Space Invaders

From Sega Retro

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SpaceInvaders Title.png

Space Invaders
System(s): SG-1000
Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Developer:
Licensor: Taito
Genre: Shooting[1]

















Number of players: 1-2 (alternating)
Release Date RRP Code
SG-1000
JP
¥4,3004,300[1] G-1045
SG-1000
TW
ExpandNon-Sega versions

Space Invaders (スペースインベーダー) is a 1979 milestone arcade game developed by Taito. It was brought to a variety of home video game consoles and computers, including the SG-1000 in 1985. The SG-1000 version does not appear to have been released outside of Japan.

Gameplay

Space Invaders SG, Gameplay.png

Gameplay

Space Invaders was the first fixed shooter game, and it is a progenitor of the shoot-'em-up genre. The player controls a laser turret that can move horizontally and must destroy waves of aliens invaders before they reach the ground. The game has a two-player alternating mode.

Each wave of aliens arranges itself in five rows of eleven invaders. They move left and right as a group, shifting downward (toward the player's turret) each time they reach a screen edge. The goal is to eliminate all of the aliens by shooting them. The aliens have projectile weapons that they occasionally fire at the player's cannon. The laser cannon is partially protected by four stationary defense bunkers, which are gradually destroyed from the top by the aliens (and can also be destroyed from the bottom if the player accidentally fires on one from below). As the invaders are destroyed, the movement of the remaining aliens speeds up.

When an entire wave has been defeated, another wave appears slightly lower than the last. Eventually, the wave spawns with the bottom row right on top of the bunkers. Then the next wave starts from the top of the screen, and subsequent waves are spawned progressively lower again. This loop continues until the game ends.

The player's laser cannon moves with Left or Right and shoots with 1 or 2. The player has three lives and loses one whenever the laser turret is hit by an enemy. However, the game ends immediately if an alien reaches the bottom of the screen.

Enemies

Space Invaders SG, Aliens.png
Octopus
Worth 10 points.
Space Invaders SG, Aliens.png
Crab
Worth 20 points.
Space Invaders SG, Aliens.png
Squid
Worth 30 points.
Space Invaders SG, Aliens.png
UFO
This enemy occasionally flies quickly across the top of the screen and randomly awards 50, 100, 150, 200, or 300 points if destroyed.

Photo gallery

Versions

Surprisingly, the SG-1000 port of the game was one of the most accurate of its time, surpassing the NES and MSX versions (which were the console's main competitors). Though it adds more color (the arcade version was simply black and white, with translucent overlays to mimic color), the SG-1000 version retains all the original graphics, whereas other ports (especially for Atari systems) redrew the invaders due to various graphical restrictions.

Physical scans

SG-1000 version

ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
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ExpandSega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
SG-1000
N/A
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0 reviews

Space Invaders

SG-1000, JP
Space Invaders SG1000 JP Top.jpg
Space Invaders SG1000 JP Back.jpgSpace Invaders SG1000 JP Spine.jpgSpaceInvaders SG1000 JP Box Front.jpgSpace Invaders SG1000 JP Spine2.jpg
Cover
Space Invaders SG1000 JP carttop.jpg
Space Invaders SG1000 JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Space Invaders SG1000 JP Manual.pdf
Manual
SG-1000, TW

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
SG-1000
 ?
Expand
16kB Cartridge (JP)
SG-1000
 ?
Expand
16kB Cartridge (TW)

References


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Space Invaders SG, Aliens.png
Space Invaders games for Sega systems
Space Invaders (1985) | Space Invaders '90 (1990) | Super Space Invaders (1992) | Space Invaders (1996)
Space Invaders (Dreamcast) (unreleased)
Space Invaders VIC Dual Clones
Alpha Fighter (19??) | Invinco (1979) | Space Attack (1979) | Super Space Attack (1979)