| Introduction
'Invader' is a 2D scrolling space shooter exclusively
created for the GBA - which is to say that it is an
'original' title and not a licensed or movie tie-in game.
Developed by the relatively new 'Lost Boys Games' based
in the Netherlands, it received some good pre-release
reviews from the game press, with Edge Magazine describing
it as "a joy to play". This, however, did
not stop the game from being delayed. Scheduled for
release at the beginning of the year, it was only released
last month. According to the press release, 'Invader'
is a game which has its roots firmly set in a classic
gaming style but technically updated to include many
unique features. Let's see then if 'Invader' lives up
to its press.
GamePlay
Rather than wasting time telling you about the plot
I'll get right to the important part - the weapons.
To start with, you have a choice of two different ships
with basic firepower, the only noticeable difference
being that one shoots two vertical lasers while the
other features more of a diagonal action.
As usual with this type of game, the first minute
or so seems pretty simple, letting you gather extra,
more powerful weapons, but soon after you might lose
them all, thanks to a particularly stubborn spaceship
sending a guided missile in your general direction.
You'll notice that the various ships shed coins as
they explode, which should all be collected as they
can be used at any time in the game to shop for extra
weapons and even credits. Each level ends with a ludicrously
oversized and over-armed spaceship, which can not only
take away many of your lives but also your previously
collected coins.
Keeping with the true spirit of Arcade Shooters,
Invader offers no password system or battery back up.
What it does let you do though is change the number
of 'continues' allowed by offering 3, 5, or 9 lives
and anything up to unlimited credits. You also have
the option to change the difficulty setting, so even
though the 'easy' setting already offers quite a challenge,
there'll still be those gamers who simply want more.
The only negative aspect of all this is that there
is no facility to save your high score, which is one
of the main reasons arcade shooters are so addictive
in the first place. You will however receive your stats
at the end of each level, which include everything from
the number of enemies killed to the all-important clear
rank.
Gamers with friends will also be pleased to know
that you can battle it out as a two-player game and
rather than fighting one another or trying to beat the
high score, you can actually battle the oncoming aliens
together. This is a must for most gamers as it seems
to address the unfair advantage that the aliens usually
have. An extra set of lasers is always welcome in these
situations.
Controls
Shooters have never been noted for their complicated
interfaces and Invader is no exception. Fire, missile,
smart bomb, and that's it. To be honest, you don't really
need anything else and your chosen ship also flies around
the screen with relative ease. The big question with
this genre is the collision detection, and the good
news is that this gaming aspect was obviously deemed
important to the developers as it is to us gamers, and
consequently we have some of the best and most sensitive
collision detection we've ever seen.
Graphics
Although there are no objects on the ground that
you have to fly around to complete the levels, there's
a real sense of inventiveness that runs through Invader.
What this means for the gamer is little repetition as
far as the enemies are concerned; all eight worlds are
truly unique in every sense.
One very pleasing aspect is the speed of the screen
update. Shoot' em up fans will be pleased to know that
there's absolutely no screen slowdown, regardless of
how much is going on. You'll also notice a 24-hour clock
at the base of the screen, which actually records the
number of days you've been in battle and even better,
changes the lighting as you go from day to night.
Sound & Music
The audio aspect feels like it's been extracted straight
from the 'Arcade Shooter' handbook. Everything is just
as you'd expect; the various levels, for example, are
accompanied by a kind of high-octane soundtrack that
appears to get faster as the game progresses. It doesn't
of course, but your heart rate certainly does. There
are also some choice speech samples to tie the whole
package up, among them a synthesized robot voice, or
a helpless scream that accompanies any tragic accident
with an opponent's missile.
Final Comments
While Invader provides the average gamer with absolutely
nothing original, it does manage to bring the best aspects
of shooters together into one neat and tidy package.
It's also nice to see the inclusion of a cooperative
mode which, let's face it, was one of the main reasons
two player arcade shooters were so much fun. Until a
GBA version of R-Type is released, this is undoubtedly
one of the better classic shooters to appear on the
GBA today. It's fast, frantic, and for mature gamers
who want a slice of retro heaven.
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