Xbox Live Arcade - Galaga.

[Extra Terrestrial]

The game is available to buy for the usual sum of Microsoft Points, 400 for retro titles and is a rather excellent effort.

I didn't play this in it's true form but I believe it was an extra mini-game in one of the Ridge Racer games on the PSone? I should know which one it was featured as I played that quite a bit.

Anyway, you know how the game works; you are a ship on the bottom of the screen and you have two types of fire - one is a normal bullet rate where you press the (A) button whereas the automatic fire, which are missiles can be used by pressing/holding (B).

The achievements for those who are interested are absolutely easy. I spent 20 minutes playing the game up to stage 20 and got 125 gamer-points for little effort. You either start the game from the beginning or continue from where you died.

The score-boards seem to be a buggered at the moment in the form of friends rankings but whether it will be fixed or not, I don't know.

The best thing about the game is how the way the arcade cabinet's screen surround artwork has been used here for the 'borders'. Very nice.

For 400 Microsoft Points, it is worth your time.

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/images/smilie/happy.gif

[DavidFallows]

yeah - I'll be on in around 30mins.

Played the original cab at the weekend (along with Defender). Ace stuff.

Pac-Man next week!

[arcnas]

Try streetfighter next week, not pacman.

[DavidFallows]

Of course - what the hell brought that on??

[Destrukticor]

easiest 200 achievement points in the history of arcade.

2 goes is all it took

compared to bejewelled 2......

nice game though relaxing in a weird sort of way

[Rushy]

Not bad at all. It's a perfect version of Galaga, and for fans of the game then thats surely all you'd every want. For anyone who hasn't played it before though I would probably say best to steer clear, or at least try the demo first as it really is a 'nostalgic purchase'. Unless your an achievement whore, in which case you'll want to buy it and earn your 200 points within the space of an hour or two.

[Yoshimax]

Must just be me then - First thing I realised was how shit I have become at Galaga. Then, and it may have been the mood I was in, I found that every time I died I wanted to smash the screen with my pad - A strange, infuriating rage.

What Rushy said - Get the demo first - As for the 200 points being easy I managed 2 achievements and 40k - I suck :(

[marcus]

Had a couple of goes, might buy it just for the easy points but to be honest, after the astounding Geometry Wars Evolved, games like this seem so lightweight in comparison. I was really looking forward to this for some reason, but, like many retro games, the fondeness of memory soon gives way to the lack of substance.

[Lebowski]

The achievements for those who are interested are absolutely easy. I spent 20 minutes playing the game up to stage 20 and got 125 gamer-points for little effort. You either start the game from the beginning or continue from where you died.

erm am i being thick here but i always start from stage one, how do you contine form the last stage you were on?

furtherist ive got is stage ten only played it for 30mins though

[Jebus]

Had a couple of goes, might buy it just for the easy points but to be honest, after the astounding Geometry Wars Evolved, games like this seem so lightweight in comparison. I was really looking forward to this for some reason, but, like many retro games, the fondeness of memory soon gives way to the lack of substance.I feel the same, after playing geometry wars it seems like a pointless release, literally only there for nostalgia, nothing more.

I also found it more clunky that i used to, but maybe my memory is fading and I thought it was better than it was...

Might save the MS Points I have for future releases :)

[Kubrick]

erm am i being thick here but i always start from stage one, how do you contine form the last stage you were on?

furtherist ive got is stage ten only played it for 30mins though
The option is underneath 1P START when you start a new game.

[peeveen]

Goddamn it! I had fond memories of this game, so I bought it immediately, but it turns out I was thinking of the similar (but much better) Gaplus. Oh well, it's an easy 200 points, I suppose.

[Yoraths mullet]

I like it, might get RSI from pressing the fire button, but it's good clean fun. I love the background picture as well.

[peeveen]

might get RSI from pressing the fire button
Try holding B instead of tapping A. I only found that out after playing through the stage 25. :(

[Kubrick]

http://tep.wonderworks.se/movies/%5BMovie%5DWargames%20(1983)_05.jpg

http://tep.wonderworks.se/movies/%5BMovie%5DWargames%20(1983)_01.jpg

I hope you can all beat Matthew Broderick's score :)

[Yoshimax]

How has he got twin shooter at that score ? I ain't even seen that yet.

Goddam game - If it makes me as mad tonight I swear it's getting deleted off the HDD.

[peeveen]

It's easy, you can get it very early on ... get your ship captured by the tractor beam on purpose ... shoot the "kidnapper" enemy with your next life as it swoops towards you with your pal in tow. Be careful not to shoot your old ship as well!

[Yoshimax]

FFS I was actively avoiding the tractor beam.

Galaga Skills <= 0

[Kubrick]

:D

Watch the attract mode and you'll see how it's done.

The enemies that try to tractor beam you have a different swoop pattern (it's more straight/direct) so you can spot which ones are going to do it.

[Greg Moss]

As for the 200 points being easy I managed 2 achievements and 40k - I suck :(

It could be worse man, had about an hour on this tonight, and I'm still below you on the leaderboard, if you suck, I must be the worst player in history.

Still I'm really enjoying it. Sure the achievements are a little weak, and made too easy as you can continue from the level you died on, but it's great fun, and I love the sound when all the ships start to separate :D.

[marcus]

Done all but one achievement - the one to find the blue ship - does it appear beyond level 30?

[yosai]

Afaik it level 31, or at least it was for me. :)