Space Invaders Lands on C64 in Faithful New Conversion

Will they never cease their attempts at invasion...?

The relentless march of the pixelated aliens continues. Taito's seminal 1978 arcade classic, Space Invaders, has received a notably faithful conversion for the Commodore 64, courtesy of the prolific C64 developer Luca Carminati, also known as LC-Games. Released on Sunday, the 13th April, this new iteration aims squarely at replicating the look, feel, and addictive tension of the arcade original on the beloved breadbin.

While the C64 has seen its share of Space Invaders clones and interpretations over the decades – some official, many less so – this version distinguishes itself through its dedication to arcade accuracy. Carminati's conversion meticulously recreates the iconic gameplay: the player controls the laser cannon, shuffling horizontally along the screen's bottom edge, blasting away at five descending rows of eleven invaders. The familiar defence bunkers offer temporary respite, crumbling under fire from both above and below.

Crucially, the conversion captures the escalating tempo that defined the arcade experience. As the player eliminates aliens, the remaining invaders speed up their relentless side-to-side advance, accompanied by the game's increasingly frantic, heartbeat-like sound effects. Defeating a full wave brings forth another, slightly tougher formation, continuing until the player's last cannon is destroyed or the invaders breach the defences. That elusive 'mystery ship' also makes its appearance, zipping across the top for valuable bonus points.

LC-Games hasn't just dumped the code and called it a day; several thoughtful options enhance the package. Players can select from three difficulty levels (Novice, Medium, Arcade), toggle autofire, choose from three colour palettes, and even select from six different firing sound effects – a nice touch for personalisation. According to the developer, the game runs smoothly on both PAL and NTSC C64 models.

For those eager to relive the arcade glory days or perhaps experience a slice of gaming history on authentic hardware (or emulation), this conversion is available now via LC-Games' page on itch.io. It's offered on a 'name your own price' basis, meaning it can be downloaded entirely free of charge, though donations are encouraged to support the developer's work. Given the positive reception seen in community comments, it seems Carminati has delivered a conversion many C64 enthusiasts feel the classic title deserves.

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