Play Space Invaders DS (J) Online

The aliens march down like always, but now you can tap the screen to dodge or stick with the D-pad—either way, your palms get sweaty when they speed up. That familiar panic hits just right on the DS.

Developer: Taito Corporation

Genre: Arcade

Released: 2005

File size: 4.43 MB

Game Overview

Space Invaders DS is basically the classic arcade shooter you remember, but now it fits in your pocket. The aliens still march down in those hypnotic patterns, and your little ship still feels way too slow when you're trying to dodge their attacks. They gave it a slight visual polish for the DS—nothing crazy, but the neon colors pop nicely on the small screen.

What surprised me was how well the touch controls work. You can either use the D-pad like the old days or just tap where you want your ship to move. I kept switching between both—the touch feels weirdly satisfying when you're in a tight spot. The aliens get faster and weirder as you go, and by level 5 or so, you'll be gripping the DS like it's 1982 all over again.

It's still just Space Invaders at heart, but that's not a bad thing.