Space Invaders for iPhone Review

Space Invaders is over 30 years old now if you can believe it, and still ranks as the number one arcade game of all-time, and likely will for all-time, unless arcades make a miraculous comeback around the globe.

Space Invaders for iPhone resembles the classic game a lot. This is a plus point as far as retro gamers are concerned. Other games of this genre like Pac-Man and Tetris have undergone upgrades to make it suitable for mobile gaming. However, Space Invaders has not deviated from its original mode. As a gamer, you have no option to save the game. This means you can progress far in the game only if you ready to drop everything else. The level of difficulty is quite tough and the controls need some tweaking and improvement.

Space Invaders is a 2-D shooter, with you controlling a little laser at the bottom of the screen. In the middle of the screen rest hordes of aliens who slowly descend upon you. As more and more of the critters are blasted into pixelly smithereens, the remaining aliens pick up their speed, moving across the screen with increased urgency. The sound also increases in intensity, getting the heart rate pumping as things proceed into overdrive. The aliens will also fire off occasional blasts of fire at you, though you have handy bunkers to hide behind for protection. These bunkers will gradually be destroyed by the aliens though, after which you’re on your own.

After completion of one level, you enter the subsequent level which is a bit more difficult than the preceding one. The real indicator of your success or failure in Space Invaders, like most of the early arcade games, is your score. This game can be, at least in theory, played indefinitely. The absence of an online leaderboard to boast about your gaming skills is a drawback. What is the fun in scoring a lot if you cannot spread the word amongst others? Space Invaders is extremely challenging but can quickly become monotonous.

It must be noted that there is one area where Space Invaders has not changed even one bit. The graphics and sounds department is practically the same that was used in the arcade versions. Except for the option of colorful aliens to blast and upgraded backgrounds, everything else remains the same. If you are hoping to scare your girlfriend with the aliens, you are in for a disappointment. The aliens look like crabs and bats and are not even remotely scary. If you have played this game before, the bleep and bloop sounds will bring back fond memories.

The game controls include the classic control option, the touch screen control option and the accelerometer controls. In the first one, you have an on screen joystick to control the laser. The second one is the least functional while the last mode is the coolest one amongst them all.

This game has what it takes to keep the player entertained. However, considering the fact that Retro Game Challenge is available on DS, it remains to be seen whether anyone would want to pay for this game on the iPhone. There is nothing wrong with the game. However, the question is whether the game is good enough to attract the gamers. The developers could have at least added some new features to the game to make it more interesting. If you’re desperate for some space invaders on your iPhone, then this game is worth getting. For everyone else though, there is nothing new here, and not much point in getting the game.

Score: 6/10