Space Invaders
↗ 10%
🙂 6.3/10
(Playstation - JP, Shoot'em Up)
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Developed_By:
Z-Axis Ltd.
Published_By:
Activision
Released On:
31 Jul 1997
Also available on:
Space Invaders is back and better than ever in this classic shoot'em up for the PlayStation console. The story takes place after a successful alien invasion repelled by "the Tank" in 1978, with a new tank created using advanced technology recovered during that event. Now, over two decades later, the aliens are returning, and it's up to you to stop them.
Gameplay-wise, Space Invaders offers a fun and challenging experience for players of all skill levels. You can play solo or with a friend in multiplayer mode against the advancing alien army, with three difficulty settings to choose from. As you progress through the Solar System, each planet presents new challenges and enemies, including four common types of aliens and seven less common ones. By shooting four identical Invaders in a row, you'll earn special power-ups that can help you in your quest. Beating Mother Ships will also reward you with useful upgrades, such as shields or increased firepower.
With its addictive gameplay and unique boss battles on each planet, Space Invaders is a must-play for fans of classic shoot'em ups. Can you stop the alien invasion and save Earth? Find out in this exciting PlayStation remake.
EAN-13:
4527823991088 (Japan)
EAN-13:
4988611970072 (Japan)
EAN-13:
4988611980101 (Japan)
EAN-13:
4988611990254 (Japan)
Sony PN:
SLPM-86153 (Japan)
Sony PN:
SLPM-86419 (Japan)
Sony PN:
SLPM-86900 (Japan)
Sony PN:
SLPS-00940 (Japan)
Sony PN:
TCPS-10014 (Japan)
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Input Devices Required:
Gamepad
Save Game Methods:
External Storage
Multiplayer Options:
Same/Split-Screen
Number of Offline Players:
1-2 Players
Number of Players Supported:
1-2 Players
Input Device Features Supported:
Vibration
Gamepads Supported:
Dual Analog Controller
Controller Types Supported:
Analog Controller
Multiplayer Game Modes:
Free-for-all / One-on-one (VS)
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is a sci-fi action game where players pilot an advanced "Tank" in a post-alien invasion world. The game likely involves preparing for or defending against a potential second alien attack, utilizing the Tank's powerful weaponry and advanced capabilities.
Story
What Has Come Before
It was 1965 when humanity made its first attempts into space. The goal was both grand and simple: to go beyond the known world into the unknown.
In 1978, the unknown came to us. First Contact occurred November 22nd, 1978.
There were no little green men with cute, bug-eyed faces and funny walks. Instead there were attack ships, hordes of them. The fighting was fierce, exhibiting unnerving discipline. Wave after wave of tight-knit squads dropped on us with steady, malevolent intentions.
Initially, it seemed more than likely we would be overrun by the alien arsenal of powerful technology. If it were not for the capabilities of a then secret, experimental Tank, Earth would have surely fallen.
Our victory was hard won, and countless scores of courageous Tank pilots sacrificed their lives to the cause. Once the celebration quieted down, life, for the most part, returned to normal.
Origin of the Tank
Before the Invasion of 1978, there were those who believed there was a government conspiracy to cover up knowledge of an alien race. They were entirely correct. An alien scout ship had crashed in the desert, one of many scout ships that had been sent to monitor the Earth.
Even though many had seen these ships for themselves, the governments of the world decided it was necessary to keep the reality hidden behind elaborate propaganda schemes designed to confuse the issues. They did so for the public's well-being and, in light of history, they did so successfully.
A very small, ultra-secret project was begun to design some kind of defense system. There was much debate over the design of this system.
Thanks to Cold War military spending, the Pentagon already had plans for an advanced tank originally intended for conventional warfare here on earth. In the interest of time, it was decided to adapt these blueprints. A select few of the best minds from the aerospace industry were brought in to convert the Tank's design to be able to fire rockets into the upper atmosphere.
Referred to only as the "Tank" due to the air of secrecy surrounding the project, it was quickly designed and rushed into production. Frankly, it was little more than a mobile box with a very large cannon sticking out of it.
The incredible firepower needed to successfully target the fringe of space greatly limited the maneuverability of the Tank. They were difficult to pilot and even more difficult to target with. When the aliens did arrive, we had little better than a small army of partially tested prototypes with which to defend ourselves.
