As the original alien shooter, Space Invaders was always famous for being first, not best. Hits like Gorf, Galaxian, and Galaga quickly evolved its core formula into something with more replay value. But like a rapping granny, Extreme pushes the other kids aside and busts some of its own updated moves — enormous pixelated bosses, waves of invaders that break formation, upgraded weapons like lasers and bombs, hyperactive Fever rounds, mid-battle minigames, multiplayer modes where players get to shoot each other, and co-op play via Live or same-screen for up to four players. Great fun.

Plus, there’s more strategy this time around: eliminating the aliens methodically by row, column, color, or shape yields bonuses. All of those elements shove Space Invaders into the future, making it well worth the download. The franchise is from 1978, and the radical name reeks of 1995, but the gameplay of Space Invaders Extreme feels refreshingly modern.

On XBLA

+ Modern mechanics give this chestnut new life.

+ All the multiplayer modes you'd want.

- The aggressive electronic soundtrack gets grating fast.

? "Extreme"? Really?

8.0