RetroAhoy: Galaxian

Originally uploaded 20th July 2011.
Reuploaded here to consolidate on one channel.
5 new RetroAhoy episodes follow this original run.
Email: [e-mail]
Twitter: / xboxahoy
Reddit: / xboxahoy

[@theantithesis1]

The great thing about Galaga is that it has the best implemented power up in video game history. When the flagship steals your ship with a tractor beam, you can rescue it to have a double shot. But you still only start with three lives. Gaining this ability costs you something. And getting it isn't a foregone conclusion. You can accidentally shoot the captured ship for points instead, I found out. This adds a risk/reward trade-off to gaining a power up which in most other games is just a present the game gives you.

[@2112dorf]

Deacon Cole Have you tried Dragon Spirit? It’s on most Namco collections. It’s like Xevious, but with some cool power ups.

[@m-yday]

I loved that feature! I used to wait for two of my ships to get captured, then rescue both for an even better power up!

[@TheAnkMan]

Yep, not used against the player as mentioned in the video. Well 289 comments and KZbin doesn't allow a search through the comments. I hope that wasn't said already. I missed the note that when you shot the yellow guys all stop shooting for a short time. And when the game is not in "swarming" mode they go back into the flock and wait before starting new attacks.

[@astracrits4633]

@@2112dorf *gasp* Another person who loves Dragon Spirit? YESSSSSSSS.

[@Lumberjack_king]

I completely agree

[@Desertdolphin43]

Extremely professional quality. The tone, the shots, the panning and the the tone. Props man.

[@KiddsWithClass]

don't forget about the tone.

[@TheWeepingCorpse]

+KiddsWithClass no need for that kind of tone.

[@PolarisCastillo]

watch your tone

[@jonasthemovie]

The tone has changed during the years. Perfected.

[@EBK76deep]

I really like these videos. I feel like every game from the beginning of time deserves recognition. There's so much history and thanks to this we can see how far we've come.

[@BlackhartFilms]

Galaga '88 actually looks worse to me than the originals. I can see the more detailed sprites, they attempted some shading and artistic backgrounds... but it just feels too busy. I much prefer the more minimalist and focused style of the original Galaxian. Galaga '88 just looks like you're fighting done up Skittles and Smarties.

[@ketvector4469]

+Blackhart Films The first time I saw Galaga '88, my mind was blown. I love the more intricate backgrounds and the way the sprites pop, but I agree - the original is the best.

[@joyoustye2326]

Galaga '88 on the PC Engine is straight up fantastic. It's my favorite game of all time.

[@Salvavideocrack]

Darius was the definitive shooter game and was an outstanding technological achievement, it raised the bar so high that NO OTHER company could make something similar EVER, Darius had no slowdowns, flickering, and had a perfect artistic direction, it was like the Dragon´s Lair of the shooter games but thousands times funnier and more interactive, it was the Rolls Royce of the arcade games. All hail to Taito and this game creators

[@diebich5172]

As another comment said, this is truly the Animal Planet of games. I would love to see more RetroAhoy.

[@bodnotbod]

Galaxians was by far the arcade game I spent most time on. Not only was it widely available but I could get a lot more playtime out of my 10p than on other games. However, I am saddened to see a rundown of early space shooters that doesn't mention Phoenix.

[@ImSquiggs]

Your videos are some of the cleanest and highest-quality content on KZbinI. I just get such a professional vibe from it, like I'm watching a television broadcast.

[@TweEkc]

So many great videos in short order. The long wait was worth for this and your last series

[@CoinOpTV]

luv them classic arcade games

[@GR8TM4N]

Has anyone noticed that the enemy airplanes movement in "1942" resembles the way enemy spaceships move in Galaxian ? Heavily inspired, obviously

[@antonnym214]

I just found you and immediately subscribed. Very nice reporting with interesting history and great graphics. All good wishes!

[@Dashx64]

Galaxian and then in a much bigger way Galaga were so integral to my gaming youth, I ADORE the space shooter genre to this day thanks to Galaga. The first time I heard that legendary music from the arcade cabinet was also the day I became a Namco-Bandai fan and still to this day I'll enjoy it and owe my initial interest in gaming thanks to Galaga and of course NES' Mario Bros.

[@crybirb]

Damn you guys are on fire. And I'm not complaining at all!

[@Sneezy103]

+Marcos Wicket read the description

[@crybirb]

+David T I did it. I didn't know they had these and I'm glad they are putting it again.

