Got a taste of Space Invaders Extreme 2 and it feels like Space Invaders Extreme 1.5. Looks like Square Enix will rename this Space Invaders Extreme Remix overseas. A fitting title since it doesn’t sound like a full blown sequel. There is nothing wrong with just having more waves of Space Invaders Extreme. I welcome them! However, I might not rush to import them.
Taito made Space Invaders Extreme 2 more fluid than its predecessor. When a bonus round started in the previous game “Round Start” flashed and your ship would be transported to a new area. The bonus rounds were like separate mini-games in between levels.
In Space Invaders Extreme 2 the bonus rounds take place on the top screen while the level continues on the bottom screen. Now you have two screens of alien shooting over hypnotic visuals. The revised flow reminded me of the World Ends With You’s battle system. You don’t have to pay attention to the top screen. Stray shots will fly up and hit the invaders. But, if you want to maximize your score, and Space Invaders Extreme 2 is all about your score, you need to glance at the top screen. This makes you vulnerable to the invaders firing lasers on the bottom screen.
Clear the bonus round and you seamlessly switch into fever time. There is no countdown clock and no transition aside from a male announcer saying Fever Time. Yeah, Space Invaders Extreme 2 has new voiceovers. During fever time UFO chains fly on the top screen. Destroy them for a huge amount of points. The regular aliens also drop items you can catch for even more points.
When fever time ends the bingo card takes back the top screen and you only need to shoot invaders on the bottom screen until you start a new bonus round.
