The ultimate Galaga type game?

[Technosis]

I was wondering what your favorite picks for this genre would be? Off the top I can think of Galaga Arrangement on the Game Cube's Namco Museum compilation. The PC game Warblade is also excellent.

Can you recommend others? (including maybe even some shareware links?)

[boatofcar]

So by Galaga-type, you mean vertical SHMUP?

[Ed Oscuro]

Galaga '88 looks fun, and let's not forget Super Space Invaders '91/Return of the Invaders (from '85).

Other than those...uhh, Z-Max, a really obscure Win '95 homebrew game, is all that comes to mind. Well, that and Ozma (by SNK, which predates Galaga, has horrible sound, but is kinda fun), and of course Moon Cresta (which I actually like, a little).

[digitalpress]

Though it was never done on any home console as far as I know, the arcade game Cosmo Gang: The Video is an awesome Galaga-style game with new elements. Still, I think there's nothing quite so perfect as Galaga '88.

[Kid Ice]

I'm not being a wise ass at all...Galaga is the ultimate Galaga-type game. If we are talking vertical shmup with no scrolling, I can't think of a better game.

[InsaneDavid]

Still, I think there's nothing quite so perfect as Galaga '88.

Amen. Although I really do enjoy Galaga Arrangement.

[fahlim003]

Galaga '88 really saved the series if you ask me. Gaplus really strayed with whole multiple axis movement and lousy enemy formations. '88 kept the original formula (unlike Gaplus) and took it to the next level with actual scrolling sections.

Pardon the original, Galaga '88 has my vote.

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh, I just remembered one...

Zunzunkyou No Yabou, Sega, 1994, arcade only. Fun game with parodies of various nations...freaky as heck though.

ZUN ZUN ZUN ZUN ZUN

[Chuplayer]

I'm not being a wise ass at all...Galaga is the ultimate Galaga-type game. If we are talking vertical shmup with no scrolling, I can't think of a better game.

The only thing better than Galaga is the fast shoot version of Galaga. Who equips slow firepower when fighting bugs in space?

[NE146]

One thing that took me 20+ years to figure out is Donkey Kong 3 is a pure Galaga type game. It all became clear once I realized you don't have to shoot Kong to the top (which I mistakenly assumed for years was the whole objective) but rather you can shoot all the insects to clear the stage and just hold Kong off from reaching the bottom. As a matter o' fact in later stages it's pretty much impossible to get rid of Kong so your only option is to frantically kill off all the bugs. It thus is a pure cartoon Galaga clone.

Once you see it in that light, the game gets a lot more fun. It gets my vote as the most underrated and often un-noted Galaga type game around.

http://www.klov.com/images/11/1181242103222.png

Other than that, I do enjoy the upgraded version of Galaga on Namco Classic Collection Volume 1 in the arcade. I'm not sure if it's the same version on the Gamecube arrangement.. I think it might be. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v48/b2stoys/galaga.png

[Pantechnicon]

I'm not being a wise ass at all...Galaga is the ultimate Galaga-type game. If we are talking vertical shmup with no scrolling, I can't think of a better game.


The only thing better than Galaga is the fast shoot version of Galaga. Who equips slow firepower when fighting bugs in space?

Both qft. Galaga is magic. Fast shoot Galaga is pure effin' magic.

[MrRoboto19XX]

I'm not being a wise ass at all...Galaga is the ultimate Galaga-type game. If we are talking vertical shmup with no scrolling, I can't think of a better game.


The only thing better than Galaga is the fast shoot version of Galaga. Who equips slow firepower when fighting bugs in space?

Another vote for this combo from yours truly.

[Ed Oscuro]

One thing that took me 20+ years to figure out is Donkey Kong 3 is a pure Galaga type game.
Yeah, I noticed this when I played the game for the first time recently. I was surprised when I first played it, actually, since nobody had really come clean (that I'd read, anyway) about what type of game it was :P

Also, just gotta push Zunzunkyou No Yabou again. It's crazy. You've got to play it.

[skylark]

It's not a Galaga clone, but, in a loose sense, it's the same type of shooter. Astrosmash for the Intellivision is still my favorite top down/no scrolling shooter.

I love Galaga, though, and it's hard to top the original (although I haven't played '88).

[PingvinBlueJeans]

Galaga '88 really saved the series if you ask me. Gaplus really strayed with whole multiple axis movement and lousy enemy formations. '88 kept the original formula (unlike Gaplus) and took it to the next level with actual scrolling sections.

Pardon the original, Galaga '88 has my vote.

Galaga '88/Galaga '90 is great. Gaplus/Galaga 3...oh man, what a disappointment. That game is so hard it's nearly unplayable. Definitely the weakest link in that series.

[diskoboy]

Galaga '88/Galaga '90 is great. Gaplus/Galaga 3...oh man, what a disappointment. That game is so hard it's nearly unplayable. Definitely the weakest link in that series.

I love Gaplus!!! Especially the bonus rounds. I always thought Galaxian was the worst of the series.