[@fake-empire]

+Marcos Wicket they is one dude

[@crybirb]

eliasmurray They is one?

[@Sneezy103]

Marcos Wicket There is only one person making these videos. You should check out his other channels.

[@CyrusBluebird]

Thanks for the re-upload. Liked these videos and hope you will continue to expand the series.

[@HJHunters]

I wanted to hear retroahoy’s original pronunciation of, “gaLaga.” Such a brave way to pronounce it.

[@RyuRanXII]

This is becoming my favorite KZbin channel. Keep up the good work!

[@leakycheese]

Galaxian was my such a good game on the Atari 2600. Cheers for the video, Ahoy.

[@battledriver123]

Stu is the one who deserves 39 896 312 subscribers

[@grizzlywolf8075]

ikr

[@grizzlywolf8075]

Yep stu's videos are actually way more entertaining than some popular KZbin channels.

[@SonicYM2612]

Awesome video as usual, but was surprised there was no mention of Namco's own Xevious shooter which is similar to Capcom's 1942.

[@acs5928]

So many enjoyable videos on this channel. Really good work

[@oliharding]

Fascinating stuff! Great job, Stu!

[@megahombre24]

Yet another wonderful trip to great childhood memories, more of these please!!!

[@exmaarmaca]

I love that even now on Smash Bros Ultimate there is the tractor beam from Galaga as an item you can use.

[@walrusdunne]

Thank you for the consistently well made and interesting videos, Stuart. Can't wait for the next one.

[@lol-no5hg]

same

[@sebofdoom]

Your content is simply amazing. Keep up the good work!

[@Nufleg]

Still my favourite game of all time...helped by the fact that I am old enough to have played it extensively when I was a kid. In later life I had a Galaxian arcade machine at home too.

[@rikovladimir8655]

I was five years old when I first played Galaxian and I loved it . as always Ahoy you are amazing

[@eggman17872k2]

That man is playing Galaga! Thought we wouldn't notice, but we did...

[@LiamEderzeel]

That's a coincidence, I'm currently working on a Galaxian clone for a school assignment. Great video as always!

[@LuckyBird551]

According to the official Namco timeline, Galaxian, Galaga, Dig Dug and the Ace Combat games all happen in the same universe.

[@blahthebiste7924]

Warblade is an amazing game

[@thehubbabubba667]

It's amazing what this channel has become after being a CoD oriented one.

[@VideoGameGuidesHD]

Love all of your videos, keep up the amazing work!

[@Alexandra-Rex]

In the early 90s I used to play Xenon 2 on my 286, that was awesome. Also Tetris :P

[@notyoursavior78]

Galaxian still looks pretty to me. I love how the colors pop.

[@thehalchannel9036]

This is a fantastic synopsis on Galaxian. Good work!

[@hughlingard]

i'm a simple space alien; when i see a video by ahoy, i give a thumbs up.

[@healthyfire]

nice job man , love this channel , love you !

[@B0yardigi0rn0]

That was a REALLY GOOD video, thanks!

[@JakeHunter2010]

I'm convinced Ahoy Stuart Brown is an Alien lol the quality of his videos are un-earthly excellent lol.

[@mercury5003]

my aunt and uncle actually own a galaga arcade cabinet, ive spent so much time playing that when i was over at their house. i spent even more time playing galaga arrangement on namco museum for gamecube.

[@IronSalamander8]

Galaxian was such a quarter sucker for me as a kid. I have the Colecovision cartridge around here somewhere too and of course there's a Galaxian level in the superlative Gorf as well!

[@Casketkrusher_]

Galaga is probably my all time favorite Arcade game.

[@xGHOSTx182]

All those quarters spend on the arcade playing Galaxian, Galaga, Pac-man, Digdug ,Tower of Druaga, House of the dead and Mis. Pac-man. Good times.

[@Donut117]

I think Galaga Arrangement is a little more rare and obscure, but that's the most intense Galaga I've played to date.

[@BPKPhoenix]

Funny enough, I have a feeling this is what gave other game developers some inspiration to create the fun yet absolutely hair-tearingly frustrating games as we know and love as Bullet Hell curtain line shooters. Apart from this, I do have Galaxian and it comes with a very old ps1 game that I have called "Namco Museum Vol. 1 which comes with PacMan, Gauntlet, GALAXIAN, that racing game that I enjoyed forgot its name and there was one more... forgot what its called. Pretty nice for a PS1 brat starting out in the gaming world :D

[@DaManWithDaSword]

Once again, great video!

