Even by the modest standards set by previous entries in the Manky Toy archives, last week's featured object (Super Pedestal Ball) represented something of a new low - failing (as it did) on almost every imaginable level. In sharp contrast, today's offering amounts - at a mere 2 Euro - to very good value for money indeed.

It may not even be all that manky.

While the toy's name (Invader) and its format (shooting waves of aliens that swoop ever closer) unambiguously indicate its chief influence - it differs from that arcade classic in a number of fairly (in)significant ways.

Instead of Space Invader's chunky green tank/cannon, the defence of our besieged planet lies with a sleek rocket/fighter hybrid, while the invading force is comprised not of relentless (vaguely insectoid) alien creatures but a fleet of classic flying saucers. In a further thrilling addition (or omission) there are no protective bunkers. In the space of Invader, there is (it seems) no place to hide.

In this it eschews the ambiguous imagery of its inspirational parent - opting instead for an iconography instantly recognisable to fans of science fiction. Saucers are always "them", while rockets (or planes) are traditionally "us".

As the below video might indicate if it was of better quality (or didn't feature as many distracted pan-aways to cats), there are a couple of other features that could cause gaming enthusiasts some confusion.

1) Instead of the predictable side to side (gradually increasing in intensity) motion familiar to fans of Space Invaders, the invaders of Invader seem to phase randomly into view before teleporting themselves (again randomly) to other parts of the view screen. Perplexing for the gamer, but undoubtedly an effective strategy for the invaders.

2) Rather more irritatingly, the projectiles fired by the defending "rocket" are identical to the ones issuing from the invading saucers. In other words, incoming projectiles look indistinguishable from outgoing ones (they are even oriented the same way) - leading the earth defender to mistake a hostile missile coming toward him/her for a defensive one going in the opposite direction.

As (1) and (2) demonstrate, the alien horde has obviously learned much in the 19 years that have elapsed since the debacle of their (attempted) Space Invaders invasion. That fact, coupled with the budgetary cutbacks that are (presumably) responsible for the absence of defensive bunkers, spells almost certain doom for this planet we like to call Earth.