Galaga facts for kids

Gameplay screenshot

Galaga is a classic sci-fi arcade game that first came out in 1981. It was created by a Japanese company called Namco. This game is a follow-up to another popular game called Galaxian.

In Galaga, you control a spaceship. Your mission is to shoot down waves of alien enemies. These enemies fly in different patterns and try to attack your ship.

What is Galaga?

Galaga is a "fixed shooter" game. This means your spaceship moves only left and right at the bottom of the screen. You aim and shoot upwards at the aliens. The game is known for its fast action and challenging levels.

How to Play Galaga

The game starts with alien ships flying onto the screen. They form different patterns. Once they are in place, they will dive down to attack your ship. You need to shoot them before they hit you.

• You get points for every alien you destroy.
• Some aliens are worth more points than others.
• You have a limited number of lives. If an alien hits your ship, you lose a life.

Challenging Stages

Every few levels, you will enter a "Challenging Stage." These are special bonus rounds. In these stages, aliens fly across the screen in specific formations. They do not shoot back at you. Your goal is to destroy as many as you can. You earn extra points for hitting all the aliens in these rounds.

The Capture Ship

One unique part of Galaga is the "Boss Galaga" alien. This alien can use a special beam to capture your spaceship. If your ship is captured, it becomes an enemy. It will fly with the other aliens and shoot at you.

• You can rescue your captured ship.
• To do this, you must shoot down the Boss Galaga that captured it.
• If you succeed, your ship will join you.
• This gives you two ships side-by-side, doubling your firepower!
• Having two ships makes it much easier to defeat the aliens.

History of Galaga

Galaga was developed by Namco in Japan. It was released in arcades in 1981. Later, it was brought to other countries by companies like Midway Games. The game quickly became very popular around the world.

Over the years, Galaga has been released on many different game systems. These include the Nintendo Entertainment System, Atari 7800, and even modern mobile phones. Its simple but fun gameplay has kept it a favorite for decades.

Images for kids

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  In Spanish: Galaga para niños