stores are selling it for only $10. It launched at $20, and that was already a bargain. Now, at $10, there's little excuse not to have it in your collection. It is a difficult game, though -- read our review to find out more.[Via CAG]
Space Invaders Extreme heading to PlayStation Network
The PEGI watchdogs at Siliconera have discovered yet another PlayStation Network downloadable: Space Invaders Extreme. Taito's re-imagining of the classic arcade shooter got tons of accolades for its psychedelic visuals and music when the game launched on PSP and DS earlier this year. Backbone Entertainment will be responsible for bringing the action from the tiny screens to the big 1080p screen. No other details are known at this time.
VC Tuesday: Space Invaders Get Overturned
Nintendo of Japan has started off December the right way: with a bunch of video games. Between Virtual Console and WiiWare, an astounding six new (or new to Wii) games are available in Japan today. Of course, one of those games is Atlantis no Nazo, which was so bad, it was almost released as a sequel to Super Pitfall. The other, Space Invaders: Fukkatsu no Hi (Day of Resurrection) contains the original Invaders along with a "Plus" mode that adds new graphics and powerups. It's also 200 points cheaper than the other version of original Space Invaders. Atlantis no Nazo (Famicom, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Space Invaders: Fukkatsu no Hi (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) The WiiWare game you're most likely to care about is Overturn, the Balance Board-compatible, online robot fighting game. We like Yomikikase Asobi Wii, the interactive Momotarou storybook, but it's got pretty tough competition from online robot fighting. Overturn (1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Pit Crew Panic! (1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) Hamaru Billiards (1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Yomikikase Asobi Wii (1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points) %Gallery-35205%
Life Force, Nobunaga, more on Japanese VC in December
The Virtual Console offerings for Japan in December are fairly lean once again. It's fairly depressing to see Nintendo of Japan adopting Nintendo of America's stance toward the Virtual Console (that stance being "there probably don't need to be many games on it.") At least the ones coming out are reasonably interesting! Well, except for another Wonder Boy. We're definitely excited about Konami's Salamander on the Famicom, because it means we may see the American version, Life Force, soon! One of the other Famicom releases, Atlantis no Nazo, is featured in the latest Famicom Dojo video.Other interesting additions include Nobunaga's Ambition on the Super Famicom (what a coincidence!) and a Taito platformer called Jigoku Meguri whose title translates to Tour of Hell. The full list is after the break!
VC Friday: A question of value
This week's PAL Virtual Console line-up isn't short on quality, but it represents fairly awful value. As dreamy as we find any Metal Slug title, there are cheaper ways to play all three of this week's offerings. Want Metal Slug 2? We'd recommend picking up this. Fancy having your delicate gamer's ego rudely kicked in by Forgotten Worlds? There's an excellent compilation out there for a bunch of platforms that costs peanuts and comes with another 20 or so games. If you can't find Space Invaders for less than £6/€8, you're probably reading the wrong website. Better still: lavish those points on Space Invaders Get Even!. Metal Slug 2 -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii Points Space Invaders: The Original Game -- SNES -- 800 Wii Points Forgotten Worlds -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points See videos of all three (including footage of one David Hinkle showing off his skillz at Space Invaders and Forgotten Worlds) after the break.
Space Invaders Get Even (with North America) Dec 1st
This Monday, those of us that weren't lucky enough to already receive Space Invaders Get Even will finally be able to download this very awesome game. Square Enix dished out a press release stating as much, assuring those of us who've been biting our fingernails down to the bone whilst waiting for the game that our time is near. For 500 Wii Points, you can bet that we'll be picking this one up.So, who's going to download this come December 1st? Have you read our review yet?%Gallery-25384%
VC Monday Madness: Space Invaders and Forgotten Worlds
Oh, what, you thought you were off the hook this week? No way, as we're here with our latest VC Monday Madness video. Late, but here nonetheless. This week, we've got two different games to download on the Virtual Console, so hit up the video above and then cruise past the break for the rest.
Space Invaders from Forgotten Worlds on Virtual Console
It looks like we're going to have to stop by the wheelbarrow store on our way home today, because the Virtual Console is going to need one to carry its giant balls. How giant, you ask? Here's what we were greeted with when we checked Nintendo's weekly release:"SPACE INVADERS: The Original Game (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)" No, seriously. That's what it says. It's pretty ballsy from the outset, but it only gets progressively more so as you examine the listing. (1) They spell it in all caps, like "Yes, that SPACE INVADERS." (2) They follow that up with "The Original Game," as if to clarify that yes, they are, in fact, asking for eight dollars to play a game from the Carter administration. (3) They actually list it before the perfectly acceptable Forgotten Worlds (Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points), today's other release.... Come to think of it, we're not even sure there's a wheelbarrow big enough.