It was the bravery and persistence of the Tank pilots as much as, if not more than, the Tank itself which saved us back in '78.
Present Day
Based on wreckage recovered from the destroyed invaders, designs were begun on a new defensive unit. It took billions of dollars and decades to learn to use this new technology.
A new Tank was born complete with hover capability, multi-adaptive hard-points, and an electromagnetic shielding system powered by a nuclear core. For sentimental reasons it is still called the Tank, however, this vehicle is as far from a conventional tank as a complex organism is from a single-celled being.
More than twenty years later, the aliens have yet to return. Most people hope and pray they never will. If they do, we should be ready.
Controls
Directional Buttons Up
Directional Buttons Left
Move Left
Directional Buttons Down
Directional Buttons Right
Move Right
Button
Fire Power-up Weapon
Left Stick
Right Stick
Start
Pause Screen
directional buttons up/down
navigate through the menu options
X button
accept menu option
Start button
pause the game
Select (hold) + Start (press and hold for two seconds)
reset to the Space Invaders title screen
How to Play
MAIN MENU
Choose from the following options to begin playing Space Invaders.
•
1 Player/2 Player—Using left/right on the directional buttons, choose a one player or two player game. Press X to launch into the game. Two controllers must be plugged into the PlayStation to play a two Player game.
•
Load Game—Choose this option to load a saved game.
•
Instructions—Choose this option to see a demonstration of how to play Space Invaders.
•
Options—Choose this to go to the Options menu.
LOAD GAME
Select this option to load a previously saved game from a memory card. You have the option to save at anytime during gameplay by pressing Start to pause the game, and then choosing the Save Game option from the Pause menu.
In order to load a saved game, select the name of the saved game you want to play using the directional buttons. When selected, press X to initiate the load. Loading a game will take you to the beginning of the last level at which you saved.
OPTIONS MENU
Skill Level
This is where you can adjust the difficulty level.
•
Normal—For the novice or experienced Space Invaders player.
•
Expert—Not for the weak of heart. You'll be lucky if you survive the first wave.
Volume Control
This is where you can adjust the volume level.
•
Music Volume—Use the left/right directional buttons to adjust the music volume.
•
Sound Volume—Use the left/right directional buttons to adjust the sound effects volume.
Control Configuration
Select this option to change the button assignments for player one or two. You can also choose to turn DUAL SHOCK™ analog controller vibration on or off.
High Scores
The high score screen shows the best scores.
Credits
Choose this option to see all of the people behind the scenes.
Reset Defaults
Choosing this option will reset your control configuration as well as the music and sound volumes to the default settings.
HUD
The Heads Up Display is in the upper left of the screen for player 1 or the upper right for player 2. The number of tanks remaining and score are tallied here. The power-up energy bar is also located on the HUD. (See Power-up Energy Bar for more info)
LOADING/BRIEFING SCREEN
Before beginning each new game episode, a briefing screen is displayed. This screen provides you with useful information about the planet that you are fighting on, as well as useful information about any new aliens that appear in that particular episode.
Once the loading bar is completely full, begin the level by pressing X.
SAVE GAME
To save a game make sure a memory card is inserted into memory card slot 1 of the PlayStation. Space Invaders only saves to memory cards inserted into memory card slot 1. The Save Game option is only available for a one-player game.
At any time during gameplay, press Start to pause the game, then choose Save Game from the Pause menu. Select one of the available slots by pressing up/down on the directional buttons. Press X to confirm your selection.
POWER-UP ENERGY BAR
Power-ups are earned when you fill the energy bar in the upper part of the screen. (See HUD.) The energy bar is filled by consecutively shooting aliens of the same type. It takes four aliens to fill the bar.
If you shoot a different alien before filling the bar, the bar becomes empty and begins to fill again with the color associated with the new alien.
Once the bar is filled, you are awarded a power-up. The type of power-up is dependent on the color of the bar. When it is full, the bar will begin to flash and pulse, and the name of a power-up will appear next to it.
After the bar is filled, subsequent shots have no effect on the bar until the power-up is used.
The power-up can be activated by pressing the ▲ button. The energy bar is then reduced to zero. Aliens destroyed by the power-up count toward refilling the energy bar in the order they are killed.
