**WATCH OUT FOR VIDEO. THIS GAME DESERVES ONE!**

Taito reinvents a classic done the right way, and it should be your #1 priority to purchase ASAP!

Space Invaders Infinity Gene ($4.99)

Taito has achieved what goddang SEGA can’t: port over a classic game to the iPhone without cutting and pasting it. Yes we really did name drop on this case but SEGA knows it. Space Invaders Infinity Gene isn’t your grandfather’s Space Invaders. Although the game starts of as an illusion that it IS the same, just wait for the big reveal!

If every game in the AppStore, regardless of it being a classic game or a totally new IP, contains the same fiber of genius that this game has… iPhone gaming would be so much cooler!

My Take

After playing several renditions of all my favorite classic games, remixed and redone for several platforms, I was floored by this version of Space Invaders.  Of course I got a glimpse of the gameplay a little by googling some screenshots, and I kept seeing nothing but complements on Twitter floating around by those who have played the game.

It was nothing I expected from the gameplay.  I was constantly opening new methods of attack and dealing with crazy formations.  It’s super fast, and there’s a lot of content to unearth.

Presentation

As an old school gamer since the late 70s, as soon as I saw the old CRT looking vector-like simple graphics, it was one I had to have. Although most of the classic graphics are intact from the original, the new “evolving” art, enemies and weaponry is by far well thought out. I was surprised by the 2 level and an introduction to color (minimal at best), movement in the background laced with new enemies besides the ones we used to shooting down.

The level tree in particular is completely well thought out. It’s like the grand equivalent of Zen Bound‘s level tree only with classic graphics. We’re simply in AWE of this game. Gameplay, art style and complete execution, this is Zen Bound wrapped in vector graphics!

Game Play

Gameplay has not changed if you tear away all the new features, it’s you versus the invading army.  At first it looks the same, possibly looking like a retread. Then everything changes, kinda like when you are sucked into a Tron game, the game field, the aliens, the fire power, everything changes around you.  And it doesn’t stop with the first stage, each new level you enter in, the gameplay, strategy, how the aliens come into field, their fire power, and the strength of the alien’s ship, meaning some aren’t able to shoot down with one shot.

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Other points of interest include:

1. The UFO is still the basis of extra points of course, but this time, powerups are supplied with each UFO gunned down.

2. On scoring, along with your normal kills, you gain points on combos or consecutive shots that hit an alien. Also they score on The Nagoya-uchi (the “Nagoya attack”), or “death row” technique works perfectly (this is when the invaders have reached the very last row, just before the ground, the player’s base is immune the bullets from the bottom row of invaders).  I usually don’t score too much on that part since the shooter fire on auto, depending from where they come into the field might get you the Nagoya Attack as well.

3. Speaking of weapons, as the game progresses, you are given more variances in how you fire.  The default being a blazing twin gunner, you will unlock others to help you zap your enemies down a little better.  Upon re-entering the game, you must choose your method of fire power.  Choose wisely because you are stuck with that weapon until you exit out of the stage if desired.

4. Boss levels… If you are unsure or on the fence on this app, stop thinking and buy it!  With this addition it is the icing on the cake.  The boss levels are a normal feature in most games and was certainly missing from the original

5. Strafing left to right goes away after a few levels. It slowly evolves into another game as you beat the game stage by stage.

Trailer

The Cons

The underlying philosophy about Charles Darwin and evolution tie-in isn’t my cup of tea. Although theories can be debated for ages, I don’t think it belongs in Space Invaders. Just my opinion.  The bottom line is the game evolves, or rather mutates (heck you are dealing with aliens right?). But it’s something to consider when branding a theme to a classic. Don’t get me wrong, I am sold on the game, and I will be playing this a lot. In my gaming experience, since Space Invaders came out (yes there was one back in 1978 here in a Texas pizza parlor), games should be played for the sake of entertainment over a message of evolution.  Just my 2 cents

Conclusion

Space Invaders Infinity Gene raises the bar on remaking a classic.  TOTALLY worth 5 dollars, you will not be disappointed.  I hope the designer get to tweak other favorites of mine. I will be surprised if this one doesn’t climb into the top ten paid apps and stay there for a while.

And yes, while we usually stay away from gameplay videos, we feel like we’re doing the game injustice with using only 4-5 screenshots. YOU need to see it in full action.