VC Friday: Resistance is futile
EX-TERM-IN-ATE! EX-TERM-IN-ATE! Wait, no, those are the other ones. But whatever. The point is: after hearing nothing about Space Invaders Get Even! for months, the game has randomly appeared on the European and Australian Wii Shops. We are unashamedly jigging with joy as we type this. And the extra-terrestial goodness doesn't stop there, for Alien Crush Returns has also joined the line-up. Needless to say, we wholeheartedly welcome our new rulers (of all our spare time). The other game is Brain Challenge. Sorry, Brain Challenge. Alien Crush Returns -- WiiWare -- 800 Nintendo Points Brain Challenge -- WiiWare -- 1000 Nintendo Points Space Invaders Get Even! -- WiiWare -- 500 Nintendo Points %Gallery-25384%
Bury the Shovelware: Space Invaders Revolution vs Space Invaders Extreme
For this edition of Bury the Shovelware, we're talking Space Invaders. We'll be examining the recently released and critically acclaimed Space Invaders Extreme against 2005's suspected shovelware Space Invaders Revolution. Pedigree Space Invaders is a staple of the industry. Some incorrectly identify it as the first video game. Though this is incorrect, its significance to gaming as a whole just might make it the most important game of all-time. Released in 1978, the title was groundbreaking in that it changed the public's perception of gaming from being an interesting obscurity to a major form of entertainment. Check your local Wikipedia for more information. Like many classics, the game has been re-packaged and re-released countless times. In its four years of life, two separate versions of the game have been released for the DS. Both versions were developed by industry veteran Taito, creator of the original ground-breaking title. But while Space Invaders Extreme was published by heavyweight Square Enix, Space Invaders Revolution was published by Rising Star Games. Though virtually unknown by comparison, the publisher has been given access to a surprising number of classic franchises, including Bomberman, Dungeon Explorer, Bubble Bobble, and New Zealand Story.
VC Tuesday: Storage space invaders
This week, Japanese gamers can spend 800 Wii Points to make their Wii pretend to be a Super Famicom pretending to be a circa-1978, 8080-based arcade board. How meta! Despite the outrageous antiquity of Space Invaders, it remains fun to play, and that infernal soundtrack climbs into the brain like those disgusting worm things from Star Trek II, but in kind of a good way. In any case, The Original Game is more of a remake than a port, with a new 2-player mode accompanying a faithful recreation.Also on the VC: Falcom's side-scrolling ARPG Sorcerian and Taito's adorable Bobble-like platformer Liquid Kids. Space Invaders: The Original Game (Super Famicom, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Sorcerian (Mega Drive, 1 player, 700 Wii Points) Mizubaku Adventure (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) On WiiWare, an educational storybook game for kids about a kind of Japanese mythological creature. That eats children. Kappa-kun to Asobou: Kappa-kun to Mori no Nakamatachi (1 player, 600 Wii Points)
Space Invaders Get Even with Dinobots
The cybernetic sauropod seen at the end of this stirring Space Invaders Get Even! trailer may not be the genuine Grimlock, but it may as well be. Or is it more of a Mechagodzilla riff? In either case, it's just one of the overblown, yet futile, weapons the puny hu-mans wheel out in an effort to stop the inevitable Space Invasion.We love pretty much everything about the concept of this game, from the division into bite-sized chunks to the way it changes the usual neatly-stacked Invader lines to swarming masses, adding even more to the inversion of the normal Space Invaders experience.%Gallery-25384%
Japanese VC releases next month: Square Enix shares a Secret
Nintendo has updated their Japanese VC website with next month's planned releases, including one extremely beloved game from general VC holdout Square Enix: Seiken Densetsu 2, otherwise known as Secret of Mana. Super Famicom fans will also have the opportunity to give Square Enix eight bucks for Space Invaders, which seems kind of high but also irresistably alluring. It does allow you to simulate the cellophane color bars from the arcade machine! Taito's Liquid Kids, a platformer about a hippo who freezes enemies with water bubbles, rounds out the Square Enix (and affiliates) releases.We're particularly excited to see Capcom's shooter Forgotten Worlds and the PC Engine version of Super Dodge Ball. See the full list after the break, along with some upcoming US releases via Hudson. There's a surprise!
Wii Warm Up: When a little extra is too much
Hear the one about the WiiWare game that cost 500 Wii Points and came with 1,500 Points worth of downloadable content? We refer, of course, to Space Invaders Get Even!, a title that we have gushed about for some time, only to discover it comes with some very pricey DLC. Once we've forked out 500 Points for the barebones game, we've still got to pay three times that again for the full package, essentially making it more expensive than (almost) all other WiiWare!We understand why DLC appeals to publishers such as Square Enix, and we also know that we don't have to download it (so please, no need to enlighten us in the comments), but do you think Space Invaders Get Even!'s DLC is excessive? Where do you personally draw the line on what you'll spend on downloadable extras? And in your opinion, what percentage of a game's total cost should consist of DLC?%Gallery-25384%
Space Invaders Get DLC overload
Our worst suspicions are confirmed. Space Invaders Get Even! will cost us weak, pathetic earthlings more than we initially expected. While the game always sounded like a bargain at 500 Wii Points, the hidden threat of extra downloadable content loomed at the back of our minds. Three stage packs released today in Japan (along with the game), each priced at 500 Wii Points, and bringing the total cost of Space Invaders Get Even! to -- gnaaargh! -- 2,000 Wii Points. Siliconera notes that the main title is "a short game."We should have known all along, really. After all, this is Square Enix we're talking about here, renowned admirers of DLC. Needless to say, we'll yield and buy it all. Our defences have already succumbed to a hail of missiles the game's relentless charm offensive.%Gallery-25384%
Invaders! artist provides context to controversial piece
Sometimes being the World's Most Dedicated Video Game Blog isn't easy. Like when we have to read a long, dense response from Douglas Edric Stanley, the artist who created the controversial Space Invaders/World Trade Center piece that you've been reading about all week. Oh, and it's just barely 9 a.m. Joystiq Time (and did we mention it's long?). You know what that is? Dedication.What'd we learn from the admittedly well-reasoned response? Well, in (very) short, Stanely's piece (see the video after the break) appears to be a way for him to understand, to contextualize what happened on that September morning, attempting to find some sense in a senseless act. While we appreciate Stanley's urge to add context to the inflammatory piece, it kind of makes us sad that he had to explain it at all. And, perhaps more troubling, it doesn't really answer the big moral question: Where's the promised four-player online co-op?
