Galaga

Overview

Galaga took Galaxian’s foundation and built something timeless. Aliens swooped in formation patterns that demanded memorisation. The Boss Galaga could capture your ship—but reclaim it and you’d fight with double firepower. This risk/reward mechanic elevated simple shooting into strategic depth.

Fast facts

Developer: Namco.
Release: 1981.
Genre: Fixed shooter.
Predecessor: Galaxian (1979).

Core mechanics

Element	Design
Movement	Horizontal only
Shooting	Single or dual fire
Enemies	Formation + diving attacks
Stages	Increasingly complex

The capture mechanic

Boss Galaga tractor beam:

Boss fires capture beam
Player ship taken
Boss carries captured ship
Destroy Boss = dual fighter
Double firepower reward

Risk vs reward perfected.

Enemy types

Enemy	Behaviour	Points
Bee	Basic, formation	50-100
Butterfly	Diving attacks	80-160
Boss Galaga	Capture beam	150-400

Challenging stages

Bonus rounds:

Enemies fly in patterns
No shooting back
Perfect bonus for all 40
Memorisation rewarded

Attack patterns

Aliens dive in specific formations:

Memorisable sequences
Pattern recognition key
Speed increases with stages
Mastery through repetition

Sound design

Element	Effect
Dive sounds	Tension building
Capture beam	Distinctive warning
Fanfare	Stage completion
Death	Memorable explosion

Home versions

Platform	Quality
NES	Excellent arcade port
Atari 7800	Faithful conversion
C64	Good adaptation
Modern	Perfect emulation

Competitive play

Twin Galaxies records:

Perfect stage tracking
Survival strategies
Pattern memorisation
Still competed today

Legacy

Galaga established:

Risk/reward shooter mechanics
Pattern-based gameplay
Bonus stage concept
Arcade game longevity

Cultural impact

Recognition	Detail
Arcade classic	Universal recognition
Pop culture	Films, TV references
Retro collections	Always included
Tournament play	Active community

Galaxian evolved