Those aliens from the 70s are back to invade your dual-screened space.

Try presenting this video game concept before your company’s board of directors: the player’s main mission is to destroy columns of aliens using nothing more than a mere blaster. The aliens descend towards the player and go faster as more of them are defeated.

Finally, the player’s only means of defense are his wits and some random forts that can be destroyed by either the aliens or the player as the game progresses.

If one were to present this idea in 2008, that individual would be ridiculed for his lack of ambition. However, this model proved successful when put forward in 1978 by Tomohiro Nishikado. It would lead to a popular video game known as Space Invaders, which is recognized by gamers as a classic franchise and a staple of retro gaming.

However, while this franchise, along with Pac-Man and Tetris, are highly regarded as popular retro franchises, they have had some difficulty making themselves relevant in the modern age. While Pac-Man and Tetris have been revamped many times with varying degrees of success, their latest renditions (Pac-Man: Championship Edition and Tetris DS) have been met with praise and serve as a means of inspiration for retro licenses that wish to remain relevant in the modern generation.

Space Invaders has since undergone another revision, titled Space Invaders Extreme, which has seen release for the Nintendo DS and Sony’s Playstation Portable. Will this remake join the illustrious ranks of other successful restorations, or will it be resigned to associate with Space Invaders: Revolution for the DS and Space Raiders for the GameCube, which were its other failed revision attempts?

Space Invaders Extreme initially presents players with the option to participate in Arcade, Ranking and Multiplayer modes. The focal point of the experience is the Arcade mode, which charges players to progress through five stages while trying to score as many points as possible. After progressing through a couple of stages, the Stage Mode is unlocked, which allows the option of choosing their starting stage. Should a player die, they are presented with the choice of returning to the title screen or restarting their current level; a contrast from the original iteration, which would always return players to the start upon failure.

Ranking and Multiplayer modes, which are also presented on the title screen, maintain the arcade experience with the addition of competitive elements. Both options allow players to post their scores to the Global Ranking, the only difference is that the Ranking mode allows for individual scores while the Multiplayer mode allows for joint competition via the DS’s wireless communications or Nintendo Wi-Fi connection.

Once players choose their method of play, they are immediately taken to the game screen, where they will see their ship along with the invaders, which are colored red, yellow, blue, green and black. Unlike the original game, no structures exist to protect players from the onslaught of the invaders’ shots. However, aid is on the way in the form of various power-ups for their ship. By defeating three invaders of similar color, players can have the option of shooting bombs, lasers or quad shots. Shields can also be provided to protect players from the invaders’ onslaught.

Along with fending off the alien assault, players will also have the option of shooting down flying saucers that randomly appear on the screen. Tagging them will allow players to earn extra points, participate in roulettes, or engage in bonus rounds, where successful completion rewards players with a ‘Fever’ time where they can secure more points.

The invaders are not without tricks themselves, however; in addition to their usual pattern of descending to the bottom of the screen, the aliens now have shields to block attacks, can teleport to random locations and also shoot searing lasers towards your ship. They can also dodge your shots, a hint of cleverness that can add frustration when you are trying to eradicate that last alien.

After defeating all the waves of aliens in a specific level, players will then engage in boss battles. Although the bosses themselves are merely larger versions of the invaders themselves, the attack patterns they employ become increasingly challenging as the player progresses.