[@wildbilltexas]

I remember when Galaxian appeared at my local bowling alley's arcade in 1979. I loved it the first time I played it and it's been a favorite of mine ever since then. But Galaga blew me away with the power ups, challenging stage and smarter aliens. I dont think Namco has ever topped those original two. Galaga 88 was too cartoony (it looked like you were shooting space pigs or Pokemon) and the gameplay feel wasn't as fast. Galaga Legions looks like overkill, a huge mess with too many aliens and bullets shoved in your face instead of being simple and one-on-one like the originals. I just discovered your channel, keep up the great work.

[@mortenera2294]

What about Gaplus?

[@circwut4664]

Galaga had an amazing theme tune. Possibly it was already in Galaxian I don't remember much about it, mostly remember playing the '88 version. Just about 10 seconds long but good. Anyway, I didn't see it mentioned in the video for some reason, but those tractor beam aliens: if you let your ship get captured, you'd lose your ship and had to use a new one, however, if you then shot down that alien with your old ship, you got an extra ship I seem to remember. Not an extra life, but two ships side by side, doubling your firepower.

[@mandrac2]

LOL! Warblade! I never knew this game had such noble origins

[@mcrsit]

Can't wait to see the Carmagennon ep!

[@brownbuttbaby]

I was kind hoping I'd hear about sidearms, for the turbografix. Great video none the less

[@bobgomez9481]

Wrong though. WE are the Galaxians. Defend against aliens. The player, in charge of the Galaxip, is a Galaxian. Aliens are aliens.

[@104d_3rr0r_vince]

Awesome game indeed. Deluxe Galaga on the Amiga is great too. === R.I.P Edgar===

[@Lucasrainford]

+Vincent GR Yeah gutted about Edgar's passing, spent untold hours playing his games, feckin great developer, simple gfx, totally addictive gameplay, was in the process of making Warblade II when he sadly died, RIP ED x

[@hoxatron6024]

I never thought I’d see the day where I’m not the only person who knows about Edgar. I spent so much time on warblade when I was younger. RIP

[@exmaarmaca]

Also those flags recently appears on Super Smash Brothers and can give you an extra life.

[@FrMZTsarmiral]

Xevious was pretty good too.

[@FightCollective]

What about Scrambler? Surely that was one of the first scrolling shoot 'em ups?

[@Paultarco]

So much AHOY.......FeelsGoodMan

[@handsomebrick]

Originally there was a divide between Western and Eastern shooters, with the Western ones derived from Spacewar and the Eastern ones based on Space Invaders, although there was much cross-influence; horizontal shooting was originally a Western trope pioneered in the massively influential shooter game Defender, and Sega made Fantasy Zone which had a Japanese exterior of hyper-cuteness but was undoubtably Western underneath, with its ability to move the character left and right and buy items in a shop. Of course it was the Eastern styled Space Invaders that originally threw down the gauntlet, which was soon met by the undeniably Western shooter Asteroids. It was the Eastern style that eventually triumphed, although it also collapsed shortly afterward and mostly survives today as the ultra-Japanese, ultra-niche bullet hell genre.

[@desolatorXT]

CARMAGEDDON!!!!! At last we're gonna see an analysis about it... Such a fun game... Pure enjoyment back in the day...

[@staticstormbird5439]

I loved galaga

[@Guitarplayer22222]

+Damien Jones Good comment.

[@badkluster]

I just noticed that Stuart sounds a lot like Garth Marenghi

[@CaptainDangeax]

Nice vidéo. At the time of Galaxian, came another shot'em up named Phœnix which was the first to provide an end level boss, as far as I know. Another one was really different, Gyruss

[@muninraven3327]

5:40 No, no, n... oh, nicely done there. :)

[@gamemeister27]

I played the shit out of this when I was a kid. Windows 98 port I think, it had all the Namco classics. Definitely my favorite game for a long time.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

I can play this game forever.

[@sploshy100]

I first played Galaxians when at lunch breaks at my secondary school was I was 14. I still play it now 🍊

[@LasseHuhtala]

Deluxe galaga was so-o polished.. I love that game.

[@milesbrown2261]

Great vid btw

[@jipostus]

I also played a lot of Deluxe Galaga back in the day... Even my mother played it a lot, and would play it today if we would still have working Amiga... But Warblade is something amazing, and easily available. But as much it saddens me, Edgar M. Vigdal, creator of Deluxe Galaga and Warblade, passed away earlier this year, whilst creating Warblade Mk. II. R.I.P.

