With modern gaming being what it is, I’ve taken the opportunity to dive headfirst into the wealth of golden oldies out there for anyone looking for genuinely fun games: Data East, Sunsoft, and Taito with its legendary Space Invaders series have all been on my radar lately, so it was no surprise that the original My Play Watch caught my eye.
I’ll admit that its bold retro themes and bright colors grabbed my attention, but its faithful adaptation of the arcade giant and genuinely useful features gave this semi-smartwatch more value than being just a slick fashion statement. After spending a few weeks with my banana-yellow Space Invaders My Play Watch on my wrist, here are my key takeaways.
SPACE INVADERS: My Play Watch
Specifications
- Colors: Yellow, red, blue.
- Swappable bands: Two per watch, but each color has two different bands — six to collect!.
- Display resolution: 240 x 296.
- Screen size: 1.91 inches high.
- Touchscreen: Yes.
- Waterproof: IP67 rated.
- Fitness tracker: Heart rate, step tracker, calories burned.
- Game: Space Invaders: 1978 Arcade Edition.
- Price: $79.99.
Pros
- Authentic Space Invaders arcade game.
- Plenty of health tracking features for the price.
- Swappable bands.
- Bright display.
- Easy to read.
- Many fun retro gaming faces.
- Excellent value.
Cons
- No internet or smart device connectivity.
- The calculator buttons feel a bit on the small side.
Retro Gaming-Inspired at Its Core
The team at My Play Watch are obviously dedicated video games fans at heart, because lesser merch brands would have just slapped a logo on their product and called it a day. Instead, you can feel the way this team creatively infused every bit of Space Invaders fun into this watch’s design (my favorite of the many watch faces is the big blue alien who thrashes about over the time display). I had a difficult time choosing between its two included bands — both the 70’s arcade primary lines and drippy spray paint aliens are brilliant, but the latter earned its place on my wrist. I also can’t get though this review without mentioning how gorgeous the box art is, and it’s really the icing on the cake for gaming fans.
I’m excited to say that its namesake feature works beautifully and gets two thumbs up for perfectly porting the original Space Invaders arcade game, while tweaking it to work surprisingly well on a watch. Retro game fans like myself will appreciate the classic sounds of the lasers, the UFO dashing across the top of the screen, and your laser cannon getting wrecked. The “move the cannon with the dial and shoot by tapping the display” feels smooth and intuitively designed, and I love how the watch tracks high scores along with your health stats to give you a bit of bonus motivation for another round while you’re waiting in line at the post office. Speaking of its other features…
More Than Aliens and Laser Cannons
Putting aside the pure fun of blasting Space Invaders for a moment, let’s consider the watch’s other features. I strongly believe that even my non-gamer mom would appreciate this watch.
Many connected smartwatches include health tracking features, but those less tech-savvy can become frustrated with the complexity of pricier internet-connected wearables. The My Play Watch is streamlined, a snap to navigate, and its bright and colorful display makes it simple to check your current step count, calories burned, and heart rate at a glance.
Don’t mistake this funky-colored watch for a toy, either: It’s dustproof and submersible up to 3.3 feet for up to 30 minutes, meaning you shouldn’t be afraid to take your alien buddies along on your daily adventures. They traveled the galaxy to take Earth down, and they’ll survive your trip to the gym.
Finally, I’d like to note the other handy features of this semi-smartwatch, including its calendar, timer, stopwatch, and an itty-bitty wrist-bound calculator you’ll wish you had when you were in grade school.
SPACE INVADERS: My Play Watch
Health Tracking Value Meets Heartfelt Gaming Nostalgia
The Space Invaders My Play Watch was clearly made by people who truly love Taito’s iconic mega-hit, but between its attractive design, health trackers, and low price of $79.99, I’d suggest this watch even if you aren’t a gamer. On that note, if Space Invaders isn’t your thing, you may prefer their Atari (Centipede, Pong, Super Breakout, Missile Command) and Tetris inspired alternate models. If I ask them really nicely, I wonder if they’d make a Battletoads version next?
