galaga
galaga
Galaga is a fixed shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan and released in 1981. Serving as a sequel to 1979's Galaxian, it places the player in control of a spaceship at the bottom of the screen, tasked with shooting down insect-like alien enemies that arrive in formation. As enemies come down to attack the player's ship, they might shoot or collide with it. Players advance to the next stage once all enemies are destroyed. Known for its success during the Golden Age of Video Arcade Games, Galaga introduces features such as multiple shots, a hit/miss ratio summary, and challenging bonus stages where players earn points for destroying all enemies, which do not retaliate or crash into the player's ship.
Instructions
To play Galaga in an online emulator, click on the joystick icon to view control instructions. Players maneuver their starfighter left and right along the bottom of the screen, firing at enemy waves. In order to maximize scores, players aim to destroy all enemies, avoid collisions, and rescue captured fighters when possible to enhance their firepower.
Game History
Galaga has been celebrated as one of the iconic games from the early 1980s. It brought innovations over its predecessor, Galaxian, by allowing more shots per round and presenting advanced enemy behaviors. The game became a staple in video arcade history and has been adapted to various home consoles over the years. Featuring several sequels, Galaga improved upon the mechanics and engagement that had made Galaxian popular. Defining aspects such as the ability of 'boss' Galaga aliens to capture the player's fighter, which could later be rescued for a dual-firing effect, contributed to its legacy.