Galaga

For a lot of people, Galaga is the space shooter. It was the cabinet you kept coming back to: bugs swooping in spirals, that little tune at the start of every stage, and the gutsy move of letting the boss grab your ship on purpose.

Galaga isn't on UsuArcade yet, but it's on our wishlist. If you want it in the lobby, hit “I want to play it”: every vote helps decide which machines show up first.

History

Namco released Galaga in 1981 as the follow-up to Galaxian. It kept the idea of an alien formation that dives at you, then added spiraling entrances, more enemy types and one mechanic that changed everything: the captured ship.

It was a massive, long-lasting hit. Decades later it's still in bars, bowling alleys and retro arcades, often in a combo cabinet with Ms. Pac-Man, and it's one of the most recognizable games of the golden age.

How to play

You steer a ship left and right along the bottom of the screen and fire upward. Enemies fly in looping formations, then peel off to dive-bomb you. Taking them out as they enter or while they're diving scores extra points.

The Boss Galaga can fire a tractor beam to capture your ship. Shoot the boss while it's carrying your ship and you get it back, flying a linked pair that fires double shots but makes a bigger target. Every few stages there's a Challenging Stage where enemies don't fire back and your goal is to shoot down every single one for a big bonus.

Fun facts

• It's the sequel to Namco's Galaxian.
• The dual fighter fires twice as many shots, and it's twice as easy to hit.
• In Challenging Stages, enemies never shoot: it's all about your accuracy.

In the arcade

Coming soon to UsuArcade. Once it lands in the lobby, you'll be able to play in your browser, let others watch your game and battle for the high score. Until then, sit down at the Galaxian machine, its predecessor, or try Phoenix and Space Invaders: all three are in the lobby now, free and ready for your first coin.

FAQ