Though GameStop doesn't have any to sell online, if you can bring yourself to visit your local shop, you can pick up a new copy of Space Invaders Extreme 2 for just $4.99. You might want to check the site's "store availability" or call ahead to make sure your visit isn't fruitless.

I remember buying the original Space Invaders Extreme for the same price -- money well spent -- but lost it along with other cherished DS carts during my move last year. Might be time to replace it!

Also, why didn't Square Enix ever release Space Invaders Extreme Z in the U.S. That's some ol' bullshit.

Oh, and speaking of sales, Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen is only $17.99 at Amazon right now.

See also: A lot of great Space Invaders Extreme posts

[Via CAG, Image via Yu0o0]

Without any advance notice, Taito released Space Invaders Extreme Z, a 500 Point version of Space Invaders Extreme 2, to Japan's DSiWare service this morning.

This downloadable version retains all the gameplay features of the retail game -- Bingo, Fever, etc. -- but is still noticeably different, according to Andriasang:

With G.G. Series Wonderland, Z.ONE, Aa Mujou Setsuna, and now Space Invaders Extreme Z on DSiWare, this now makes four shoot'em ups available on the Japanese service! And, um, none in the U.S. (Europe has Zombie BBQ).

Buy: Space Invaders Extreme 2 ($19.99)

Buy: U.S. Nintendo DSi (White, Pink, Black and Blue)

Import: Japanese Nintendo DSi (White, Black, Pink, Red, Lime Green, Metallic Blue)

Space Invaders Extreme 2 report: My God, it's full of moe!

Remember our expose on Space Invaders Extreme 2 that revealed a strange moe figure with a ridiculous, oversized hat? Reader Jksprat investigated the phenomenon with an import copy and found that the "Invader Girl" permeated every variant of the game's final stage! You can read Jksprat's in-depth report below:

Stage 5-A: The first sign of things were a little fishy was when I noticed this stage had reused assets from the very first stage of the game. I got rid of most of the Invaders and took a good look at the moving cubes: a cute 8-bit Invader Girl spinning around in the cubes! ... You can see her best at the upper right behind the "[bingo] lights".

Stage 5-B: This once more reuses assets from Stage 2. The background movie is a continuously looping zooming out of 2D graphics. ... Invader Girl's head is here, and we can see her trademark ginormous hat is based on a bear.

Stage 5-C: [This] is based on both Stage 3-x.  This time it's a little 3D model of Invader Girl spinning upwards. In Stage 5-C on Extreme difficulty (which will thoroughly emasculate anybody attempting it, by the way *cry*), it uses the Invader Girl stage again but with a slight change... ;3

Taito and Square Enix haven't restricted the moe character to the game, either. Invader Girl appears on the cover of Zuntata's Space Invaders Extreme 2 soundtrack released last month. Also, representatives gave out exclusive stickers of Invader Girl at Summer Comiket. The stickers featured the character without her hat... and in a bathing suit.

Space Invaders Extreme 2 releases in the U.S. this week, presumably with Invader Girl intact (stop giggling, pervs). I'm sure most of you forgot it was coming out so soon!

Buy: Space Invaders Extreme 2 ($19.99)

See also: Incredible Space Invaders Extreme 2 trailer

[Thanks, Jksprat!]

Forgot about Space Invaders Extreme 2

How is it that Space Invaders Extreme 2, a title near universally praised by importers and the follow-up to one of last year's finest games, has received hardly any attention leading up to its Stateside release next week?

Are gamers upset that this is a DS exclusive, while the original Space Invaders Extreme also came out for PSP and XBLA? Perhaps they skipped SIE and consider iPhone's Space Invaders: Infinity Gene as the series' definitive portable revival? Maybe people are just burnt out from Space Invaders' 30th anniversary and the overload of releases/merchandise?

While I believe those issues factored into the lack of hype for the sequel, I believe it's more to do with the fact that Taito-parent Square Enix has done nothing to promote the game in North America since last May. It wasn't until last night, five days before it's scheduled to ship SIE 2 to stores, that the company remembered to alert others about the game's official U.S. site and new videos.

So, I'm doing my part to push the game by reminding you it's priced at only $19.99 and by uploading these two fresh preview clips. Enjoy this online multiplayer bit:

Along with the new moe mascot and time attack mode, SIE2 introduces new wave patterns, backgrounds, bosses, music, and more. Fever Time segments also now take place on the top screen and run concurrent to normal gameplay. As for the new Bingo system, I still don't understand it.

Preorder: Space Invaders Extreme 2 ($19.99)

See also: Incredible Space Invaders Extreme 2 trailer

"Invader Disco YMCK FC+Arcade Mix" short sample from Space Invaders Extreme 2 -Audio Element-.

Taito's sound team Zuntata put out this CD in Japan last month featuring music from the DS game along with a few mixes from other artists. Here's another remixed song preview from Japanese music collective Norishirocks (with Pepper Shop's visualization of the album's cover):

Can you believe Space Invaders Extreme 2 releases in the U.S. in less than two weeks? How did that sneak up on us? Don't forget to buy a paddle (only available in pink)! Unless you have a DSi. In that case, yeah, forget about it.

