PixlBit

Last year, players were provided with a brand new Space Invaders experience. Rather than the slow moving Arcade classic they were familiar with, a fast-paced, assault on the senses was put in its place. Taito has followed up that title with a brand new one, specifically made for the DS, rather than a variety of platforms. They have used the strenths of the DS to their advantage to produce an even more intense and action-packed title.

Space Invaders Extreme 2 is not a vastly different game from the first title in the new series. The guards that once existed are still gone, the intense music that's driven by the gameplay remains, there are still ridiculous shmup power-ups, and awesome boss battles will still finish out each and every level. What the game does do is up the ante in almost every regard, as well as provide a smoother play experience.

Rather than relegating the action to a single screen on the DS (as Extreme did), players will now need to monitor both screens. While players are blasting away the typical enemies found in the first game on the bottom, up top, UFO formations, giant enemies, and even sub-bosses will make an appearance. In the first title when players hit a flashing UFO after collecting two sets of four consecutive colors, they would be transported to the top screen and entered into a mini-game with a specific goal. Rather than stop the gameplay, now the mini-game will kick-off on the top screen while the action continues at the bottom.

At first I didn't really notice these huge differences. It wasn't until I turned the first game on again that I realized how much smoother the overall experience now was and just how much more intense Taito actually managed to make the game. Every level is so free flowing now, and with action on both screens, it feels more engaging and interesting. Aside from these major changes, a variety of small changes have been made throughout the entire game to provide a more streamlined and approachable experience. While they are hard to pick out immediately, they clearly have had an impact on the gameplay.

Surprisingly, even with action occurring on both screens, this latest title feels easier. I'm not sure if that's a result of the massive amount of time I invested in the first title, or if it is legitimately easier, but I only managed to use a single continue while playing on a middle-of-the-road path on Normal difficulty. This fortunately didn't impact my enjoyment of the game; I still found myself greatly appreciating all of the latest improvements.

All of the features players enjoyed in the first title have made a return, so players won't feel like they're missing anything from the first game. In addition to the original modes, Taito has added a Time Attack mode that keeps track of how long it takes players to beat each of the levels in the game before completing the fifth level.

Space Invaders Extreme was one of my favorite titles of last year, and Space Invaders Extreme 2 is more of the same. The addition of the second screen provides for an even more intense experience, and the new mini-game system makes it play that much smoother. Fans of Extreme will undoubtedly love Extreme 2, as will newcomers who enjoyed the original Arcade classic.