Chicken Invaders 1

I find it difficult to recommend this remake. It's not really a remake of Chicken Invaders 1, rather, it's just Chicken Invaders Universe using the same level set as the original game. Same thing with the "remakes" of CI2, 3, and 4. CI5 gets somewhat of a pass because of how similar it already is to Universe, but the rest? They're honestly not really remakes, you're just playing Universe again but you're playing a level pack from the old games. None of these games were actually, genuinely, faithfully recreated. They didn't recreate original weapon behavior and design, such as CI2's Neutron Gun or Laser Cannon. Even the Ion Blaster which is mostly the same in each game, wasn't faithfully recreated either. They didn't even recreate the unlocks each game had. In every single one of them, all of the weapons are the same, all of the unlocks are the same, all of the behavior and style and feel of the game, it's literally just Chicken Invaders Universe. It's like a meme. "Oops, all CIU!", except it's literal here. All sense of progression and growth is lost, you don't get to experience the games steadily growing and becoming more refined. I grew up with these games as a child, and it genuinely feels like the history of these games is being ignored on purpose and thrown into the trash. To be totally honest with you, it actually feels pretty disrespectful. I didn't ask for this, and I may very well be exaggerating, but I don't think anyone else asked for this either. For CI1 in particular, no creativity was put into this remake at all. The original was extremely barebones, and this is no different. And no, please don't call having all the future powerups and three new ships from Universe "New Content", because that is far from new by now. You can pretty much see all this remake has to offer within 20 waves, the remaining 80 is the exact same stuff over and over and over again. They didn't spice it up at all. They didn't add new levels or make any of them function differently in later waves, they didn't add new bosses so it's the same one 10 times in a row, they didn't even add cutscenes between stages. Other Chicken Invaders games usually add a cutscene every 10 levels. Please pardon my rudeness, but I just have to admit, this is extremely lazy. But it IS cheap. if you haven't experienced CI1 before and you feel like playing it, fine, it's here and ready for you for only $3.99. But seriously, it's just NOT a good remake by any standards. It doesn't honor the original, it doesn't improve upon it in a meaningful way, and it doesn't even try to reinterpret it into anything interesting. It's just a level pack for CIU disguised as a remake.

Chicken Invaders 1 is the humble yet enduring starting point of one of gaming’s most unexpectedly long-lived arcade shooter franchises, developed and published by InterAction Studios. At its core, the game is a loving homage to classic fixed-screen shoot-’em-ups, deliberately simple in structure yet surprisingly effective in execution. The premise is famously absurd: spacefaring chickens descend upon Earth in neatly organized formations to exact revenge on humanity for centuries of culinary crimes. This tongue-in-cheek setup establishes the game’s comedic tone immediately, signaling that while the action may be intense, it never takes itself too seriously. The gameplay loop is stripped down to its essentials, placing the player in control of a lone spaceship that moves horizontally along the bottom of the screen. Waves of chickens march downward in patterned formations, dropping eggs that must be dodged while the player fires upward in an attempt to clear the screen before being overwhelmed. This simplicity is precisely what gives Chicken Invaders 1 its enduring appeal. There are no complex systems to learn, no lengthy tutorials, and no narrative interruptions; instead, the focus is squarely on reflexes, positioning, and pattern recognition. Each wave escalates the tension slightly, either by increasing enemy density, speeding up attacks, or introducing more aggressive behaviors that demand sharper reactions. As enemies are destroyed, they drop drumsticks that function as power-ups, temporarily increasing firepower or granting limited special attacks that can clear large portions of the screen. These moments introduce brief bursts of empowerment, encouraging players to take calculated risks by moving closer to descending enemies to collect upgrades before they vanish. Boss encounters punctuate the flow of regular waves, offering larger, more resilient poultry adversaries that fill the screen with projectiles and test the player’s ability to manage space under pressure. While mechanically straightforward, these fights add welcome variety and give players short-term goals beyond simple survival. Visually, Chicken Invaders 1 reflects its late-1990s origins with clean, colorful 2D graphics that emphasize clarity over spectacle. Chickens are instantly readable, eggs are clearly telegraphed threats, and explosions are satisfyingly exaggerated. Later releases and remastered versions polish this presentation with higher resolutions and smoother performance, but the visual identity remains firmly rooted in arcade tradition. Sound design follows a similar philosophy, with energetic music loops and playful effects that reinforce the game’s humorous tone without overwhelming the player during intense moments. One of the game’s strengths lies in how timeless its design feels. By avoiding trends and focusing on foundational arcade mechanics, Chicken Invaders 1 remains accessible decades after its original release. It is easy to pick up for a few minutes or lose yourself in longer sessions chasing higher scores and personal endurance records. Cooperative play further enhances this appeal, allowing two players to share the screen and coordinate movement and fire, transforming the experience into a chaotic but enjoyable social challenge. That said, the game’s minimalism can also be its limitation. Players accustomed to modern shoot-’em-ups with branching upgrades, persistent progression systems, or elaborate visual effects may find Chicken Invaders 1 too barebones to sustain long-term interest. The absence of a traditional ending means the experience revolves entirely around endurance rather than narrative closure or campaign completion, which may not appeal to everyone. Still, this design choice aligns perfectly with its arcade roots, where mastery and high scores are the ultimate rewards. Overall, Chicken Invaders 1 stands as a charming and influential slice of arcade history. It succeeds not by reinventing the genre, but by refining its fundamentals and presenting them with a distinctive sense of humor. Whether approached as a nostalgic throwback or a pure test of reflexes and concentration, it offers a focused, energetic experience that captures the spirit of classic shooters. Its lasting popularity is a testament to how well simple ideas, when executed with clarity and personality, can endure far beyond their era. Rating: 7/10

Old and gold .

[b]Base game – 9/10[/b] Simple yet engaging gameplay! The only drawback is that the missions are built in such way that enemies are coming in stages which feel repetitive as they are very similar to each other – there are 10 unique waves after which they are just repeated with slight difficulty increase. At the same time, this doesn’t make the game less enjoyable. The game supports controllers, but I recommend playing with mouse since you’ll be able to move significantly faster with the speed of your cursor. [b]Achievements – 9/10[/b] All achievements are obtainable, no extreme. My personal experience is very positive and I absolutly liked it! There are achievements that require completing a mission on a specific difficulty level, but you may consider them as simply set of levels to complete, where each next level is a little bit more difficult than previous. All is good! Note, that one of the achievements requires completing a mission without dying even once, which, despite how it sounds, is not difficult to do and can be acquired on the easiest difficulty. I completed this objective from the first try when I specifically targeted it. [b]Definitely recommend![/b]

Childhood's game

Oldy but goldy

good nostalgia

poor optimisation and poor pacing in the story stop this from being a perfect 10 for me but it's close - 9.5/10