Hyperspace Invader Review

Hyperspace Invader is an almost top-down space shooter. It’s not really perfectly top-down, but not really two-thirds view either, but somewhere in between. The game is fairly basic. You either have to survive to the end of the level or kill a specific enemy. You control your ship with the mouse, and have your normal unlimited ammo/weak gun, and a “bomb� key (in this case the right mouse button). Your weapons, armor, and the ship itself can be upgraded to be bigger, stronger, and faster.

The graphics are good. Not great, not “okay�, but good. They’re what you would expect from a fairly new PC space shooter game. The levels, however, are a different story. Obviously, there aren’t any turns or anything, you just go forward; but it really feels like they used the exact same level framework for each stage and just changed the colors and enemies. The game has a nice production value, it has nice menus and is fairly easy to navigate around the game. In fact, this game even has a STORY! Does that mean this game has a meaning? Is this game a story-driven, cinematic masterpiece? Nope. Basically the only story you get is at the beginning is a Star-Wars-esque scrolly story introduction.

The enemies are unique to a degree, but the thing you have to realize about this genre is that there isn’t much new to do. You have a ship, you have a gun, and you have enemies. The shooting, the upgrades, it’s nothing new. Yes, it does it well, but do we really need more of the same? Some people do, and others simply don’t mind. Personally, I have never been a big fan of the genre, but it’s not bad. The game itself isn’t half bad; it’s fun, and that’s really the essence of what a good game should be. It’s good at making you come back for more. I found myself trying levels over and over trying to beat them, surprisingly without getting bored for a rather long time.

Still, the game’s length isn’t all that great. I’d say a gamer could beat this game in a day easily if he was determined. But honestly, that would take one determined gamer. The game is just so dang repetitive; every level is like the last, but with a few more, bigger enemies, and you with more, bigger guns. Although a good 3D space shooter hasn’t come along for a while, I don’t think we need anymore…for a long, long time. This game has few innovations, but what it does do, it does fairly well. If you’re a fan of space shooters, get some therapy and pick up this game. For everyone else, stay away. Stay far away.