Galaga 7800

[VectorGamer]

Galaga is my all-time favorite game, so when I got the 7800 cart it was naturally going to be under my scrutiny.

 

The timing on this game is all wrong! From stages 1-9, the aliens are sooo slow I could retreat to the pot for a few minutes, come back and still clear the screen before they begin their dive bombing routines. Additionally, the aliens come on to the screen in each stage way too early while the music is still playing.

 

Then, if you happen to not clear the screen before the aliens dive bomb, when they do dive bomb it's at an unusually high rate of speed.

 

The timing on the challenging stages are all wrong. The time lapse between the groups of aliens is like 15 seconds!

 

Why couldn't they draw the shields on the screen that represent the stage numbers? I thought they would have enough machine to do this.

 

The size of the text (e.g. for the score, challenge stage stats) reminds me of the font used in little tykes story books.

 

The smaller size of the ship does not bother me, however.

 

Despite all these differences, it still is playable and some of the alien flight patterns are not true to the arcade but I can appreciate that change. The timing of the game is bothersome, however.

[S1500]

I played it many moons ago, and got bored with it easily. It is very slow paced, and feels like I'm playing some half-hearted Commodore 64 port of it.

[akator]

I agree, the timing and patterns are significantly off. I'm not an NES fanboy, but in this case the NES version wins with no contest.

[Gorf]

I agree, the timing and patterns are significantly off. I'm not an NES fanboy, but in this case the NES version wins with no contest.

 

 

oo bad you have to deal with the horrid flicker of the NES.

[gdement]

Additionally, the aliens come on to the screen in each stage way too early while the music is still playing.

I like it better that way. The delay on the NES version while it plays music is very annoying.

 

 

For the other issues, it's certainly different from the arcade but I never cared much.

[+Sauron]

The differences between the arcade and 7800 versions of the game don't bother me in the least. In fact, the 7800 version is probably my favorite version outside of the arcade.

[+Ransom]

The differences between the arcade and 7800 versions of the game don't bother me in the least. In fact, the 7800 version is probably my favorite version outside of the arcade.

 

[Groucho]And inside an arcade, there's no TVs to play the 7800 on![/Groucho]

[Atarifever]

The differences between the arcade and 7800 versions of the game don't bother me in the least. In fact, the 7800 version is probably my favorite version outside of the arcade.

 

[Groucho]And inside an arcade, there's no TVs to play the 7800 on![/Groucho]

[darthkur]

Galaga is my all-time favorite game, so when I got the 7800 cart it was naturally going to be under my scrutiny.

 

The timing on this game is all wrong! From stages 1-9, the aliens are sooo slow I could retreat to the pot for a few minutes, come back and still clear the screen before they begin their dive bombing routines. Additionally, the aliens come on to the screen in each stage way too early while the music is still playing.

 

Then, if you happen to not clear the screen before the aliens dive bomb, when they do dive bomb it's at an unusually high rate of speed.

 

The timing on the challenging stages are all wrong. The time lapse between the groups of aliens is like 15 seconds!

 

Why couldn't they draw the shields on the screen that represent the stage numbers? I thought they would have enough machine to do this.

 

The size of the text (e.g. for the score, challenge stage stats) reminds me of the font used in little tykes story books.

 

The smaller size of the ship does not bother me, however.

 

Despite all these differences, it still is playable and some of the alien flight patterns are not true to the arcade but I can appreciate that change. The timing of the game is bothersome, however.

 

I imagine you're probably not all too thrilled with "Sega-Galaga" for the Sega 1000 then. Assuming that you are familiar with this version that is.

 

 

I played it many moons ago, and got bored with it easily. It is very slow paced, and feels like I'm playing some half-hearted Commodore 64 port of it.

 

 

Actually, this is the half-hearted C64 version, which looks better than the copy I have on disk. At least this one's in color. Mine is monochromatic with the ships being a uniform brown and the background tan. At least the sounds are somewhat accurate.

[+Ransom]

Wow, that C64 Galaga is a masterpiece of half-assed design!

[Rybags]

I can remember a similar thread from a couple of years back.

 

Best way to tolerate Galaga on the 7800 - use an emulator.

