space invaders returns with a new installment, which seeks to seduce the nostalgic and also attract new players in 2023. The brand new title bets on augmented reality as its main charm, bringing Taito’s mythical game back to life.
For this adventure, the Japanese company partnered with Google. In fact, Space Invaders: World Defense —official name of the video game— was announced at the Google I/O organized by the American firm, in May. In addition to this, the title is not exclusive to Android: it is also released to play on the iPhone and iPad.
As in the original game that debuted in 1978, the mission is to annihilate a horde of aliens. In this case, you don’t have to do it from the robust arcade machines, but on mobile phones.
Space Invaders: World Defense: everything you need to know about the game
“Players will have to use advanced spaceship technology and expert skills to travel between dimensions and defend the planet. The future of the Earth is in your hands!” reads the official description of the title. “You will enjoy the classic game in a whole new dimension: explore, find and defeat the space invaders in your neighborhood!”, they add.
Based on Google’s ARCore technology, Space Invaders: World Defense is now available for download at Google Play and in the app store, for free. The proposal is, a priori, entertaining. The user must destroy virtual monsters by pointing his phone’s camera at the world around him, just as we see in the presentation videos.
The delivery of Google and Taito is supported by augmented reality. It is an interesting bet, as many games with this technology have not managed to come close to the success that it has achieved. Pokémon GO in the past. In general terms, the idea is that users jump from the screens to the real world.
The return of the players will be the acid test to know if the new space invaders takes hold among the video games with augmented reality. Or if, on the contrary, the title will fail just like other attempts in the genre, such as the failed ones The Witcher: Monster Slayer and Minecraft ARin both cases cancelled.
5 facts and curiosities about the game original
- Appeared in the late 70’s, it is a creation of the Japanese developer Toshihiro Nishikadofor the firm Taito.
- The game is recognized for being one of the first of the “kill-martians” genre, a modality that later spread in the sector.
- It was very successful in its homeland, so much so that the Japanese government was alerted by the lack of 100 yen coins, which were used in the gaming machines.
- Nishikado acknowledged that for his delivery he was inspired by science fiction classics, such as the novel by HG Wells War of the Worldsand the films of the saga Star Wars.
- It is estimated that Taito obtained profits of more than 500 million dollars thanks to space invaders.