In Defense of 5200 Space Invaders

[Inky]

People say 5200 SI is a poor game. I have to disagree. I think it's highly entertaining, and the different SI graphics keep me interested. The 5200 controller works incredibly well, and all in all I think it's just plain fun!

[jetset]

I'd have to agree 100%. I mean, it's Space Invaders. You know what you're getting. The changing colors and invader ships are a definite plus, and once again I say...anyone who complains about the controllers just stinks at the game, and uses the controllers as a crutch.

I'm guessing that the people who complain about the 5200 SI either expect it to look like the coin-op (yeah, now THAT is excitement!) or the 2600 version which is good but the 5200 as it should be is way better.

In fact, I'm gonna play it right now.

What's your high score Inky?

[Room 34]

I would never say it's a bad game, because it's not... but... it's NOT Space Invaders!

 

There are a bazillion Space Invaders-inspired games out there, all of which add or change elements to some extent. And this is another one of those games!

[Inky]

I'd have to agree 100%.  I mean,  it's Space Invaders.  You know what you're getting.  The changing colors and invader ships are a definite plus,  and once again I say...anyone who complains about the controllers just stinks at the game,  and uses the controllers as a crutch.

I'm guessing that the people who complain about the 5200 SI either expect it to look like the coin-op (yeah,  now THAT is excitement!)  or the 2600 version which is good but the 5200 as it should be is way better.

In fact,  I'm gonna play it right now.

What's your high score Inky?

 

I don't remember, as it's been a LONG time since I've played it. I do remember that I played it a LOT.

[sku_u]

The 5200 version of Space Invaders is one of my favorite 5200 titles.

 

...and it IS Space Invaders, not a Space Invaders like game.

[jetset]

I don't remember, as it's been a LONG time since I've played it.  I do remember that I played it a LOT.

 

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure!!!!

 

Actually I haven't played it in a few months either. I just sat now and played it. 2187 was my high....not very good, (maybe it really is the controllers? )

Another thing that's cool about the game is how they (the invaders) get louder as they get closer to you.

[Nukey Shay]

I don't think so. It's a case of the old "if it ain't broke...", there are a number of differences between the arcade SI and 5200 versions, some of them being strategic. The closest that the 8-bit line has to arcade SI is probably Roklan's Deluxe Invaders.

[SS]

Being that I’m a known 5200 detractor, perhaps I’m not really the best person to answer this question. That said, however, I think that Atari totally crapped out across the board on “Space Invaders”. Why bother to license the name if you’re not going to even attempt to come close to what the original game looks like? Granted, the 5200 version is ultimately a better experience than the abominable 8Bit version but it still ain’t really “Space Invaders”.

[NovaXpress]

I love my 5200 (and my 800) but I think Space Invaders is a miserable effort and a big stain on Rob Fulop's resume. The visuals are different, which is acceptable, but not improved. They look worse than the arcade. That ship on the side of the screen is stupid. The gameplay is weak as well. Nukey is correct, Roklan made the best Space Invaders port of the day.

 

Space Invaders was barely acceptable on the 400/800 and inexcusable on the 5200. It just made the 5200 look like an oldie's console.

[NE146]

Room34 has it right when he says it's not Space Invaders. Rather it's just like every Space Invaders clone out there where you have a static group of invaders that march left and right and drop down one space when they reach the end and you move left/right on the bottom and shoot. The TRUE Space Invaders had a whole dimension beyond that in gameplay.

 

5200 Space Invaders, 2600 Space Invaders, Intellivision Space Armada, The countless clones on the home computers and consoles of the time, the countless clones in the arcades (like Segas Space Attack). All share one thing.. they have space-invaders-like gameplay.. but they aint Space Invaders

 

Sega Space Attack

 

Space Invaders aint about the looks.. (although I would've been glad if they at least tried to make ONE of the waves in the 5200 look like the arcade) but there is a whole level of gameplay that could have easily been translated from the arcade and put into the game (or translated and mutated). But it never was. I'm talking Wall of Death, Counting shots, Scoring, and other little tricks that were important to any hardcore S.I. fan out there. Thankfully, Opcode has now made right on that wrong with his excellent ports to the colecovision:D

 

However those are straight ports. The 5200 could've done a little better. Think about it.. how hard would it have been to simply include a little of that technique and strategy to the 5200 version? They could've kept the same cool different invader graphics that change every 2 waves.. but they could have EASILY changed the scoring system.. or added the wall of death feature so you have a fighting chance when the invaders are at their lowest. Or how bout a little RAINBOW BONUS? I mean even with a lot of graphical changes that would've made it really cool and worthy of the Space Invaders title Just my opinion

[Nukey Shay]

There's a hack idea...adding the rainbow bonus into the 8-bit's DI

 

* boots up Atari800Win

[+Allan]

I agree with NE146 although I still like SI for the 5200. Granted there have been better versions since then but when it came out it was the best home version available. Yea it was kind of a 'has-been' at the time but it still was fun. Some games just never lose thier charm. I still love playing Asteroids on just about any system, as simple as the game is.

 

Allan