Titan Attacks! (2011)

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I'd like to think we didn't provoke them...

Developer Puppygames

Things You Might Like

• Retro-style graphics
• Excellent take on Space Invaders gameplay
• Upgrades all over the place
• Retro soundtrack

Things You Might Not Like

• Some might consider it a Space Invaders clone with tweaks

Conclusion
Titan Attacks! is an excellent tribute to the Space Invaders days of gaming done in Puppygames’ signature neo-retro style. It looks great, plays well, and costs next to nothing. Go get it!

5 out of 5 Titans Terminated

Josh Robinson

***

So first things first. Titan Attacks! is not a new game. However, as an avid PC gamer who lives on Steam and is a fan of developer Puppygames’…..games, I was more then pleased when I found out about Titan Attacks! The first in the Titan series from Puppygames (see our review of Revenge of the Titans), Titan Attacks! details the dark days when planet Earth was defending itself from the alien hordes. As it turns out, it’s a lot like Space Invaders.

As the last tank on Earth, it’s your job to repel the invading forces from Jupiter’s moon, Titan. This is easier than one might think, since apparently the Titans will only attack the Earth in wherever you are now. However, the foolish invaders have no idea what they’re in for. Armed, initially, with only one skyward cannon, you will pulverize and devastate the incoming alien ranks. In time, though, you’ll be able to purchase deadlier means of defending the homeworld.

Titan Attacks! exists on the same plane of gaming existence as the arcade classics Space Invaders  and Missile Command. The gameplay is rather straightforward, though very entertaining. As I said earlier, you are initially armed with one cannon but can soon purchase more upgrades. This is based on cash rewards for every enemy you defeat. Other ways to garner extra cash are to annihilate the elusive ships scuttling across the top of the screen or to catch falling aliens after you destroy their ship. The upgrades range from simple damage upgrades to deadly additions to your tank. Worth noting is that your health is measured in Shield points. These carry over from stage to stage, so make sure to replenish your defenses after a particularly brutal engagement.

Combat in Titan Attacks! is pretty simple. You move around the ground using the mouse and fire at the heavens using the same. As with Space Invaders, your goal is to clear the screen of alien interlopers to ensure your safety on the ground below. Sometimes, this can be rather difficult. A word to the wise: pick up a smartbomb or three. They are pricey, but every now and then you get a screen jam packed full of life-ending baddies. Make them pay.

Graphically, Titan Attacks! shows the signature neo-retro stylings that I’ve come to expect from Puppygames. This latest version, available at both Steam and through their website, also includes high definition (HD) graphics. The difference is noticeable. You can see how the art style evolved for later games such as Revenge of the Titans, but that doesn’t mean this offering is substandard in any way. I’ve been playing on my HD-TV and have been wowed by how well the game maintains its visual quality. Throughout your experience you’ll travel across the Solar System to push back the extraterrestrial menace and each area does have a different feel to it, despite how small the areas seem. While the levels are relatively tiny, the almost bite-sized nature of the game works in its favor. 20 minutes here and there does add up after a while, and you’ll be left wanting more.

All in all, Titan Attacks! is for fans of the classics. Sure, modern gaming is great and I love it. (I’m currently engrossed in Star Wars: The Old Republic as we speak) However, there’s something about old-school sensibilities coated in fresh graphics that really calls out to many gamers. If you’ve never played the games that inspired Titan Attacks!, this is a great way to get that classic experience without having to hunt down a collection of old Atari games. Also, this will be a far more polished experience.

Buy Titan Attacks! now on Steam or at Puppygames and save the world!