space-invaders-extreme
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Friday Video: COOL and EXTREME!!
February is the month when we celebrate love -- of Space Invaders. At least that's how it goes this year, since the amazing-looking Space Invaders Extreme comes out on the 21st in Japan. Taito has released a new trailer showing off the coolness and extremeness of the new music-infused shmup. The actual gameplay is relegated to a tiny window within the trailer, but you can see some of the powerup weapons that players get as rewards for large chains, as well as some of the cool, flashy invader formations. And no matter how many times we hear it, that theme music just keeps getting cooler (and more EXTREME!!, we suppose).
2008's Biggest Blips: Space Invaders Extreme
Developer: TaitoPublisher: TaitoRelease: February 21 (Japan)You know, Space Invaders Extreme looks like an amazing title. Seriously, in both providing a kind of Pac-Man Championship Edition kind of overhaul to the original game and implementing music in brilliant fashion, it has totally blown our minds. We're absolutely certain that this will be the go-to title for instant fun, ideal for train rides and training you for the impending alien invasion to come.But, why is it such an important game if it's just the same old Space Invaders with a facelift? Because it's not. Bridging the old-school arcade shooter with visually stunning new titles like Geometry Wars: Galaxies and Rez, Space Invaders Extreme is a new experience that is anything but the same-old, same-old. And, from what we've seen, the gameplay looks so engaging, we're sure we'll do all kinds of things like neglect to feed our pets and put pants on before we go to the bank (it doesn't matter how great a deposit you are making, they're just not cool with it). Seriously, this doesn't just look like any old port of a very old game, it looks like the meth-addicted grandchild of what we once knew to be Space Invaders.This is not what you should expect.As one might assume from everything we've bombarded you with, this is all just too good to be true. It should be noted that only those in Japan should expect the title to be readily available, as this one isn't due for release outside of the region yet. So this is purely an importer's choice. But, the accessible gameplay and focus on giving us things to enjoy other than line after line of Japanese text to read make it universally adoptable to all. And, if you're feeling like you need a bit more in the way of old-school revivals, the included paddle controller with Arkanoid DS works with this game.Don't discount this title in the face of so many other high-profile games, as Space Invaders Extreme will probably be one of the best casual titles this year, if not the best rhythm-based-space-combat-simulation for the DS.%Gallery-14613% placeholder text Super Dodgeball Brawlers Back placeholder text
Space Invaders Extreme preorder gift shows impeccable logic
If there's one adjective we would apply to Space Invaders Extreme, that adjective would be ... intense. Just watching footage of Taito's stylishly remade shmup is enough to make us draw breath at the game's frenetic pace. When we do get to try it out for ourselves, there's a good chance that the sheer intensity of the experience will cause us to perspire wildly, as we carve our way through wave after wave of psychedelically colored extra-terrestrial intruders.In which case, this Space Invaders Extreme towel would be just the ticket for wiping our fevered, moist brows. Not only is it extremely stylish (it's the kind of desirable item that would encourage us to visit the beach again, forchrissakes), but it's available for free. If you preorder Space Invaders Extreme. In Japan. Damn.[Via Go Nintendo]
Space Imbibers
These awesome water bottles would be perfect for keeping hydrated during marathon sessions of a certain notoriously addictive arcade game. Or maybe just for filling up with delicious Tang and sitting down at home with some Space Invaders Extreme. These aluminum bottles feature beautiful, vintage Space Invaders art and come with carabiners, in case you want to carry one up a mountain. NCSX will offer these in April at $12.50 each. The aluminum is apparently quite hardy, so trying to shoot through it to reach Invaders is not a sound strategy.They're also taking preorders on a set of three Space Invaders keychains, each consisting of an Invader encased in a plastic cube for your safety.
Space Invaders Extremely Expensive Luggage
Yoshida & Co. know how to sell bags to nerds: put game imagery on them. We've never cared enough about luggage to choose any but the cheapest and nearest-to-our-hand suitcases, but now we kind of want some luggage -- because of how it looks!There's approximately negative infinity chance of us getting any of the items in the "Porter" Space Invaders line. Judging by the prices of Yoshida's Playstation collection (PSP case and strap: $205), we'd be better off keeping Yoshida from invading our wallet. We'd choose a copy of Space Invaders Extreme over a bag with some invaders on it.[Via Kotaku]
New Space Invaders boxart Extremely better than the last
As for the rest of this Japanese cover art for Space Invaders Extreme, the gold-on-black text is slick, as are the patterned sprites. Even if this design doesn't strike your fancy, you have to admit that it's remarkably more attractive than the cheap-looking pieces used for the series' previous remake on the DS, Space Invaders Revolution. Compare the different boxarts past the post break, and you'll agree. We've also embedded another trailer for the game -- technically, it isn't new, but it's the first time we've come across it. Considering how marvelous it is, we doubt you'll mind watching it again if you've seen the clip before!