If the Tank is destroyed, the energy bar is reset to empty. When the level ends, the bar will carry over to the next level.
POWER-UPS FROM ALIENS
•
Red aliens provide the Vertical Blast—Shoots a missile straight up through the formation taking out anything in its path.
•
Green aliens provide the Horizontal Burst Right—Shoots a missile straight up until it hits an alien, then it starts going to the right, taking out anything in its path.
•
Blue aliens provide the Horizontal Burst Left—Shoots a missile straight up until it hits an alien, then it starts going to the left, taking out anything in its path.
•
Yellow aliens provide the Diagonal Burst—Shoots a missile straight up until it hits an alien, then it starts going diagonally in a Y shape, taking out anything in its path.
•
Switcher aliens provide Swarm Missiles—Missiles target the alien type that has the greatest number on screen. Only the number of missiles needed to hit the aliens are launched, up to a maximum of eight. For example, if there are five blue aliens, three red, three green, and two unique, then five missiles will be launched that will target each of the blue aliens.
•
Blocker aliens provide the Fat Laser—Large two column-wide laser beam that destroys everything in its path.
•
Angler aliens provide
Items & Weapons
Shields
Puts a shield over the Tank that protects it from fire. It takes only one alien shot to destroy the shield.
Double shot
Allows you to fire two shots on screen at the same time.
Timestop
Freezes the screen for five seconds. Aliens and their shots stop moving.
Max NRG
Fills energy bar to 100% of current color.
Blockades
Blockades appear on some levels to aid in your battle against the alien nemesis. Hit the blockades with a round of fire to move them upwards into the aliens' path.
Red, Blue, Green and Yellow Aliens
The most common species of the alien fleet. While relatively harmless on their own, these aliens mount successful attacks through sheer numbers.
Enemies & Characters
Crush Boss
Composed of a large, heavy frame attached to two powerful jet engines, Crush patrols the terrain from above. When Crush senses that a Tank is below him, it will quickly throw itself to the ground, smashing whatever it hits.
Switcher
One of the dominant species of the alien fleet, the Switcher has a protective shell which helps protect it during combat. The Switcher fires bombs that take two shots to destroy, and can make mincemeat of your tank if you're not careful.
Shell Boss
A life form with a large number of cybernetic enhancements, Shell is a foreboding and versatile weapon of destruction. To attack, it uses a turret mounted on the bottom of its body which is capable of firing large, powerful energy bursts.
Blocker
While the Blocker may seem relatively harmless, the real threat comes when it's destroyed. The Blocker is armed with two metallic side pieces that catch fire and shoot outward to the adjacent columns when the Blocker is destroyed.
Rotator Boss
Rotator is a large, UFO shaped being with a multitude of attacks, including two large, front-mounted turrets which fire energy bursts, and a massive energy burst fired from the rear.
Angler
Due to their lopsided body structure, this alien is capable of firing shots at an angled trajectory, making them difficult for Tank pilots to track. Adding to this difficulty, the Angler's laser has the capability to reflect off of walls.
Circle Boss
Not much is known about this wretched creature. It's up to you to find and destroy this dangerous enemy.
Freezer
One of the more aggressive aliens in the invading forces, the Freezer will not remain in formation if it has a clear shot at a Tank. Instead, the Freezer will fly down and fire a continuous beam at the ground, taking only seconds to recharge.
Turret Boss
Not much is known about this wretched creature. It's up to you to find and destroy this dangerous enemy.
Burster
The Burster is most threatening when it is destroyed. When hit, the Burster explodes, sending several energy bursts hurtling to the ground.
Pulse Boss
Not much is known about this wretched creature. It's up to you to find and destroy this dangerous enemy.
Kamikaze
Alive, the Kamikaze is relatively harmless. Destroy one however, and you better get out of the way fast, as the alien will do its best to crash into your Tank and take you with it.
Slither Boss
Not much is known about this wretched creature. It's up to you to find and destroy this dangerous enemy.
Splitter
In order to ensure its own survival, the Splitter multiplies when hit by Tank fire, sending smaller versions of itself into every vacant spot surrounding it. A full-size Splitter drops large bombs which cannot be destroyed by Tank fire.
Golem
Not much is known about this wretched creature. It's up to you to find and destroy this dangerous enemy.
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