imported>Andrzejbanas: formatting Weekly Famitsu review per infobox standards (we shouldn't average out the reviews. it was four reviewers with four unique scores and no average score in the original magazine (see also WP:STICKTOSOURCE).

2025-04-16T14:37:01Z

formatting Weekly Famitsu review per infobox standards (we shouldn't average out the reviews. it was four reviewers with four unique scores and no average score in the original magazine (see also WP:STICKTOSOURCE).

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{{Short description|1995 compilation video game}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Space Invaders Virtual Collection
| image = Space Invaders Virtual Collection box art.jpg
| developer = [[Taito]]
| publisher = Taito
| director = Toshiki Sakai
| designer = [[Tomohiro Nishikado]]
| programmer = Tatsuya Kitasawa
| composer = Fumito Tamayama
| series = ''[[List of Space Invaders video games|Space Invaders]]''
| platforms = [[Virtual Boy]]
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|December 1, 1995}}
| genre = [[Shoot'em up|Fixed shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Space Invaders Virtual Collection'''''|スペースインベーダーバーチャルコレクション|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1995 [[Product bundling|compilation]] video game developed and published by [[Taito]] in Japan for the [[Virtual Boy]]. It includes direct ports of the arcade game ''[[Space Invaders]]'' (1978) and its sequel ''[[Space Invaders Part II]]'' (1979), alongside 3D remakes that take advantage of the Virtual Boy's hardware capabilities. Both games feature a number of alternative gameplay modes, such as score attack and time attack.

Development of the game was headed by director Toshiki Sakai, with music composed by Fumito Tamayama and programming by Tatsuya Kitasawa. ''Space Invaders'' creator [[Tomohiro Nishikado]] is credited for the remade arcade ports. ''Virtual Collection'' was met with a mixed reaction from critics; some praised the game's accurate versions of the included games and 3D effects, while others criticized its lack of content and small amount of titles. It is notable for being one of the rarest Virtual Boy games released, with original copies demanding high prices on online auction sites.

==Gameplay==
[[File:VB Space Invaders Virtual Collection.png|thumb|left|In-game screenshot of the 3D remake of ''Space Invaders''. Like all other Virtual Boy games, it displays graphics in red and black.]]
''Space Invaders Virtual Collection'' includes direct ports of the arcade game ''[[Space Invaders]]'' (1978) and its sequel ''[[Space Invaders Part II]]'' (1979).<ref name="Manual">{{cite book |title=Space Invaders Virtual Collection instruction manual (translated from Japanese) |date=1 December 1995 |publisher=[[Taito]] |url=https://www.planetvb.com/content/manuals/pdf/sp_usa_trans_im.pdf |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530081642/https://www.planetvb.com/content/manuals/pdf/sp_usa_trans_im.pdf |archive-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> In both games, the player controls a laser base which must eliminate all of the aliens that march down from the top of the screen, who plot to take over Earth.<ref name="Manual"/> Aliens will slowly move towards the edge of the screen and then go downward, and will become faster as more aliens are destroyed.<ref name="Manual"/> The player can hide behind large shields that protect them from enemy shots. However, the shields will become damaged if hit by either the player or an alien's projectile.<ref name="Manual"/> A [[Unidentified flying object|UFO]] will occasionally appear towards the top of the screen, which can be shot down for bonus points.<ref name="Manual"/> ''Space Invaders Part II'' features slight alterations to the gameplay, such as new aliens that split into smaller ones when shot, a flashing UFO which can only be hit when it becomes visible, and short intermissions in-between stages.<ref name="Manual"/>

''Virtual Collection'' features 3D remakes of both titles, taking advantage of the Virtual Boy's hardware capabilities. The games place the player in a third-person perspective, with aliens appearing further in the background and the laser base towards the front.<ref name="Manual"/> Gameplay is otherwise identical to the originals, featuring a pre-rendered backdrop depicting a futuristic metropolis.<ref name="Manual"/> All versions of the games include a score attack mode, where the objective is to achieve the highest score under a time limit, and a time attack mode, where the player must destroy an entire formation of aliens as quickly as possible.<ref name="Manual"/>

==Development and release==
''Space Invaders Virtual Collection'' was released by [[Taito]] for the [[Virtual Boy]] in Japan on December 1, 1995.<ref name="Famitsu Review">{{cite news |title=スペースインベーダーバーチャルコレクション |url=https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s020297004 |access-date=13 September 2019 |agency=[[Famitsu]] |publisher=[[Enterbrain]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530033022/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s020297004 |archive-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> Development of the game was headed by director Toshiki Sakai, with programming done by Tatsuya Kitasawa and music composed by Fumito Tamayama. [[Tomohiro Nishikado]], the creator of the original ''[[Space Invaders]]'', is credited for the arcade game ports.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Space Invaders Virtual Collection |developer=[[Taito]] |publisher=[[Taito]] |date=1 December 1995 |platform=[[Virtual Boy]] |scene=Credits |language=Japanese}}</ref> Like all other titles for the Virtual Boy, it uses a red and black color scheme and 3D visual effects.<ref name="Retrogames UK"/>

==Reception and legacy==
{{Video game reviews
| Fam = 4/10, 4/10, 4/10, 3/10{{efn|Each of the four reviewers in ''Famitsu'' [[Famitsu scores|scored]] the game on a ten point scale}}<ref name="Famitsu Review"/>
| N64 = 84%<ref name="N64 Magazine"/>
}}
''Space Invaders Virtual Collection'' was met with a mixed reaction from critics; while some praised the accurate versions of the included games and 3D effects, others criticized its lack of content and small amount of titles.