 

I think it might have been on MESS. Change the screen aspect ratio so that the screen is half-width. The game actually seems more enjoyable.

[S1500]

Isn't there also a half-assed version of Galaga for the MSX?

[keitaro]

Yes, Galaga for 7800 isn't a pixel-perfect conversion from the arcade, but I enjoy this version when I forgot to compare it to the arcade version. Also trying the expert mode is faster and more challenging than start in level 1.

 

PD for c64 there is Zalaga clone, looks better than galaga for c64, but I don't know how good is the gameplay.

Edited March 23, 2009 by keitaro

[VectorGamer]

Yes, Galaga for 7800 isn't a pixel-perfect conversion from the arcade, but I enjoy this version when I forgot to compare it to the arcade version. Also trying the expert mode is faster and more challenging than start in level 1.

 

PD for c64 there is Zalaga clone, looks better than galaga for c64, but I don't know how good is the gameplay.

 

It's unfortunate that you have to skip nine levels to get to a more challenging game play. But, the game is a repeat play for me - I just had hoped they could have delivered a better product.

 

I'm going to build my own Galaga cabinet anyway...

[roadrunner]

I like the 7800 version of Galaga. It's a fun game, but the novice skill level is way to easy. I can get over 800,000 points on novice.

[gdement]

I like the 7800 version of Galaga. It's a fun game, but the novice skill level is way to easy. I can get over 800,000 points on novice.

 

 

Novice: This should be very easy for anyone with any gaming ability, and is geared toward very young and very old players.

 

but Advanced is indeed too easy:

Advanced: A setting which is about "arcade" level, perhaps a bit easier.

Not even close.

[shadow460]

IMO, on the expert setting, Galaga is a solid game. Too bad they didn't include an "Insane" setting, it just might be a tad difficult.

 

Considering it's one of the easier to get titles, though, why not pick it up and play it?

[roadrunner]

I like the 7800 version of Galaga. It's a fun game, but the novice skill level is way to easy. I can get over 800,000 points on novice.

 

 

Novice: This should be very easy for anyone with any gaming ability, and is geared toward very young and very old players.

 

but Advanced is indeed too easy:

Advanced: A setting which is about "arcade" level, perhaps a bit easier.

Not even close.

I guess i like playing Galaga on novice because i can play it for over 1 hour compared to 10 minutes on advanced.

[darthkur]

Isn't there also a half-assed version of Galaga for the MSX?

 

 

The MSX version of Galaga isn't bad. Very similar if not exact to the Sega 1000 one, like a lot of early MSX games were.

 

Edited March 26, 2009 by darthkur

[Indiana Quack]

Isn't there also a half-assed version of Galaga for the MSX?

 

 

The MSX version of Galaga isn't bad. Very similar if not exact to the Sega 1000 one, like a lot of early MSX games were.

 

 

I realize this topic is a couple of months old, but I'd like to add to this since I'm probably the number 1 Galaga fan. I've been playing this game on the stand up arcade and all the other versions I can think of. On a stand up machine, I once scored almost 3,000,000 and made it to level 212. What I'd like to see here is a updated version of Galaga for the 7800. An updated version of Ms. Pac Man was just done. I think this game should be next. I'd definitely get a upgraded cart if anyone would make one.

[VectorGamer]

I realize this topic is a couple of months old, but I'd like to add to this since I'm probably the number 1 Galaga fan. I've been playing this game on the stand up arcade and all the other versions I can think of. On a stand up machine, I once scored almost 3,000,000 and made it to level 212. What I'd like to see here is a updated version of Galaga for the 7800. An updated version of Ms. Pac Man was just done. I think this game should be next. I'd definitely get a upgraded cart if anyone would make one.

 

I have been playing Galaga since its release and the highest score I ever got on the arcade version is 700,000. Because this is my all-time favorite game, I scrutinize any port to the home console.

 

The speed of the first nine stages is outrageously slow. The timing is awful on the challenge stages. The beam from the boss is ridiculously fast in contrast to the slowness of the rest of the game.

 

The best port is the NES version.

[BrianC]

Isn't there also a half-assed version of Galaga for the MSX?

