Taito Website’s 404 Error Page Lets You Play Space Invaders

Taito has updated its website so that people can play Space Invaders on the site’s 404 error page. It is playable on both PC and mobile browsers. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

The 404 error page initially displays the “Page not found” notification in Japanese. But after a short while, the notice will disappear and be replaced with aliens advancing in a 404-shaped formation. This is where you can move the laser cannon and shoot the aliens.

Although the bunkers may seem undamaged, they have limited durability and will disappear if they take enough shots or alien crashes. Destroying all aliens on the screen will spawn another wave of aliens in the same 404 formation but with even higher shooting intensity than before.

However, at the time of this writing, there is no score display for people to compare high scores. The player also has only one life. When the cannon gets hit by an alien shot, it will instantly result in a game over. It will then show people the option to go back to the top page on Taito’s website or even retry the game.

Space Invaders is Taito’s flagship classic title that defined the shoot ’em up genre. It was first made for arcades in 1978. The latest console title in the series, Space Invaders Invincible Collection, is a compilation of Space Invaders games currently available for Nintendo Switch in Japan and also coming soon westwards. A new arcade game, Space Invaders: Counter Attack, was also revealed at JAEPO 2020.