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Return of the Invaders

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Return of the Invaders is the third game in Taito's Space Invaders series. It's a more radical change from the original concept than Part II and features an all new full colour look. There are several new features in the game. Most noticeable are the additions of new enemy formations, seen alread...

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Developer
UPL

Released on
1985

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
Taito

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Return of the Invaders is the third game in Taito’s Space Invaders series. It’s a more radical change from the original concept than Part II and features an all new full colour look. There are several new features in the game. Most noticeable are the additions of new enemy formations, seen already in the first wave where the aliens circle around. Some aliens also, when shot, leave their positions and dive towards the player. Others can reflect the player’s shots and send them back against him. The game also adds bonus stages similar to Galaga. Another new addition is that the UFOs at the top of the screen now carry weapon upgrades which they drop when shot. To get it the player needs to avoid shooting the centre of the UFO as both the UFO and the weapon will be destroyed.

Return of the Invaders

Overview & History

Released by Taito in 1985, *Return of the Invaders* serves as the third official installment in the legendary *Space Invaders* franchise. Unlike its static predecessors, this arcade cabinet introduced bold scrolling mechanics and vibrant, detailed character sprites that pushed the hardware limits of the mid-80s. The storyline follows a lone, upgraded space fighter battling through wave after wave of descending alien armadas determined to conquer Earth's planetary defense grids. Taito injected fresh narrative momentum by making the alien mothership an active, moving menace rather than a mere background bonus.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Departing from fixed-screen shooter tropes, *Return of the Invaders* incorporates vertically scrolling stages that force players to continuously maneuver while eliminating threats. A standout gameplay mechanic involves capturing enemy fighter modules scattered throughout the stages to dock with your ship, effectively doubling your firepower and granting a temporary protective shield. The alien swarm exhibits advanced behavioral patterns, breaking formation to execute kamikaze dive-bombs and deploying projectile barrages that demand precise twitch-reflexes. Players must balance aggressive crowd control with spatial awareness to dodge overlapping enemy fire and hazardous background obstacles.