Software:Galaxy Force (video game)

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Galaxy Force
Galaxy Force flyer.jpg
Japanese arcade flyer.
Developer(s)Sega AM1[1]
M2 (3DS)[2]
Publisher(s)Sega
Composer(s)Koichi Namiki
Katsuhiro Hayashi
Platform(s)Arcade, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, FM Towns[3], Sega Saturn, PlayStation 2, PC, ZX Spectrum, Nintendo 3DS
ReleaseArcade
Mega Drive/Genesis
Genre(s)Rail Shooter
Mode(s)Single-player
Arcade systemSega Y Board

Galaxy Force [lower-alpha 1] is a third-person shooter space combat arcade game developed and published by Sega in 1988. In the game, the player controls the starship "TRY-Z" and must make it to the end of each stage while shooting down enemies and avoiding collision with obstacles. The TRY-Z has a fuel meter at the bottom, referred to in-game as "ENERGY", which will gradually deplete from firing projectiles and missiles. Energy can be refilled by reach checkpoints in each stage. It ran on the Sega Y Board arcade hardware, and utilized Sega's R360 rotatable arcade cabinet.

Galaxy Force was almost immediately followed up by an updated release, titled Galaxy Force II, which fixed many bugs in the original and added new stages. This version would be ported to several home video game platforms, such as the Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, mobile phones and the Wii Virtual Console service. Galaxy Force II was also released for the PlayStation 2 in 2007 as part of the Sega Ages 2500 budget title series, included in the collection title Galaxy Force II: Special Extended Edition, which included the arcade, Sega Genesis and Master System releases alongside a remake, titled Galaxy Force Neo Classic. Galaxy Force II was also released for both the Nintendo 3DS eShop and the compilation Sega 3D Classics Collection in 2015, renaming the game to 3D Galaxy Force II.

Plot

Arcade version screenshot.

The evil Fourth Empire, ruled by Halcyon, begins a campaign of galactic conquest having laid waste to almost all of the star systems in the galaxy. An interstellar organization, known as the Space Federation, launches Galaxy Force, an elite starfighter corps specializing in space combat to free the galaxy from the oppressive rule of Halcyon and the Fourth Empire. A lone fighter wages a one-man war against Halcyon and his forces.

Gameplay

The player takes control of the TRY-Z spaceship, navigating through several missions on different planets, shooting lasers and missiles at enemies and obstacles. The ship's protective shield decreases with each collision. The ship has a limited quantity of energy; when this energy is fully depleted, the game is over. The game has only a single type of power-up, which increases the number of missiles a player may shoot in a single volley.

At the start of the game, the player may select any one of five planets:

  • Megaleon (Man-Made world): This is default start level. The first half consists of combat in open space, slowly approaching a fortress inside the planet. Enemies include fighter ships, with the only obstacle being an orbital construction site.
  • Ashutar (Volcanic world): Here, the player must traverse through two fortresses.
  • Malkland (Plant world): Obstacles here include a fast growing plant which entangles your ship. Like Ashutar, two fortresses must be traversed.
  • Sara (Desert world): The player here must avoid tornadoes and surface-to-air fire.
  • Orthea (Cloud world): This stage contains large formations of enemy fighters. Two fortresses must be traversed.

A sixth and final planet may be accessed only once the other five have been overcome:

  • Hyperspace (Final): This is the stronghold of the enemy forces.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG91% (Master System)[8]
Eurogamer8/10 (3DS)[9]
Nintendo Life8/10 stars (3DS)[2]
Nintendo World Report9/10 (3DS)[10]
Sinclair User10/10 (Arcade)[11]
Commodore User8/10 (Arcade)[6]
Mean Machines59% (Mega Drive)[12]
Mega31% (Mega Drive)[13]
Award
PublicationAward
Sinclair UserShoot 'Em Up of the Year (1988)[14]

Reviewing the Nintendo 3DS version, NintendoLife commented that even though Galaxy Force II doesn't contain a single polygon, the impression of rushing through space, avoiding collisions with asteroids and dodging incoming enemy fire is so intense that it puts many modern 3D titles to shame. They deemed the game as "arguably the culmination of M2's 3D Classics range".[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Japanese: ギャラクシーフォース (Gyarakushī Fōsu)

References

  1. ↑ "Sega 3D Classics Collection Developer's Interview Part 2". http://blogs.sega.com/2016/05/17/sega-3d-classics-collection-developers-interview-part-2/. Retrieved 18 May 2016. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Damien McFerran (December 13, 2013). "NintendoLife's Review: 3D Galaxy Force II (3DS eShop)". NintendoLife. http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds-eshop/3d_galaxy_force_ii. Retrieved December 13, 2013. 
  3. ↑ "FM Towns ROM Archive". https://archive.org/details/Neo_Kobe_Fujitsu_FM_Towns_2016-02-25.  Galaxy Force FM Towns ROM.
  4. ↑ "The Arcade Flyer Archive - Video Game Flyers: Galaxy Force / Galaxy Force II, Sega". Flyers.arcade-museum.com. 2002-07-22. http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=429. Retrieved 2019-10-28. 
  5. ↑ "Galaxy Force arcade video game by SEGA Enterprises (1988)". https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=galaxy-force&page=detail&id=3697. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Galaxy Force review". Solvalou.com. http://www.solvalou.com/subpage/arcade_reviews/270/145/galaxy_force_review.html. Retrieved 2019-10-28. 
  7. ↑ "Galaxy Force II arcade video game by SEGA Enterprises (1988)". https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=galaxy-force-ii-deluxe-model&page=detail&id=19586. 
  8. ↑ Computer and Video Games, Complete Guide to Consoles, issue 1, page 56
  9. ↑ "3D Galaxy Force II - Anрlise •". Eurogamer.pt. 2013-12-27. http://www.eurogamer.pt/articles/2013-12-27-3d-galaxy-force-ii-analise. Retrieved 2019-10-28. 
  10. ↑ "3D Galaxy Force II Review Mini - Review Mini". Nintendo World Report. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewmini/36223/3d-galaxy-force-ii-nintendo-3ds. Retrieved 2019-10-28. 
  11. ↑ "Galaxy Force review". Solvalou.com. http://www.solvalou.com/subpage/arcade_reviews/108/145/galaxy_force_review.html. Retrieved 2019-10-28. 
  12. ↑ "File:MeanMachines UK 15.pdf - Sega Retro". 2019-11-18. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:MeanMachines_UK_15.pdf&page=149. 
  13. ↑ Mega rating, issue 17, page 64, February 1994
  14. ↑ "Galaxy Force review". Solvalou.com. http://www.solvalou.com/subpage/arcade_reviews/112/145/galaxy_force_review.html. Retrieved 2019-10-28. 

External links




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