Space Invaders Infinity Gene
| Space Invaders Infinity Gene | |
|---|---|
The game's logo includes the crab alien invader. | |
| Developer | Taito |
| Publishers | Taito Square Enix (PS3, 360, Android) |
| Director | Reisuke Ishida |
| Designer | Reisuke Ishida |
| Artist | Reisuke Ishida |
| Composer | Hirokazu Koshio |
| Series | Space Invaders |
| Platforms | Mobile phone, iOS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Android |
| Release | Mobile phone
|
| Genre | Shoot 'em up |
| Mode | Single-player |
Space Invaders Infinity Gene is a 2008 shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Taito for mobile phones. An installment of the Space Invaders series, the game blends the series' classic characters and gameplay with the concept of evolution. As the game progresses, new game mechanics become available to the player, modeling iterative changes to the series and genre. In addition to the normal collection of stages, it features challenge and bonus modes of play.
The game was directed by Reisuke Ishida, who sought to showcase the series' evolution and pique interest in the shoot 'em up genre. Several elements drew inspiration from previous Taito arcade shoot 'em ups as an homage to the genre. The director implemented "retro-futuristic" audiovisuals, which drew heavily from electronic music. Infinity Gene's music was created by Taito's band, Zuntata, with Hirokazu Koshio handling the sound design.
Soon after releasing for feature phones in Japan, the company published iPhone and iPod Touch versions in 2009; an iPad version followed in 2010. The iOS apps feature touch-screen controls and a music mode that generates stages from songs in the device's music library. Square Enix released it for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles in September 2010. In addition to the music mode, the console versions feature updated visuals with high definition and 3D graphics. An Android version was released in September 2011. After being removed from the Apple App Store in 2017, Taito released a remake titled Space Invaders Infinity Gene Evolve exclusively for Apple Arcade in 2025.
The iPhone release won several awards and was met with universal critical acclaim. Common points of praise included the touch controls, minimalist aesthetics, soundtrack, and music library integration. Criticism focused on enemies being obscured by the monochromatic visuals. The consoles versions were rated lower that the iOS releases but were received positively, specifically towards the changes related to adapting the game to consoles. Infinity Gene's success impacted Taito's approach to mobile phone games. Music from the game was included in the company's later projects.