Protect the solar system from invaders seeking to conquer humanity. In tight formation with its wingmates on the contemporary "big three" consoles, this Game Boy Advance remake of the coin-op classic features new, detailed graphics to give a greater sense of depth and speed as the player's spacecraft blasts invaders and rescues abducted humanoids. Unlike the 2002 PS2, Xbox, and GameCube versions of the title however, the GBA's Defender sticks to the side-scrolling action that won so many fans of the original game.

Although the basic gameplay is similar, this GBA version of Defender offers many new options for brave pilots. Choose from a half-dozen different vessels, some slow and strong, others quick and sneaky. Ships can be upgraded between missions, with shields, additional weapons, and cloaking technology. Players can also control the placement of ground artillery, for extra support. For the those old enough to actually remember paying a quarter to play Defender in the early-'80s arcades, an emulation of the original game is included as well.