Taito has been making a resurgence lately, and it was inevitable they would look into doing something with the first breakout series Space Invaders. While Space Invaders Forever was released for Switch and PS4, it was a budget release version of the original collection for Switch Space Invaders Invincible Collection, released in the west by Taito, ININ games and Strictly Limited Games. Strictly Limited Games provided a review copy of the collection, and so to best look at it, a retro blitz style review will be done.
Space Invaders & Space Invaders Color
The original space invaders is a classic for a reason and is the game that established what would become the shoot ‘em up genre. The game may seem aged by today’s standards, but still has its charm and can be played and enjoyed without any real issue. The basic gameplay is still fun, and it is great to see where the genre started. Also included is the color version of the game, but there is not much to say as it is the same game but while the original was in Black and White, this version has color options. This is good for seeing how the game progressed but not much more than that. The only real difference here is that the original only supports 4-digit score while color supports 5-digit score. Still, purists may prefer the original game due to it coming first.
Space Invaders Part II
Space Invaders Part II is a fixed shooter like the first game, but with some new mechanics as well. In this sequel, some aliens will split into two smaller ones when they are shot, which will increase the game’s challenge. There is also a new type of UFO that flashes when it moves from side to side and can only be shot down when it is visible. The UFOs will also deploy additional invaders in later stages after most enemies are defeated. This is a nice improvement on the first game, and it is nice to play and see how the series has progressed.
Lunar rescue
Lunar Rescue is a different type of game and is instead remarkably similar to the Atari title Lunar Lander. The game sees the player controlling a spaceship that descends from a mothership into an asteroid field and then to the moon. The goal is to rescue six stranded astronauts and the challenge therein is twofold. Firstly, you must guide the ship to one of three platforms to rescue the astronaut, and then you must guide the ship back up to the mothership. There is a limited amount of fuel to use on the rescue and the asteroid field will reveal itself to be a hoard of alien ships that will attack as you seek to complete the rescue.
While the ship could be guided by a thruster at first, this becomes an attack on the return and the game now starts to take on elements of the more familiar Space Invaders game. The only difference is that this time, you are the ship trying to reach a goal with enemies trying to shoot you down. Each platform that you can land on will give a certain number of points, but the greater the number of points given, the higher the challenge of reaching the platform is. Lunar Rescue is a standout on this collection and easily offers some of the most fun you can have.
Space Cyclone
Space Cyclone is a bit of a legendary title in the gaming world for its rarity, as there were very few cabinets of the game in arcades, and it had an exceptionally low distribution. This collection is the first time the game has ever been released outside of the arcades, and while it is okay, it does not live up to the hype when it is actually played.
Rather than traditional Space Invaders, Space Cyclone is about blasting asteroids with aliens on them, albeit from the same fixed shooter perspective. It is not game over if an alien reaches the ground, and the attack style is different, but what really stands out are the voice effects which were introduced to the series here. The unique attack patterns of some enemies like the UFOs are something to keep in mind as well, as they are unlike previous entries and can hit you from across the screen. Space Cyclone is still fun and is a vastly different experience from what came before, being s a nice break from the more traditional style.
Super Space Invaders 91/Majestic Twelve
Super Space Invaders 91 and Majestic Twelve are essentially the same game released in different regions–with the former having some different effects added and appearances changed for overseas audiences, and the latter having zone selection. This is where the series truly took a step up in gameplay with levels that now play more like Galaga and new power-ups introduced. The gameplay is more intense here and shooting a UFO will release a power-up that gives various effects such as freezing time or bringing the barriers that were present in the first and second game, which gives the game a new feel that was not present before.
Super Space Invaders 91/Majestic Twelve is also home to the cow abduction levels, which are some of the most fun in the series. You must defeat invaders abducting cows and ensure enough cows survive at the end. There are also large bosses, new attacks, and some of the best music yet here. Either version–along with Lunar Rescue–are the absolute must-play games in this collection and will provide hours of fun.
Space Invaders DX
Space Invaders DX was released as an anniversary game and contains a mode replicating the original game with the added bonuses from the SNES version. There are four different game types for this version, including a black and white monitor, a color monitor, one that has fake layers of cellophane across the screen to recreate color overlays, and a lastly “reflector” type that to recreate the backdrop from the upright Space Invaders machines.
There is also a two-player versus mode included that that sees two players compete against each other, destroying wave after wave of invaders until one player’s base is destroyed enough times. There are a number of different colored invaders here and shooting them will cause things to happen that can affect the outcome such as adding extra row of invaders to the opponent’s side, similar to many competitive puzzle games like Puyo Puyo.
What most will want to talk about here though, is the “Parody Mode” that replaces the ship and invaders with characters from other Taito franchises. These include the New Zealand Story, Bubble Bobble, Darius and more. It is a nice mode for sure, but the series would take the parody aspect to new levels later on.
Space Invaders Extreme, Arkanoid vs Space Invaders and Space Invaders Gigamax 4SE were already discussed in the Space Invaders forever review, which you can find here.
Bonus Content
The collection has a number of nice features included that really help increase the replay value in the form of challenges. The challenges vary from game to game, such as cow level challenges for Super Space Invaders 91/Majestic Twelve, rescue missions for Lunar rescue and so on. You can complete these missions for high scores, or just to keep the experience going. Many of the games have TATE mode options as well, so those with a flip grip will definitely get use out of that.
Another nice touch is that the music that plays as you select the games is a variation of the space invaders tune and increases as you cycle through the games. There is a notable absence though, as Space Invaders ’95, the Attack of the Lunar Loonies is not included here. This is a shame as that was perhaps one of the best entries in the series and is the point where self parody was perfected.
Conclusion
Still for everything this has, Space Invaders Invincible Collection is a must play for fans of the series and this collection is worth getting. Strictly Limited games is selling it on their store here, and we recommend checking it out while supplies last. Whether you are an old school fan or new to the series, there is something for everyone here.