Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch

One of the coolest things about the video game industry is that there are always options for every taste. Whether eccentric or retro, top of the line or innovative, there is always a developer with a different idea that will please some people with its unique style. Space Dave! is a simple but challenging game that renews, reinterprets and pays homage to one of the most important games in the history of our beloved industry: Space Invaders.

Mechanics: 7

The game uses only the d-pad, a button to shoot and a button to jump and “glide” to prolong your time in the air. Your goal is to destroy the hordes of alien ships before they reach the ground. When an enemy touches the ground, the ship turns into a faster and more aggressive version and also destroys the spot it hit – creating an obstacle that hinders your movement and positioning.
Some special enemies leave skulls when taken down, which can be used to gradually cover the craters and recreate a bit of ground on the game map.

When defeating enemies, there is a chance of receiving items that increase your firepower, among them Increase Fire Rate, Triple/Spread Shot and a Drone that follows you and helps with a few shots. But the most interesting power is the Space Block, which appears randomly during the game and must be hit in the air to be knocked down and then accessed. This item, when used, takes control of all the enemies positioned above it! The result is a battalion of enemy ships accompanying you and helping to fight the invading forces. These ships are destroyed easily, so a skilled player must be concerned with positioning their character and leading their whole army so as to minimize losses…
Oh, yes! If your character takes a single hit or touches a single enemy, a life is lost and, with it, all the accumulated upgrades and allies!

Fun: 7 or 9 – (On average it’s 8)

Playing Space Dave! alone is a familiar experience for any older gamer: it looks like a modernized Space Invaders, with some ideas of its own added to enrich it and give it variety. Your first instinct as a player will make you methodical and precise in eliminating the invaders, but the game eventually reaches a point where the pressure of the attack exceeds your ability to defend your territory, forcing you to make decisions, make sacrifices and adapt to the consequences. The difficulty progression together with the power up and enemy domination mechanics provides an experience of concentration and high but fair challenge.

But SD! reveals its potential for fun (and for chaos) when played in co-op mode. By sharing the Joy-Con with a friend, you quickly notice some differences. The devastating power of the combined shot encourages players to stay close, but the spread of the targets forces spreading out to cover and protect the ground more efficiently. The basis of the co-op experience is this constant balance between combining or spreading the duo’s firepower, and the result is a more fun and balanced game… At least, at the start. A pair of players can run over the first levels of the game, quickly reaching a point of the most complete chaos! The visual clutter is intense, and will demand every drop of attention and reflex from both sides to persist and progress!

Audio and visuals: 7.5

Space Dave! has a single song, but achieves the surprising feat of not becoming tiresome! The music is not only good for its composition, but for its ability to “disappear” from your attention and just reinforce the game’s mood of retro chaos. There are variations by adding or removing instruments and beats, but overall nothing that draws much attention – and that is a plus!

In visual terms SD! uses the by now overused pixelated look, already quite common as the economical default option for indie games. The game is quite colorful and pretty, and impresses in particular with the number of simultaneous elements on screen, which also helps create a chaotic mood. Unfortunately there are moments when the presentation reaches a point of visual clutter and, without helping the player find their character or even understand everything going on on screen, ends up harming the gameplay and the play experience.

Final thoughts

Space Dave! offers an arcade experience that genuinely seems to be the natural evolution of so many 80s games. Using technical power far beyond that of other times, the result is a retro game full of personality and a lot of fun!

Score

Mechanics = 7

Fun = 8

Audio and visuals = 7.5

Worth the 10 dollars? Yes, if you like old-school arcades or often invite friends over for co-op games – for everyone else, it’s a great game to pick up when there is a discount or sale on the eShop!

Overall: 7.5

Nintendo Switch version