''[[Famitsu]]'' magazine was particularly negative towards the game, saying it made for a "pointless" entry to the console's library due to its lack of content and for not taking advantage of the Virtual Boy's hardware capabilities.<ref name="Famitsu Review"/> They also wrote that other console ports of ''Space Invaders'' made for a more worthwhile experience, notably ''Space Invaders: The Original Game'' on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]].<ref name="Famitsu Review"/> Jeremy Parish said the compilation would be much more worthwhile had other ''Space Invaders'' games been included, namely ''Majestic Twelve'', ''Space Invaders '95'' and ''Minivaders'', and that the low amount of content makes it a hard sell.<ref name="Jeremy Parish">{{cite web |last1=Parish |first1=Jeremy |title=Space Invaders: Virtual Collection retrospective: The Andromeda eyestrain |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY8-ukKj8m4 |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=13 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905184531/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY8-ukKj8m4&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1&bpctr=9999999999 |archive-date=5 September 2019 |date=12 June 2019}}</ref> ''[[N64 Magazine]]'' disliked the game's lack of a save battery and the player's base being too slow to maneuver.<ref name="N64 Magazine">{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Jason |title=Retroworld - Space Invaders |url=https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s009073001 |access-date=14 September 2019 |agency=[[N64 Magazine]] |issue=27 |date=April 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529213416/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s009073001 |archive-date=29 May 2019}}</ref> ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' magazine wrote that the 3D remakes failed to be as enjoyable as the original versions, making for a disappointing update.<ref>{{cite news |title=Space Invaders Virtual Collection |url=https://archive.org/stream/RetroGamerIssue101-102/Retro_Gamer_Issue_102#page/n47/mode/2up |access-date=14 September 2019 |issue=102 |publisher=[[Retro Gamer]] |date=2012 |page=48}}</ref>

Several would praise the accurate portrayals of the included games and the 3D remakes for taking advantage of the console's hardware. Parish recommended the game to ''Space Invaders'' fans for its excellent emulation quality, and for the 3D remakes providing a unique and interesting take on the core gameplay.<ref name="Jeremy Parish"/> ''N64 Magazine'' liked the game's detailed backdrops in the 3D mode and the additional gameplay modes for adding replay value, but noted that it was diminished due to the lack of a save battery.<ref name="N64 Magazine"/> French publication ''Revival'' compared the 3D modes favorably to ''[[Breakout 2000]]'' on the [[Atari Jaguar]], writing that it was one of the major selling points of the compilation, concluding it was worth the purchase for fans of the original.<ref>{{cite news |last=Denis |first=Cyril |title=Space Invaders Virtual Collection |agency=Revival |issue=31 |date=9 June 2006 |page=40 |language=French}}</ref>

''Space Invaders Virtual Collection'' is notable for being one of the rarest [[Virtual Boy]] games ever released,<ref name="Jeremy Parish"/><ref>{{cite web |author1=Aspirin |title=The Virtual Boy Collection |url=https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s044164005 |website=Official Nintendo Magazine |access-date=14 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529205937/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s044164005 |archive-date=29 May 2019 |page=62 |date=January 2010}}</ref><ref name="Retrogames UK">{{cite news |title=The Lost Big Brother: Virtual Boy |url=https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s034133001 |access-date=14 September 2019 |agency=Retrogames |issue=22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530123435/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s034133001 |archive-date=30 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=スペースインベーダーバーチャルコレクション |url=https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s022120007 |access-date=14 September 2019 |agency=VB Guide Vol. 2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529233154/https://www.planetvb.com/modules/articles/?s022120007 |archive-date=29 May 2019 |page=7}}</ref> a fact attributed to a limited production run and the downfall of the console itself.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Jason |title=Retroworld |url=https://archive.org/details/N64_Magazine_Issue_004_1997-07_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n15 |access-date=14 September 2019 |agency=N64 Magazine |date=July 1997 |page=17}}</ref> Copies of the game typically command high prices on online auction sites such as [[eBay]], some upwards of over US$1,000 or more.<ref name="Jeremy Parish"/> Parish noted that the high price point made the game near-impossible to justify a purchase, further saying it would have been a "no-brainer pickup" had it gone for $20 or $30.<ref name="Jeremy Parish"/> ''Retrogames UK'' disagreed with his statement, saying that the 3D remakes and original ports made the game a must-own for Virtual Boy collectors.<ref name="Retrogames UK"/>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Space Invaders}}
{{Virtual Boy}}

[[Category:1995 video games]]
[[Category:Space Invaders]]
[[Category:Taito games]]
[[Category:Virtual Boy games]]
[[Category:Video games about alien invasions]]
[[Category:Fixed shooters]]
[[Category:Japan-exclusive video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]

Space Invaders Virtual Collection - Revision history

imported>Andrzejbanas: formatting Weekly Famitsu review per infobox standards (we shouldn't average out the reviews. it was four reviewers with four unique scores and no average score in the original magazine (see also WP:STICKTOSOURCE).