Cosmic Collector
Defend against waves of celestial invaders in this Space Invaders-inspired shooting challenge.
Game Overview
Inspiration: Space Invaders
Genre: Shooter / Defense
Controls: Motion (tilt to move and aim)
Difficulty: Progressive waves
Duration: ~3-5 minutes per session
Objective
Primary Goal: Survive waves of enemies and achieve high score
Win Conditions:
- Defeat all enemy waves
- Survive without losing all lives
- Achieve target score threshold
Lose Conditions:
- Lose all lives
- Enemies reach your position
- Time limit expires (if applicable)
How to Play
Controls
Motion Tilt:
- Tilt Left - Move ship left
- Tilt Right - Move ship right
- Tap Screen (or Auto) - Fire projectiles
- Neutral - Stay centered
Shooting:
- Continuous or timed firing
- Projectiles travel upward
- Hit enemies for points
- Limited shots on screen
Game Elements
Your Ship (Player)
Capabilities:
- Horizontal movement
- Fire projectiles
- Take damage
- Respawn on life loss
Attributes:
- Speed: Motion-controlled
- Fire rate: Fixed or upgradeable
- Shield: Optional (power-ups)
- Lives: Usually 3
Enemies (Invaders)
Types:
Basic Invaders:
- Standard enemies
- Move in formation
- Descend slowly
- Low point value
Advanced Enemies:
- Faster movement
- Shoot back
- Higher defense
- More points
Boss Enemies (if present):
- Larger size
- Multiple hits required
- Special attacks
- Maximum points
Behavior:
- Move left and right in waves
- Descend toward player
- Shoot projectiles down
- Speed increases over time
Projectiles
Your Shots:
- Fast upward movement
- Destroy enemies on contact
- Limited quantity on screen
- Instant fire response
Enemy Shots:
- Downward movement
- Damage on contact
- Random or aimed
- Can be dodged
Shields/Barriers (if present)
Protection:
- Blocks enemy shots
- Takes damage over time
- Strategic positioning
- Can't hide forever
Heads-Up Display (HUD)
Score (Top Center):
- Current point total
- Real-time updates
- High score indicator
Lives (Top Left):
- Remaining lives count
- Visual icons
- Warning at low
Wave/Level (Top Right):
- Current wave number
- Difficulty indicator
- Progress tracking
Special Indicators:
- Power-up status
- Shot count
- Shield strength
- Time remaining (if timed)
Scoring System
Points Breakdown
Enemy Destruction:
- Basic enemy: 10-50 points
- Medium enemy: 100-200 points
- Advanced enemy: 300-500 points
- Boss enemy: 1000+ points
Performance Bonuses:
- Accuracy bonus: High hit percentage
- Speed bonus: Fast wave completion
- Combo bonus: Consecutive hits
- No-damage bonus: Perfect wave
Wave Completion:
- Base wave bonus
- Difficulty multiplier
- Time completion bonus
Final Score:
Base Score = Enemies Defeated × Point Values
Accuracy Bonus = (Hits / Shots) × 100
Wave Bonus = Wave Number × 100
No-Damage Bonus = 500 per perfect wave
Total Score = Base + Accuracy + Wave + No-Damage
Strategies & Tips
Beginner Strategies
Movement:
- Stay mobile - Don't stay in one spot
- Use full width - Maximize dodge space
- Smooth tilts - Avoid jerky movements
- Center position - Start each wave centered
Shooting:
- Aim carefully - Don't waste shots
- Lead targets - Account for movement
- Priority targets - Take out dangerous enemies first
- Conserve ammo - If limited
Defense:
- Watch enemy shots - Dodge incoming fire
- Use shields - Hide when needed
- Pattern recognition - Learn enemy attacks
- Safe zones - Find low-danger areas
Advanced Strategies
Efficient Clearing:
- Target edge enemies first
- Prevent horizontal spread
- Clear rows systematically
- Speed up completion
Risk Management:
- Aggressive with lives remaining
- Conservative at low health
- Shield usage timing
- Power-up prioritization
Score Optimization:
- Accuracy maximization
- Combo maintenance
- Bonus hunting
- Speed completion
Motion Control Tips
Device Handling:
- Comfortable grip
- Quick tilt responses
- Smooth transitions
- Stable base position
Aiming Technique:
- Small adjustments
- Anticipate enemy position
- Lead moving targets
- Centered starting position
Calibration:
- Calibrate before playing
- Test sensitivity
- Adjust if needed
- Consistent posture
Common Mistakes
Movement Errors:
- ❌ Staying still too long
- ❌ Oversteering
- ❌ Panic dodging
- ❌ Poor positioning
Shooting Errors:
- ❌ Spray and pray
- ❌ Not leading targets
- ❌ Ignoring threats
- ❌ Wasted shots
Strategy Errors:
- ❌ Ignoring power-ups
- ❌ Not using shields
- ❌ Poor target priority
- ❌ Giving up too early
Troubleshooting
Can't Hit Enemies:
- Practice aiming technique
- Improve motion control
- Lead moving targets
- Recalibrate device
Getting Hit Too Much:
- Improve dodge timing
- Watch enemy patterns
- Use shields strategically
- Better positioning
Losing Lives Quickly:
- Play more defensively
- Focus on survival first
- Learn enemy patterns
- Practice more
Power-Ups (if available)
Common Power-Ups:
Rapid Fire:
- Increased fire rate
- Temporary duration
- Great for clearing waves
Shield:
- Temporary invincibility
- Blocks damage
- Use wisely
Multi-Shot:
- Fire multiple projectiles
- Wider coverage
- Higher score potential
Slow Motion:
- Slows enemy movement
- Easier aiming
- Strategic advantage
Wave Progression
Early Waves (1-3):
- Slow enemy movement
- Simple patterns
- Few enemies
- Learning phase
Mid Waves (4-7):
- Faster enemies
- More complex formations
- Enemy fire increases
- Skill requirement rises
Late Waves (8+):
- Very fast enemies
- Dense formations
- Heavy enemy fire
- Expert challenge
Modifiers (Future)
Planned Variants:
- "Curse Winds" - Horizontal drift
- "Runic Shields" - Enemies need charge shots
- Weekly rotating modifiers
- Special challenge modes
Connection to Game World
Thematic Elements:
- Celestial defenders theme
- Guardian protection duty
- Ancient rampart defense
- Cosmic invaders storyline
Narrative Integration:
- Training for defense
- Protecting territories
- Sky guardian role
- Cosmic threat response
Quick Reference
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Objective | Defeat enemy waves |
| Controls | Tilt to move, tap/auto fire |
| Lives | Usually 3 |
| Movement | Horizontal only |
| Shooting | Upward projectiles |
| Enemies | Descending formations |
| Win | Clear all waves |
| Lose | Zero lives |
Achievements
Perfect Defense:
- Complete without taking damage
- Requires excellent dodging
- Maximum bonus
Sharpshooter:
- High accuracy percentage
- Every shot counts
- Precision gameplay
Speed Clear:
- Fast wave completion
- Aggressive play
- Time bonuses
Practice Tips
Skill Development:
- Master motion controls
- Learn enemy patterns
- Practice aiming
- Build reaction time
- Strategy refinement
Training Focus:
- One wave at a time
- Specific techniques
- Gradual difficulty
- Consistent practice
Next Steps
- Try other mini-games: Spirit Maze, Sentinel Gaze
- Master Motion Controls
- Understand Challenge System
Pro Tip: Focus on clearing enemies from the edges first to prevent them from spreading across the screen, making subsequent waves much easier to manage!