Hostile Hustle combines a Space Invaders clone with a climber. Sounds like it should work, and maybe it can, but not the way its done here. The problem is gaming has kind of evolved past the original, slow-as-constipated-shit Space Invaders formula. That’s why recent titles in the franchise feature insane amounts of power-ups and move at the speed of lightning. Hostile Hustle slows things back to a crawl, resulting in a title that is exhausting in its tedium. Most innovations in gaming these days come from combining one type of game with another to create an unholy hybrid. In this regard, combing a climber with Space Invaders is like combing a rain forest with napalm. Well, not really I guess, because that would at least be fun to watch.
Here’s the basic setup: a wave of baddies takes formation. As you shoot at them, they disappear and platforms spawn. Jump up the platforms, more baddies appear. Shoot them and more platforms appear. Eventually, an exit will appear. Some traps might pop up, like spikes, stun-lock lasers, air compressors, or spiky balls, but otherwise it’s just you, shooting, and more shooting. 30 levels, good luck having fun.



