WE
ARE THE GALAXIANS so the f**k what, let me at em!
This was the response around arcades the world over.
Whatever language you spoke the message was the same, the gauntlet had been
thrown down loud and clear. Any budding Space Invader wiz kid could not refuse
this new challenge. Add to that the challenge came in glorious Technicolor
and had incredible sound the lure was irresistible.
Midway licensed the game from a little known Japanese Merry-go-round manufacturing
company known as Namco. Their story is for another time but rest assured this
was only their first step on the yellow brick road to gaming nivarna.
Galaxian
Screenshot
Until
1979 all games where in black and white apart from the pathetic use of colour
overlays like those used on some versions of the already dated looking Space
Invaders. To look at Galaxian could be mistaken for just another inferior
Space Invader clone. Aliens at the top of the screen, a ship at the bottom
moving left and right firing up the screen. But there the similarities end.
True
you do only play for High Score but that was the norm for the era. These babies
could be shot at in formation, but they also dive bombed you. This added a
whole new perspective to the game play. They screeched ala Stukka bombers
from W.W.II. Ones, twos, threes, some even going all kamikaze on you. You
had exotic names like Drones, Emissaries, Hornets and Flagships to contend
with. The AI used was a major leap in terms of gameplay. More points were
awarded for hitting ships while they were dive bombing you than in formation
which added another twist to gameplay considering High Score was all important.
Some say a game can be judged as a Classic by looking at how many sequels
it spawned, or how many clones were created from it. That being the case Galaxian
is right up there in the top ten. 1983s Galaga or Galaxian 2 became a classic
in its own right, Gaplus followed closely as well as some lesser titles like
UniWars. A guest appearance in Gorf would also follow.
Galaga
Screenshot
To
add to its long term appeal Galaxian was also hard as nails. For a few months
in 1979-80 you were King of the Arcade if you were top man on Galaxian. Addicts
would almost descend into a hypnotic trance while playing, and appeared to
be pulling off incredible stunts and dicing with death without even flinching.
20,000 was hard to achieve, even now when I play it on Mame or if I am lucky
enough to find it in some dark corner of an arcade at some seaside resort
it plays hardball. If someone says to you they are a hardcore gamer, especially
the younger generation, push or shove them in the direction of Galaxian and
get them to prove it, few will prove their claim.
Summary
I loved this game its hard as hell,l needs skill
and reflexes, you get to shoot everything and its relentless, look away from
the screen at your peril earthling.
Overall
Classic Game Rating - 7.0
