Space Invaders Extreme 2 for the DS Preview Screenshot Gallery

The Invasion has Begun in Japan and Europe…so will it ever hit the United States?

Can those Invaders get any more EXTREME! Well they sure can in Japan and Europe who get the goodness of Space Invaders Extreme 2, a sequel/remake/remix to last year’s sequel/remake/remix.

When Invaders made history with its original coin-op arcade debut in 1978, lines to play the game led out the door and around the block, even causing a national shortage of 100 yen coins in Japan. When the home version for the Atari 2600 launched in 1980 it quickly became the systems most popular title, driving record-breaking sales for the console.

Since then the subsequent Invaders sequels fell flatter than an 8-bit alien. Although the first few were descent, starting with video arcade unit Space Invaders Part II in 1980, none of the others versions reached the heights of success as the original and by the time the current-gen systems of PayStation 2 and Xbox One came out, most gamers had been there and done that.

That was until the retro remix revolution of the Nintendo DS. Now thanks to the touch screen and graphical capabilities there are finally new ways to play the old-school classic, but with more elaborate levels, gameplay features and sparkly backgrounds.

In recent years the originators of Invaders, Taito, have launch armadas of remixed Space Invaders retoolings, but none of them caught on like Space Invaders Extreme for the DS, with its over the top graphics, new bosses and levels, all staying within the classic arcade shooter's stylings. This latest edition was published last March in Japan by Taito, and will be shipping across Europe this Fall, published by fellow retro game maker Square Enix.

So I have got to ask…what gives? When is the 'ole U.S. of A. going to see the latest Invaders from Space?

No announcement has yet been made as to Extreme 2's fate for a North America, but if those sneaky import sales of the Japanese edition are any indicator, it's only a matter of time.

If you're having trouble waiting for Taito and Square Enix to make up their minds, we've got a special preview screenshot gallery to get your tastes up for those crazy, crazy aliens.

• Space Invaders Extreme 2 Preview Screenshot Gallery
• The Original Space Invaders is the #1 Best Arcade Game from 1978
• The History of the Atari 2600

Space Invaders Extreme 2 © Taito Corporation; Screenshot courtesy of Square Enix.