Today's most trance-inducing video: Space Invaders Extreme
Don't let the name fool you: Space Invaders Extreme is more than just a gatorade-guzzling, visual upgrade to Taito's classic formula. Instead, Extreme is looking to entirely reinvent the wheel, by re-examining the pacing and structure of the original title, while infusing the game with a pulsing soundtrack and gameplay quirks clearly inspired by Tetsuya Mizuguchi's Rez.We admit that based on the above video, the game looks very... busy. We're hoping the game doesn't pull a Space Giraffe with the sheer amount of on-screen clutter, but we're most definitely looking forward to blasting retro-styled aliens to the beat of hypnotic techno. The game's due out in Japan in February 2008. No U.S. release has been confirmed, but it's only a matter of time.
Space Invaders Extreme hits PSP as well
Should you really get excited over a new Space Invaders game? The answer is: yes. Originally announced exclusively for the DS, the PSP will receive a widescreen version of this hyperactive re-envisioning of Taito's arcade classic. The surreal graphics, speedy gameplay, and massive power-ups gave us goosebumps at TGS, and we think PSP will be able to more than pull off an equally intense experience. In fact, we'd much rather have a wide version of the game, than be forced to look at two screens at once. It's just easier that way.Check out more screens at Dengenki Online.[Via PSPHyper]
Space Invaders streamed
We've been hyping Space Invaders Extreme relentlessly since we saw the first screens. And now that Ruliweb has made a gameplay video available, we're going to have to up our efforts. The screens and description do nothing to convey the brilliance of this game, which not only speeds up the pace of Space Invaders significantly, but adds power-ups and quickly shifting challenges, all set to a thumping soundtrack (which, to some DS Fanboy ears, evokes Genesis's "Invisible Touch") and flashy visuals.Space Invaders Extreme, in imitation of Rez, seems to time the collisions between bullets and enemies to the music, such that every explosion sets off an appropriate sound effect in time to the music. It worked to give Rez a rhythm-game feel without actually making it a rhythm game. Along with, of course, the cyber-psychedelic visuals and the optional Trance Vibrator, the musical integration just helped to make the whole experience more hypnotic. We knew that Space Invaders would probably feature something like that, but seeing it in action really shows how effective the technique is. We have watched this video at least five times already, and we're going to keep watching.
Space Invaders Extreme mixes it up
It's been a while since we saw screens of Space Invaders Extreme. We've been pacing back and forth since then, taking one step forward every time we make it from one side of the room to the other. Finally, new screens have appeared of the psychedelic, pulsing upgrade to, like, the oldest shooter ever. Along with the gorgeous new screens, we have learned a few more details about the game. As we knew, shooting invaders of the same color consecutively triggered bonuses; this is encouraged during "Feature" mode, in which you basically fulfill objectives given on the top screen. Completing these objectives earns powerup items. Shooting invaders of certain colors is not the only possible objective, however. Sometimes the featured task involves picking up a certain number of dropped items combined with shooting invaders.Success leads to bonus minigames, in which you shoot as many invaders as possible in a fixed time period, usually with increased firepower. In these "rounds" the invaders fly around in more Galaga-like patterns.
Space Invaders Extreme screens describe our feelings toward them
The screenshot speaks the truth: we've got Space Invaders Extreme fever. When we first heard about the game, we couldn't possibly have rolled our eyes any harder without hitting our desk; then the first screens came out of what appeared to be a somewhat rhythm-based 2D Rez-alike and we perked up; then when effusive TGS impressions of both the game and the DS paddle controller started coming in, our turn was complete. Space Invaders Extreme went from a footnote on Taito's TGS lineup to one of our most anticipated DS games.We are pretty sure this game is going to be extremely awesome and usher in a new age of fixed-screen shooters (well, maybe not that far). We love the idea of scoring extra based on shooting complete color, row, and column combinations; we love the variety of enemy patterns, and the idea of powerups in a Space Invaders game. More than anything, we love the idea of playing a shooter with that paddle controller. It'll be like playing Arkanoid with the "laser" powerup all the time.Hey, we're a fanboy site-- we're allowed to have hyperenthusiastic fanboy reactions every now and then.
DS Daily: Is Space Invaders extreme enough?
The new version of Space Invaders has new enemy designs, new music, strikingly new graphics, and some kind of bizarre music/gameplay integration. But it appears to still be your basic Space Invaders-- moving left and right, and shooting at enemies as they descend in formation. It's the same game, at heart, as has been around since 1978. Plenty of people still love Space Invaders today, and we count ourselves among that "number," though we haven't built a career in art out of it or anything. But we also know that we (I) can be a little more retro-oriented than most people. Which is why we're asking you: does Space Invaders Extreme have any chance of holding your interest based on what you've seen (which, at the moment, isn't too much)? Is the basic game too antique for you? What would have to change to suit your tastes?
