Just when we thought we’d blasted them all, Space Invaders have returned.

In 1978, the arcade game became such a phenomenon when it was released in Japan that the country ran out of the one hundred yen coins people needed to play the game.  Countless sequels and clones have been released over the last three decades, but how do you successfully update one of the most revered game series of all time to make it relevant for audiences in 2008?

Taito’s Space Invaders Extreme is a portable revision of the classic game for today’s generation that commemorates the original game’s 30th anniversary.  As before, you can only move your ship from left to right and shoot, but power-ups give your ship new abilities.

Each level includes different enemy formations that get more challenging as the levels progress.  By achieving specific results such as hitting certain colors or enemy types, you can get bonus points.

Since the original game’s soundtrack was nothing but an assortment of beeps and bloops, the ambient techno music in the background is a welcome change.  The trippy psychedelic graphics complement the sounds and are just strange enough to keep you entranced while you battle aliens.

Two players can compete against each other using local wi-fi to see who can get the higher score.  Space Invaders Extreme is available for the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP for $19.99 MSRP.

WEB | http://www.taito.com