Mar 23, 2007

Namco Galaxian: And then there was colour!

1979. The year arcade games got proper colour graphics and also the year Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned and seized political power in Iran. But, really, who was responsible for this? The Shah? The US? Atari? Imperialism in general? Simple, it was Galaxian. The first ever colour video game and thus the first game to put a stop to the utterly disgusting habit of sticking colored cellophane across monochrome displays.

Galaxian, a Namco creation and a glorified Space Invaders clone (ok, an evolution of the Space Invaders concept then) is one of the bestselling coin-ops ever and a ridiculously successful video game, that has already spawned almost 20 sequels on platforms ranging from the PSP, to the Game Boy Color to the ZX Spectrum. As for the remakes and ports, well, they are just countless.

To have a taste of some Galaxian gameplay, or to simply remember those glorious arcade years, you could be cheap and try this decent online version, irrational and purchase the rather mediocre Namco Museum 50th Anniversary or even be truly adventurous and hit the road in search of old arcades, bootlegged whiskey, good jazz and that beat mentality of yore. Mind you, even though underage gamers are not allowed to go all Kerouac, they will definitely enjoy this classic shmup. It's much faster, definitely creepier (it's insectoid thingies you're fighting here) and way more polished than Space Invaders, thus still astonishingly addictive.

On the other hand, if finding out more about Galaxian is all you're here for, then by all means do try some of those lovely hand-picked links:
Related @ Gnome's Lair: Peter Favaro on Alter Ego, Mean Machines issue 0, Adventure, Guitar Hero C64


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13 comments:

  1. Galaxian is a real treasure.
    I can still remember standing there and watching as my father and my uncle where playing the game.
    ... I must have been one meter tall back then...

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  2. Must have been quite a sight dear Nikola... A 1 meter tall kid into now-retro arcades... Heh.

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  3. ..sniff!. I was a good bit taller, but so skint I can only remember looking over everybodys shoulder....

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  4. Aah, you know how to pick 'em Gnome! I've always been partial to a bit of Galaxian, but for some reason it seems like Galaga gets all the love when people talk about those early Namco games. Don't get me started about how little mention the excellent Xevious gets!

    The Atari 2600 conversion of Galaxian wasn't as accurate as it might have been, but I have been so well-served by Cybergoth's tweaked version found over at www.atariage.com that I have to mention it. Real graphics whores demanding arcade perfect renderings should probably go for the NES version or straight to MAME though ;)

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  5. And by "straight to MAME" I mean, "order one of those excellent and very reasonably priced retro compilations from one of the handy ads on this quality blog, and maybe play the MAME version while you wait for your delivery".

    Slip of the tongue/brain, sorry.

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  6. Ah, but dear Elderly, you could also pick their pockets, couldn't you? A wicked little raskal you were apparently...

    KDE, I'm glad you seem to have enjoyed the post and really, the Cybergoth version was quite a brilliant surprise. Thanks again! Oh, and sod them ads. MAME is always a Lair fav ;)

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  7. ...hey it works... i opened a pls file.. hey look .. no listen.... it's the seagull theme.....

    wow....

    :)
    :)
    :)
    :)

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  8. wait.. who switched the posts when i wasn't looking.....

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  9. 'twas the post switching bunny.

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  10. (holds tightly to comment window.....)

    there is no truth in the rumour that i stole from arcade players... (sound of coins jingling...) and kept that money secure in a pre-built lego house..(jingle...)

    nor is it true i occassionally wander the aisles of supermarkets switching price tags...

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  11. So, following traditional deduction logic and porn scripting techniques, I am sure now. You were the switching rabbit! ha. Elementary.

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  12. ...twitching rabbit...? nope you got the wrong person occifer......

    look small ears....(wiggles ears for Gnome...)

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