What comes to mind when thinking about the most influential video games of all time? Pong, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros., Tetris, The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy. Every single one of these has had a profound impact on the medium – and that’s before even getting to significant 3D and modern titles. Although there isn’t really a wrong answer here, there is no doubt that Taito’s Space Invaders competes for the crown, predating all of the aforementioned games bar Pong. Had it not been for Tomohiro Nishikado’s creation, which marked a shift in the industry when it stormed arcades in 1978, would any of them exist in the form they do today?
In this age of keyboards, mice, and complex-looking gamepads with even more buttons being added, it’s refreshing to go back in time and re-experience the simple days of video games where only two or three buttons were required to have a good time. Left, right, and shoot; that’s all Space Invaders needs.
Moving Earth’s last bastion of hope along the surface, the little cannon can blast single shots at the invading sea monsters from another world, as five rows of extraterrestrial octopuses, squids, and crabs – all seemingly with the capability of flight – descend down the screen, responding in kind with projectiles of their own. 
With just four bunkers for cover that gradually get destroyed by the fire thrown back and forth, it’s almost incredible how much tension is involved. Since the aliens’ movements speed up the more that are eradicated, once the final invader remains, it moves at such a speed that every shot missed feels like the end of the world – the very reason the marine-like invaders are here, one would assume. With each level cleared, the aliens start a little closer to the ground, so quicker and more accurate shooting is required in order to get through all nine stages.
The simple concept loses its appeal before too long, but it bounces back if taking the high score and time attack challenges into the equation. If aiming for the top of the online leaderboards, those tense situations return, and particularly so if playing local multiplayer.
A range of display settings exist, including a vertical one where turning the Nintendo Switch sideways emulates the old arcade feeling, and a colour option adds a much needed visual boost. Having grown up on the black and white Game Boy version, it almost feels a bit odd to see those bright reds, yellows, and pinks at first, but given the harsh black background, the choice is necessary.