 

 

The MSX version of Galaga isn't bad. Very similar if not exact to the Sega 1000 one, like a lot of early MSX games were.

 

 

The MSX Galaga looks kind of similar to the SG-1000 SEGA Galaga, but the colors, patterns, and sound of the MSX version are more accurate to the original.

[Indiana Quack]

I realize this topic is a couple of months old, but I'd like to add to this since I'm probably the number 1 Galaga fan. I've been playing this game on the stand up arcade and all the other versions I can think of. On a stand up machine, I once scored almost 3,000,000 and made it to level 212. What I'd like to see here is a updated version of Galaga for the 7800. An updated version of Ms. Pac Man was just done. I think this game should be next. I'd definitely get a upgraded cart if anyone would make one.

 

I have been playing Galaga since its release and the highest score I ever got on the arcade version is 700,000. Because this is my all-time favorite game, I scrutinize any port to the home console.

 

The speed of the first nine stages is outrageously slow. The timing is awful on the challenge stages. The beam from the boss is ridiculously fast in contrast to the slowness of the rest of the game.

 

The best port is the NES version.

 

I'm right there with you. I've also been playing this game since it first came out back in 81. Everything has to be pretty close to the arcade port or it just doesn't cut it. I've always wanted a stand up machine, but they've always been really expensive for a good quality machine. I think if the 7800 version was re done, it could be done right. There are a lot of games that someone put time into to make it right. There are a lot that someone put a name on and tried to sell the game with the name just to get a quick buck. There are a lot of talented individuals here that could devote the time to make this game what it should be for the 7800. I've played several versions myself, but this is a Atari website and I like Atari very much. Yeah I know whatever version is made it wouldn't be exactly arcade, but anything would be better than what Atari put out.

[VectorGamer]

I'm right there with you. I've also been playing this game since it first came out back in 81. Everything has to be pretty close to the arcade port or it just doesn't cut it. I've always wanted a stand up machine, but they've always been really expensive for a good quality machine. I think if the 7800 version was re done, it could be done right. There are a lot of games that someone put time into to make it right. There are a lot that someone put a name on and tried to sell the game with the name just to get a quick buck. There are a lot of talented individuals here that could devote the time to make this game what it should be for the 7800. I've played several versions myself, but this is a Atari website and I like Atari very much. Yeah I know whatever version is made it wouldn't be exactly arcade, but anything would be better than what Atari put out.

 

I bought a gutted Satan's Hollow cabinet for $35 that I am converting into a MAME Galaga cabinet. I'm sure it would be more expensive to buy the thing complete and already assembled. In any event, it still isn't cheap building yourself but I am having a pretty good time putting it together.

 

I have a thread out there in the Arcade Coin-Ops forum with pix on my progress.

[Indiana Quack]

I'm right there with you. I've also been playing this game since it first came out back in 81. Everything has to be pretty close to the arcade port or it just doesn't cut it. I've always wanted a stand up machine, but they've always been really expensive for a good quality machine. I think if the 7800 version was re done, it could be done right. There are a lot of games that someone put time into to make it right. There are a lot that someone put a name on and tried to sell the game with the name just to get a quick buck. There are a lot of talented individuals here that could devote the time to make this game what it should be for the 7800. I've played several versions myself, but this is a Atari website and I like Atari very much. Yeah I know whatever version is made it wouldn't be exactly arcade, but anything would be better than what Atari put out.

 

I bought a gutted Satan's Hollow cabinet for $35 that I am converting into a MAME Galaga cabinet. I'm sure it would be more expensive to buy the thing complete and already assembled. In any event, it still isn't cheap building yourself but I am having a pretty good time putting it together.

 

I have a thread out there in the Arcade Coin-Ops forum with pix on my progress.

 

Good luck to you with the cabinet. I've never had the talent to make my own machine. Sure wish I could. Trying to get some toys from your youth can be very expensive. I've gone the route of playing either the PS2 or Gamecube Namco Museums. I then use a X Arcade controller to help with the experience. With Namco making the anniversary machines that come with the Ms. Pac Man, it makes it easier to find a decent machine. I'm still quite far from owning one though.