A code for the game was provided by Ratalaika Games for review.

A Modern Take on an Old Classic

Ever since the arcade days, when coins flung from our pockets straight into machine slots, I have remained nostalgic about the games that marked this time. Yet every opportunity I have to embrace them again, I swiftly find that a touch of modernisation is missing.

Enter Zeroptian Invasion, a modern take on the Space Invaders title that marked my youth. A game that is as old as new. A game that after a week of playing, still brings the same feeling of happiness that makes my inner child rejoice on the better days of my youth.

Like the title it heavily draws inspiration from, Zeroptian Invasion follows a stage based setup. Players control a space ship dodging incoming waves of aliens, who just so happen to be in a rather unfriendly mood. It’s with mission structure however, that Zeroptian Invasion finds an image of its own and begins to deviate from Space Invaders. With every stage, the game introduces new and complex enemies ranging in size and projectile type as levels get harder.

Difficulty is another aspect that Zeroptian Invasion builds upon. It sticks to the arcade tradition of predictable patterns but introduces challenging bosses. Bosses that over time teach you to get better at the game, embedding in you the skills you need to be able to beat it.

Present to help you battle these monsters is a variation of power ups. While they are not frequent enough to truly impact gameplay, every time one appears on screen it is worth risking your neck for to pick them up.

To accompany you through your journey, Zeroptian Invasion packs a killer soundtrack. It features tunes that get stuck in your head from the first time you hear them- which is good, because in arcade fashion, you will be hearing them a lot. Not only that, but the pixel graphics, while not very different from Space Invaders, has been defined, giving the assets a more defined image that allows players to quickly distinguish foe from foe.

Yet with all these differentiations, Zeroptian Invasion is far from fully realised as a modernisation. Newcomers will quickly realise that a leaderboard, the standard of competitive games of our age- is entirely missing. So is any sort of full screen endeavour, meaning that even when docked, you will have to enjoy the game through a limited box.

Through both of these complaints, which should by no means be ignored, one redeeming factor shines: the Nintendo Switch itself. Being able to take this arcade experience on the go, creates an experience that almost feels surreal – I get it, Space Invaders was never made to be a demanding game, but from the harsh limitations that once held it from being in the palm of my hands, the Nintendo Switch feels like a revelation for this genre of game.

Another point that adds to this game’s favour is its price, coming in at $4.99 and £3.99 currently, Zeroptian Invasion is a steal. That, combined with the aforementioned points and the infinite replay ability of titles such as this, means Zeroptian Invasion is a value behemoth.

Zeroptiam Invasion isn’t a title that lives on from my nostalgia, it is a behemoth of its own. A game so carefully aimed at modernising the old that every time I boot it up, I put myself in the shoes of the youngsters of this generation.

Within a split second I come to imagine how perfect it is that with its catchy (and repetitive in the most arcade way) soundtracks, perfect pixelated visuals, and carefully designed boss battles, a new era of gamers can now rejoice in the same way I did. However, they get to play it on a console that is not only coin-free, but can be played anytime, anywhere.

That’s why I give Zeroptian Invaders by Ratalaika Games my score of.

Are you hoping to get your Space Invader fix on Zeroptian Invaders? Let us know over on Twitter or come and join the SIF Discord.

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