Destructoid is a gaming discussion community updated nearly every 20 minutes by a tight-knit group of independent dirty uncles. Get involved by creating an avatar to post comments, upload videos, create your own blog, and meet new people that love gaming.   Returning Dtoider? login!
latest posts daily recapnew releases deals features reviews podcasts videos contests  
 previews
Retro Game Challenge, Big Bang Mini, and more
Stoked
50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
The Godfather II multiplayer
The Godfather II
more previews


 reviews
Word Soup
Crayon Physics Deluxe
KamiCrazy
Tatsunoko Vs Capcom
Crystal Defenders (iPhone)
more reviews


 podcasts

Podtoid 82: The Internet: making cannibalism easier with Rev Anthony

RetroforceGO! 74 tonight: Greatest retro boss battles with Chad Concelmo

The Podcastle 25: I can't remember what we talked about with Jim Sterling

More shows from the Gamercast Network

back episodes & iTunes info




 team
Nick Chester
Editor-in-Chief
Dale North
News Editor
Anthony Burch
Features Editor
Jim Sterling
Reviews Editor
Hamza Aziz
Community Manager
Niero
Founder/Webmonkey
editors
Ashley Davis
Brad Nicholson
Brad Rice
Chad Concelmo
Colette Bennett
Conrad Zimmerman
Daniel Lingen
Dyson
Jonathan Holmes
Jonathan Ross
Jordan Devore
Joseph Leray
Tom Fronczak
Topher Cantler
Samit Sarkar
contributors
Adam Dork
Ben Perlee
Charlie Suh
Joe Burling
Justin Villasenor
Mike Ferry
Mikey
Will Maddock

Living the dream
ModernMethod


5:08 PM on 02.08.2008

25 comments

Indie Nation #5: Sonic Invaders

Anthony Burch on Indie

ere

You have never, ever played anything like Sonic Invaders.

Ever.

Why, you ask? What makes Sonic Invaders so special, especially when compared with the epic action-RPG parody that was Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden? How could Sonic Invaders possibly manage to outdo last week's Indie Nation in terms of originality or fun factor?

Well, for starters, it's a game for blind people. That doesn't mean that you can't play it, of course -- you don't have to be blind to enjoy it -- but it was initially created with the sight-impaired in mind.

Given that this free game provides one of the most unusual gaming experiences available , you have every reason to download this game and try it out. Should you need some convincing, however, I'll meet you after the jump.

Developed by a Greek composer named Aristides Mytaras, Sonic Invaders is the first audio-only game I have ever played. There's evidently a bunch of them, all of which I hope to try out at some point or another, but as Sonic Invaders was my first it'll be Sonic Invaders I recommend.

In order to play Sonic Invaders, you absolutely must use headphones. It's simply not possible otherwise. I'll explain how that works into the gameplay later; for now, let's focus on the story.

The narrative, told to the player by a very low, very distorted human voice, may be one of the creepiest things I've yet experienced from an indie title (and that's counting Penumbra: Overture). Essentially, the player is told that in the 21st century, alien invaders attack the planet who can only be destroyed through sonic pulse weapons. The narrator then goes on to inform the player that no matter what, the aliens eventually win and the human race is exterminated; what you are playing is merely a retelling of the events of that war.

I know that doesn't sound very creepy written out, but just imagine this voice speaking directly into your ear about the death of everyone on Earth while really, really haunting music plays in the background and tell me you don't feel a little unnerved.

erereww

So, basically, it's Space Invaders with no graphics. In fact, the above screenshot is the only thing you will ever see once you start playing the game.

Control-wise -- and this is why you need the headphones -- your job is to shoot down alien ships as they approach from seven different directions. The X, C, and V keys fire at 90, 60, and 30 degrees respectively, while the N, M, and comma keys do the same thing for the right headphone speaker. The space key fires straight up and the B key initiates your shields, with which you can deflect enemy fire.

At first, the game seems relatively easy. You hear a ship approaching at a 30 degree angle, so you hit V. Zap, boom. Done. Then another ship approaches. Then another. And another. You frantically try to remember which keys do what as you focus entirely on your sense of hearing, trying to pinpoint the exact angle each enemy ship is coming at. Things get even more complicated when enemies begin moving from one angle to another, forcing you to lead your shots, or when they start disappearing and reappearing just to scare the living crap out of you.

While the game mechanics are very simple, Sonic Invaders's focus on audio-only gameplay makes it a hell of a lot more nerve-wracking than it really has any right to be. To hear the sound of an incoming enemy bullet slowly get louder and louder as it approaches from a specific angle, only to crash into your turret with a startling boom, is an experience in suspense and fear I've yet to see replicated in games with graphics.

And yet, for all its coronary-inducing intensity and moody audio, Sonic Invaders is still fun. Once you get the hang of the turrets and learn to rely on your ears far more than you're otherwise used to, the game becomes a -- and there's no other way to say this -- completely hypnotic affair. It's a scary enough game that I cannot see myself getting outright addicted to it anytime soon, but while you're playing, while you're completely immersed in the midst of an audio-only space war, it's hard not to enjoy yourself in some way or another.

You can download the game here. It's completely free. After you're done, you can always check out some more audio-only games and let the community know if any of them match up with Sonic Invaders. If nothing else, though, I urge you to download Sonic Invaders and give it a try -- especially if you're looking to play something which feels totally unlike anything you've ever played.


25 comments   |   latest by BetaMaster
@liquidninja "The audio may be the main thing that draws me to this game." Well it sure as hell better not be the visuals.... read more


 

RELATED ARTICLES

Indie developer completely loses the plot, goes all Time Cube on us
51 comments

Nicalis announces Cave Story DLC, possible extras
21 comments

A reason to care about WiiWare again: Eduardo and the Samurai Toaster
13 comments

Modern day Mega Drive game could come to XBLA
11 comments

The 2009 Independent Games Festival finalists have been announced
10 comments



 community blogs  (32178 Dtoiders!)
post a community blog
Game with us: Friday Night Fights
Meet-ups: Dtoiders in your city
New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide



 features next 20 features





 new videos next 20 videos
CES 2009: Prototype is 'all crunch, but no munch'
CES 2009: Digital Experience! overview video
CES 2009: Sixense one-ups the Wii remote
EA anounces four MySims games, we report
Someone hasn't learned: Cooper Lawrence talks videogames on FOX again



 popular stories last month's picks
HD DVDMod your useless HD DVD Drive to BURN PEOPLE'S FACES OFF!
21 comments + 95764 views
A boot to the headEconomics or stupidity: 1UP podcast firings to save UGO $2.5 million annually?
75 comments + 22348 views
Mortal KombatMortal Kombat vs. DC Universe: More fatalities revealed
70 comments + 18826 views
Also, bewbsDirty Lara Croft gets clothes off, this is videogame news
54 comments + 14632 views
ReviewsDestructoid Review: Crayon Physics Deluxe
24 comments + 13144 views
AliensA brief and bloody history of Aliens videogames
32 comments + 12904 views
AdsPenny Arcade promotes their game with flamebait from their biggest critic
79 comments + 12880 views
Halt, criminal scum!Left 4 Dead star suspected of robbery, shot by cops
47 comments + 10966 views
Street fighterCammy screens are not intellectually stimulating
30 comments + 10960 views
Featured articlesPlaying With Others: The act of betrayal
26 comments + 10438 views



 game figures & toys  via Tomopop

more video game toys




get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
discuss a review
contribute a news tip
write a guest editorial
support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?
keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meet-ups
seriously

about us
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap
our network

Tomopop
Japanator


Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming industry's need of accountable enthusiast press
Living the dream since March 16, 2006