Today's most trance-inducing video: Space Invaders Extreme
by Scott Jon Siegel 
{ Nov 29th 2007 at 1:01AM }
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.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
rTwelve @ Nov 29th 2007 1:15AM
Of course it's not Space Giraffe, that would require a picture of Miyamoto in the background
ThornedVenom @ Nov 29th 2007 1:16AM
The new gameplay looks sweet and dynamic, but the layout definitely needs cleaning up. But I don't know about Japan's current trends.
James @ Nov 29th 2007 1:06PM
Do want!
hvnlysoldr @ Nov 29th 2007 1:21AM
Does this count as a Bullet Hell? I mean I like Blazing Lazers, and what I've played of Ikaruga, but I hate playing in bullet hells.
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 29th 2007 3:29AM
Bullet Hell is when there are a million+ bullets on the screen at once. Precise movements are key for survival. In a lot Bullet Hell-style shooters, the collision box for your character/ship/whatever is but one pixel. Knowing which pixel will kill you, it becomes easier to dodge bullets.
Ikaruga, though, I think your entire ship was the collision box. I can't remember. Been a while since I last played.
tl;dr version: No, this is not a Bullet Hell game.
s256 @ Nov 29th 2007 5:42PM
Ikaruga, though, I think your entire ship was the collision box.
Yep - they were able to do that without making it impossible, though, because you can switch polarity to absorb bullets that would otherwise kill you. ;p
Twist @ Nov 29th 2007 1:38AM
If they are going to remake this then at least they could make it widescreen like Pac-Man CE on XBLA.
Pac-Man CE is probably the only enhanced/remixed/deluxe/extreme/whatever modern rehash of a classic game that is even worth playing. Take the Asteroids Deluxe that was released on XBLA yesterday. Sure it has flashy graphics, but the game-play is pretty lame by modern standards. Yet if you look at Maelstrom, a 14 year old game based on Asteroids, it holds up much better thanks to all the enhancements they made. Updating a game for today's market takes more than just adding a bunch of particle effects. Looks like they may be aware of that with this game but probably not aware enough.
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 29th 2007 3:30AM
This is for the DS. It's already full-resolution as it is.
Noshino @ Nov 29th 2007 8:27AM
No, this game is also coming for PSP, there still love out there for us widescreen lovers :D
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 29th 2007 11:09AM
I stand corrected.
... Okay, I'm actually sitting, but whatever.
Anyways... I'm sure the PSP version will be full resolution, too.
gonk @ Nov 29th 2007 2:21AM
wow, they took space invaders, one of the simplest games ever, and turned it into crazy japanese shit
:(
Raginfox @ Nov 29th 2007 3:50AM
it was japanese to begin with...
Noshino @ Nov 29th 2007 8:29AM
so? what's wrong with crazy japanese shit? I prefer crazy japanese shit! *Katamari lover*
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 29th 2007 3:31AM
Looks like with this, along with Bubble Bobble: Double Shot, Taito is looking to amend it's previous weaksauce DS entries (Space Invaders Revolution and Bubble Bobble Revolution, respectively).
DarkTetsuya @ Nov 29th 2007 3:36AM
Well, hopefully you'll be able to get past level 30 in this one.
Though a Rez-influenced techno update to Space Invaders might be worth checking out.
Slinks @ Nov 29th 2007 7:13AM
Well, Taito have f***ed up again. First we have space raiders, now this.
horngreen @ Nov 29th 2007 9:28AM
Ugh thats a clutterfest. It looks like it was made by MTV!
Vigi @ Nov 29th 2007 11:07AM
Oh, snap. I knew it seemed familiar.
Jonah Falcon @ Nov 29th 2007 8:46AM
Space Invaders meets Lumines.
WiNG @ Nov 29th 2007 10:18AM
Until something bests Ikaruga, good luck shmup world.
Zsavior @ Nov 29th 2007 11:32AM
Looks like somebody at Taito took a liking to Rez and decided to try and add some of the elements to it.
Iridium @ Nov 29th 2007 12:15PM
ahhhhhhhgggggggrrrggggg
Sorry but that was painful. It looks like a cross between Galaga '90s and DDR. Please make it stop.
What's next Turbo Defender Extreme Fun Time Hour
rockintom @ Nov 29th 2007 3:32PM
It looks pretty... easy. Space Invaders can be a pain with the single shot that destroys a single enemy, but when you can blast them all with a Big Fucking Laser, I think most of the challenge has been lifted.
...So, what's the point of this again?
Burnt Meatloaf @ Nov 30th 2007 7:37AM
Modern gamers don't like challenges.