Games developed by Comix Ltd.
We provide a list of companies that developed abandonware games.
Select a company to view its games.
To make searching easier, use pagination by number or letter.
Return of the Invaders
Return of the Invaders, released in 1985 for the arcade market, is a fixed shooter that continues the lineage of early arcade space assaults. The cabinet is a standard upright with a color CRT, and players engage in solitary combat or take turns in a two-player alternating mode. A single joystick governs horizontal movement along the bottom of the playfield, and a single shot button fires the player's laser. The action unfolds quickly, demanding precise timing and steady hand-eye coordination from start to finish.
Invaders advance in a disciplined grid, marching downward in tight ranks as the player battles to keep them at bay. Each wave introduces new formations and faster speeds, with a handful of armored enemies requiring extra hits before they are toppled. Destructible barriers line the lower portion of the screen, offering brief shelter but turning brittle under heavy fire. When a line is cleared, another group slides into range, and the pace intensifies, challenging players to improvise new angles of attack.
Enemy types introduce variety and risk. Standard invaders swarm in stepped rows that fire in predictable patterns, but faster scouts zigzag across the screen, pulling away when struck and risking a brutal return volley. Heavier cruisers carry shields that absorb a portion of incoming fire, requiring focused bursts or deliberate maneuvering to breach. At mid-stage, a carrier mothership surfaces, coordinating smaller ships and unleashing a concentrated wave that tests timing and ammunition management before the end of the level.
Visual presentation blends clear sprite work with a vivid, high-contrast color palette. The invaders are rendered as chunky, distinct silhouettes against a star-streaked background, while the player's craft remains crisp and agile at the bottom of the screen. Explosions bloom in bright bursts, and the destruction of barriers and ships is accompanied by percussion-like blips and bass-toned thumps that punctuate each successful strike. The overall aesthetic favors unambiguous shapes and rapid readability, ensuring that even in the heat of multiple volleys, targets remain instantly identifiable.
Audio complements the visuals with a straightforward, memorable arcade score. Laser shots produce crisp, ringing tones, enemy invaders emit characteristic chirps, and explosions yield satisfying, echoing bursts that rise in intensity with each advancing wave. The soundtrack provides a driving tempo during stages, giving players a sense of forward momentum even as the difficulty escalates. Achieving high scores unlocks bonus lives and stage-select credits on later cabinets, encouraging extended play as players refine timing, angle, and pattern recognition to master the invasion's return.
