Space Invaders Forever stretches the definition of “collection”
What the hell is going on with Taito and Square Enix? Between the expensive and bewildering split release of the Darius Cosmic Collection and lackluster Space Invaders Invincible Collection, I’m not sure what exactly their approach is supposed to be. Topping their lackluster output is Space Invaders Forever, and even more stripped down collection that follows up the underwhelming Invincible Collection by stripping out even more of its games for its English release.
Invincible Collection already had some choice omissions–particularly some console releases and the Space Invaders parody, Attack of the Lunar Loonies. Forever cuts it down to just three games: Space Invaders Extreme, Gigamax and Arkanoid vs Space Invaders. Of the three only Extreme feel complete. Gigamax is nothing more than a thin, four stage gallery exhibit balanced around 4 players that’s miserable to play solo, and Arkanoid isn’t even given the decency to be included in the collection menu, instead relegated to a separate executable, only playable in handheld mode with touch controls, with no care given to its transition from phones to consoles. The game itself is perfectly enjoyable, but the format is so unideal that it’s probably better to simply play the original mobile release instead.
Space Invaders Forever doesn’t even include the original two games, which had previously been included as part of the Invincible collection and the Xbox 360 port of Extreme. For a collection ostensibly made to celebrate the series history, it’s a massive exclusion, especially considering that almost every update to the series at least included the first game as a bonus. It speaks to the lack of care in creating an archival experience.
Less than a collection, Space Invaders Forever is more a port of Space Invaders Extreme with a few bonuses bolted on to ratchet up the price. If it wasn’t for the absurd full price release of the Invincible Collection, I’d easily recommend importing it over Forever, even with its lackluster offerings. For now, Space Invaders Forever is only worth looking at if you’re looking for a portable way to play Space Invaders Extreme, or want to be free of the always online requirement that plagues the PC version.