Space Stranger

About

Space Stranger is a space-based arcade shooter with a few key twists on a familiar formula. After clearing the first wave of aliens you enter your name before the invaders shift into new shapes. The player ship takes a different form here too with a design that stands apart from the usual metal silhouette. Colors are bolder overall giving the whole game a sharper visual contrast compared to the original it's based on. Gameplay remains tight and fast paced with the same vertical alien formations and descending pattern. This 1978 release by Yachiyo Electronics offers a small but noticeable tweak on a classic experience. The name entry system adds a minor layer of personalization while the altered enemy designs keep the action feeling fresh. Though not as widely remembered as its predecessor the game's bold color palette and revised aesthetics make it a curio for fans of early arcade evolution. It's a brief but distinct entry in the wave of Space Invaders inspired titles that followed.