But I'm another vote for the original Galaga.

Majestic Twelve is pretty good, too...

[PingvinBlueJeans]

I always thought Galaxian was the worst of the series.

Well, as far as space shooters go, Galaxian wasn't quite as innovative as Space Invaders or Galaga, but it was the bridge between those two titles. Play the ColecoVision version of Galaxian...it's (arguably) better than the arcade game.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Fast shoot? Pffffft, must be amateur hour. Remind me to pwn you guys at regular Galaga at the next CGE. Clear an hour in your schedules.

I'll add another vote for Cosmo Gang: The Video - it's really more of a cartoon update of Galaga '88 than anything, but it's definitely entertaining in its own way.

Also, I'm the one guy on this continent who loves Gaplus.

[k8track]

Also, I'm the one guy on this continent who loves Gaplus.
Then why dontcha marry it? *SNORT*

Kudos to Diskoboy for mentioning Majestic 12, which I was all set to mention myself. Excellent update of Space Invaders.

[Cantaloup]

How about Phoenix or Satan's Hollow? Or do they not count because of the shields?

[skylark]

That reminds me, Demon Attack is worthy of a mention here as well.

[8bitgamer]

Also, I'm the one guy on this continent who loves Gaplus.

Count me in as a Gaplus fan as well. Great fun, super challenging.

Classic Home Video Games 1972-1984 (http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Home-Video-Games-1972-1984/dp/0786432268/ref=sr_1_1/102-4833994-2708962?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180844138&sr=8-1)

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

I third the SF Cosmo Gang: The Video reccomendation. That's one of those games that just makes MAME indispensible in my opinion.

I also love the Astromash and Demon Attack style variations. And nobody's mentioned Megamania yet, which was probably my very first favorite game ever and still remains among my most played games. I've actually been thinking about trying to make an update for it on the DS as a homebrew project. With some score multipliers and other modern score attack tweaks and Geometry Wars style graphics and of course the original sound effects, I think it would be a lot of fun.

Personally, I also like Galaxian a lot. Even more than Galaga in some situations. yes, it's quite simple compared to just about any of the other games being mentioned here, but what a beautiful simplicity. I find it much easier to zone out on Galaxian than Galaga or Megamania.

As for freeware PC games in this genre, the only one I have on my computer is Nomltest, which is sort of a Galaga meets bullet hell shooter, so it's quite different, but worth checking out, I think. It's pretty hard, though.


...word is bondage...

[Dreamcast]

Gunbird 2?

[Moo Cow]

I third the SF Cosmo Gang: The Video reccomendation. That's one of those games that just makes MAME indispensible in my opinion.

I also love the Astromash and Demon Attack style variations. And nobody's mentioned Megamania yet, which was probably my very first favorite game ever and still remains among my most played games. I've actually been thinking about trying to make an update for it on the DS as a homebrew project. With some score multipliers and other modern score attack tweaks and Geometry Wars style graphics and of course the original sound effects, I think it would be a lot of fun.

Personally, I also like Galaxian a lot. Even more than Galaga in some situations. yes, it's quite simple compared to just about any of the other games being mentioned here, but what a beautiful simplicity. I find it much easier to zone out on Galaxian than Galaga or Megamania.

As for freeware PC games in this genre, the only one I have on my computer is Nomltest, which is sort of a Galaga meets bullet hell shooter, so it's quite different, but worth checking out, I think. It's pretty hard, though.


...word is bondage...
It's also for the Super Famicom.
Great game. I actually enjoy it more than Galaga.

[Jimid2]

Galaga '88 really saved the series if you ask me. Gaplus really strayed with whole multiple axis movement and lousy enemy formations. '88 kept the original formula (unlike Gaplus) and took it to the next level with actual scrolling sections.

Pardon the original, Galaga '88 has my vote.
Another vote for Galaga '88/'90 here... I was playing it tonight on my TurboExpress, in fact... Definitely the best in the series, imho...
:cheers:

[boatofcar]

Good call on DK3--I'd never thought of it that way before.

This has turned into a great thread. My apologies for my first post.

[Iron Draggon]

GYRUSS! nothing will ever top it... and the NES version was the ULTIMATE!

[Icarus Moonsight]

Anyone recall the Activision game Spider Fighter on the VCS? I quite liked that one. It's unique and fast once you get going, although not as good as Galaga.

I liked Galaga 88 and Gaplus also. It's harder to find shooters I don't like honestly. :) They usually have to be either outright boring or broken/unplayable.

[TheRedEye]

I'm also going for the fast shoot version of the original Galaga, it's just more satisfying.

[Pete Rittwage]

It's not a Galaga clone, but, in a loose sense, it's the same type of shooter. Astrosmash for the Intellivision is still my favorite top down/no scrolling shooter.

I love Galaga, though, and it's hard to top the original (although I haven't played '88).

That is a great one. The VCS version is really good too if you play with the paddle. It's more fast-paced than the original.