Preorder: Space Invaders Extreme 2 ($19.99)

See also: More Space Invaders Extreme 2 media, YMCK

With the exception of My Pet Shop, every Square-Enix published Taito DS game thus far released in the U.S. at $19.99, so this isn't much of a surprise. Still, it's great to hear that this will be cheap!

Space Invaders Extreme 2 is expected to ship this fall, but you can preorder it now at Amazon. I just wish Square Enix hadn't fiddled with the original Japanese cover -- I really liked the Taito Collection button.

See also: Incredible Space Invaders Extreme 2 trailer

Space Invaders Extreme print sent to Offworld's Brandon Boyer to promote the Xbox Live Arcade release of SIE. Yes, it does have Space Invaders creator Tomohiro Nishikado's autograph on it. Why, yes, that is completely boss.

Space Invaders Extreme XBLA doesn't look so hot.

What was lost during the handheld-to-console porting process (besides the second screen, obviously)? I know this upcoming version adds new visualizers provided by Jeff Minter, as well as an online four-player cooperative mode, but this somehow looks and sounds dramatically less fun than last year's DS release.

Yosumin Live! -- an addictive puzzler which Square Enix is bringing to XBLA despite not localizing the DS edition -- thankfully hasn't lost its charm:

See also: More Space Invaders Extreme news

[Via GamerBytes]

Incredible Space Invaders Extreme 2 trailer.

I pointed out several issues in the past two SIE 2 videos, unsatisfied with their presentation in some way or another, but everything in this latest two-minute clip rocks my face off, leaving a completely empty and very creepy visage in the space my features once occupied.

I love it all, from the charged soundtrack to the rapid-fire dual-screened shoot-outs. If I had a face to convey my feelings regarding this trailer, you would be astounded that a man could look so happy; unfortunately, my ability to communicate these expressions has been lost, and all I can offer you now is this thing of horror.

Preorder: Space Invaders Extreme 2

See also: More Space Invaders Extreme news

[Via NeoGAF]

Three minutes of Space Invaders Extreme 2.

Unfortunately, this recording has several people talking over the video, which is only slightly less annoying than the game's actual announcer. At least there's a lot of multiplayer (versus) footage towards the end.

I really like SIE 2's seamless Bonus Rounds, sliding into the top screen instead of interrupting play. Following the alien ships looks difficult, though, what with the frantic backgrounds and all the dropping, spinning power-ups.

Preorder: Space Invaders Extreme 2

See also: More Space Invaders Extreme news

[Via NeoGAF]

Space Invaders Extreme 2 trailer.

Though there are a few nice highlights in this low-quality video -- the bingo system, standard battles spanning both screens, and new boss formations -- there are also some worrisome points, mainly from the audio side.

The announcer sounds annoying and out of place, unlike the pleasing, Majel Barrett-esque female voice in the original game; he also won't shut-up!

The music, too, doesn't seem as stirring as the first game's, going by the single track played in this trailer. Hopefully, Taito will release more compelling clips ahead of SIE 2's March 26th release in Japan.

Preorder: Space Invaders Extreme 2

See also: More Space Invaders Extreme news

[Via NeoGAF]

Space Invaders Extreme 2 boxart (Japanese).

And yes, the game supports the paddle peripheral. Hopefully, Taito will release more of these controllers (stateside, even!), as import shop Play Asia has been sold out of them for some time now, and NCSX only has the pink version in stock.

Preorder: Space Invaders Extreme 2 (from Play Asia)

Famitsu has posted screens of two awesome upcoming Taito games: Space Invaders Extreme 2, which adds a bingo system and SUPER FEVER TIME; and Bubble Bobble Wii, which has 400 old and new levels, in addition to downloadable "expert" levels.

Invaders comes out March 26 in Japan, and Bubble Bobble was supposed to come out this month, but there's not enough month left for that.

I am just so excited about these two games. The financial situation makes it hard to load up on a bunch of video games, but these are going to be in my house at the earliest opportunity. But first, I feel like I need to understand Bubble Bobble better. I've played a lot of it, and I like it, but as simple as it is, I feel like I never really got it.

Ujn Hunter pointed out in a comment on our last Space Invaders Extreme post that Gamestop currently has both SIE and Legend of Kage 2 on sale for $10 each. I just went and checked it out -- and it's true! It actually appears to be a price drop, which is pretty sad. The price drop covers all the recent Taito DS games except for Arkanoid.

Space Invaders Extreme DS isn't in stock online, but if you find it in a store, it'll be $10 -- or you can get the PSP one. Gamestop.com is currently stocking copies of Legend of Kage 2 and Exit DS.

If you can use an upcoming gift-related celebration to justify a purchase for yourself -- or, alternately, if you can spend ten bucks without even caring -- you should totally check out Space Invaders Extreme. Actually, forget the qualifiers: Space Invaders Extreme was one of the most awesome DS games of an extremely awesome DS year.

Chris Kohler's "anagram review" of Space Invaders Extreme. I'd follow with one of my own, but -- true story! -- anagrams are really hard.