Is it the longest title in gaming? If not, then it is close. It certainly must be the longest title for a pixel-driven, two-dimensional arcade game that is available via the PlayStation Network as a download for the PlayStation Portable.

This game is built on a tower-defense scheme (you have to protect a core unit, the Overlord, from those above who are trying to defeat the helpless wuss) by using a pick-axe to hammer out a maze of tunnels and then fill those tunnels with unpredictably moving minions. You begin with slimemosses and grow bugs and other critters (lizards armed with swords) from that point on. The problem, though, is that they move randomly and thus cannot be counted on … which essentially means that you have to use a little strategy to create a labyrinth that somewhat contains the minions, while working to evolve them and avert the abovegrounders from overthrowing your boss.

The game does come with a tutorial that players can use to acquaint themselves with the various minion-manufacturing elements, as well as touching on the strategic element.

But there is more at work here than merely digging the heck out of the blocks that represent the earthen core beneath the world’s surface. You see, you only get so many blocks you can excavate during a level, and the HUD has a display that shows how many you have left that you can knock out. That’s where the strategic element really comes into play. You can dig whatever maze design you like, but the ultimate goal is to protect the Overlord and thus you have to keep track of the amount of blocks you can remove while trying to direct the bugs in a patrol path. The more open the areas, the more the minions can move off and leave a clear path to your flag … err, Overlord.

The over-elongated title presumably refers to the Overlord wondering what he (or it) did to deserve the attacks from above, but because he (or it) is supposedly bad and evil (you have to take the game’s word for that), it leaves the Overlord wondering what precipitated the attacks.

When it comes to creating your defending minions, the lizardmen are the ones you want. But there is a food chain at play here. You need maggots to feed the lizardmen, which the slimemosses evolve into should you have the right amount of nutrients in the soil, which the slimemosses might eat before they get around to retreating into a cocoon and transforming into the maggots. This is a rock-paper-scissors scenario, with some caveats thrown into the mix such as too many lizardmen will eat all the maggots and starve, reducing their numbers and allowing the attackers to egress to the Overlord. Too few lizardmen can’t repel the invaders. Striking an ecological balance (if it can truly be called that) is key.

These are the elements that truly make this game stand out. As for the look of the game, it has an 8-bit feel (you know – those simple graphics that are pixel-driven) and while nothing fancy, it is serviceable for the title and gives it a retro look.

The sound is negligible, while the controls are very easy to understand and use.

Holy Invasion of Privacy Badman (et cetera) is a decent game that has some challenges due to the random AI of your creatures, but it should also present players with some thinking strategic elements. While not a game that is going to turn the gaming world on its ear, Holy Invasion is a decent portable outing.

Gameplay: 7.0
The controls are easy to use and the HUD is simple to understand. The game’s goals are repetitious but this is a sandbox design so how you approach the levels is really up to you. There are parameters in place, but the rest is up to the gamer to decide how to design their mazes and how to maintain them.

Graphics: 6.0
This game has a very retro look, reminiscent of the 8-bit era. Still, it seems to work.

Sound: 5.0
What is here is not much.

Difficulty: Medium       

Concept: 7.0
This game definitely has some depth to it. Do not let the simplicity of the look of the game fool you.

Overall: 7.0
The game has certain elements that give it surprising depth and replayability. This is a sandbox design, leaving much to the players to decide how to approach each scenario. While the overall look is nothing to get excited about, the game does have some challenge, though that is partly because of the unpredictability of the minions the player creates.