[@Holammer]

First game I clearly remember playing and I was about five years at the time. ... I'm old.

[@ConcaCon]

I always thought it a nice touch to include a vertical shooter in Jade Empire then.

[@BinaryReader]

used to play a lot of 1942 in the arcades and on amstrad cpc back in the day, good days.

[@EricGranata]

My favorite Galaxian clone was Swoop by Ambrosia Software for the Mac. Like all Ambrosia games, it bled personality.

[@Andrewsafb71]

I use stopping power and sleight of hand on this.

[@mollysmoshingtankcrew9441]

I just love your voice. It sounds creepy. I like it. Tell creepy pasta. You would get so many views

[@MoeAji]

How come there is no double ship footage from Galaga. That was one of the earliest high risk with high rewards in video games. The first bonus round with a double ship was so satisfying.

[@VarietyGamerChannel]

So good.

[@elwyndude]

7:40 This is too chaotic for me... same reason I cant play Super Smash Bros Ultimate. But its interesting to see my teen nephew adapt with ease. Makes me wonder how crazy insane games will be in 30 years.

[@thesteamteam3697]

XboxAhoy has the voice of a god.

[@avi12]

Some director has to make a film, in which only Stuart narrates through the whole movie

[@GamersDk123]

Space Harrier had a awesome soundtrack! xP

[@jamesgrery2034]

love your videos dude keep it up and are you ever comeing to a gameing event?

[@lol-no5hg]

he doesn't want people to see his face but you could look up wickedshrapnel burger town video he's there

[@AleK0451]

that intro is comfy as fuck

[@sodar42]

Thumbs up for mentioning Deluxe Galaga / Warblade. IMO best Galaxian clone. Unfortunately the author Edgar M. Vigdal died last year. I hope someone will pick up the legacy.

[@Zajcooo]

This video made me want to play some Game Dev Story by Kairosoft for Android and Game Dev Tycoon by Greenheart Games for PC.

[@kevinw729]

Another interesting session Mr. Brown. Love following yournew series. Asone that works in the amusement sector though I wish you had been able to delve a little more into the Galaxian's influence on other amusement titles from NAMCO. You are incorrect to miss out the influence in 'Starblade' from the original, and how a 3D amusement simulatort borrowed from the original Galaxian, especially in what was created in the 1992 'Galaxian 6' attraction and amusement piece - a serious omission to this excellent cometary. If you intend to cover coin-op titles in future please do not hesitate to drop us a line for assistance in research information.

[@slayer6155]

Love your videos keep it up! When it comes to cod, I believe you didn't enjoy the last cods and you turned your back on them, something very few youtubers did they wanted that KZbin money and special cod access, you in other words turned that down so that says a lot about you mainly that you will not support something you don't believe in, and I respect that more power to you sir, I do hope BO3 is a good game I kinda miss your cod videos

[@WeskerXM96E1]

Retro Game Challenge on the DS also published by Namco or Bandai-Namco has a really good version of Galaxian but it's called Cosmic Gate. Well worth getting RGC, it's a bit crazy but in that Japanese way that i and anyone reading most probably loves. I actually think the DS is the most creative console ever, It has a incredibly diverse catalogue of games.

[@timaka251]

Are you going to be doing Black Ops 3 weapon guides when the game comes out?

[@DJBucca]

bosconian was a lot of fun too

[@zacherynuk842]

Great video again. I would have gone Space Invaders - Galaxian - Uridium - Xenon Never mind though - the R-Type fans will be along any moment.

[@paradust]

Love Deluxe Galaga. I can even live with the odd chance of grabbing a downgrade weapon by accident after spending all the cash for the top tier guns. So much love put into this little gem! P.s. Galaxian was my first ever video game that I played.

[@PyroPeace]

Why have you been making these amazing vids lately there insane in quality

[@theparagonal]

They're from years ago, on his Retro Ahoy channel.

[@andyastrand]

Phoenix probably worth a mention

[@UnrealRope]

Man my aunt used to have a Galaga table, I remember playing that shit all day after school.

[@gwyneveresnow5781]

I actually have the arcade machine of this game in my basement, it used to work but reports 'bad ram 2' now

[@NimhLabs]

No mention of the best SHMUP ever? Cho Aniki? DISHONOUR AHOY! DISHONOUR!

[@BML8384]

Perhaps my favourite game of the Era- hypnotic Classic for any kid of the time; kamikaze aliens :)

[@MetalBacon64]

I own this on "Namco Museum" for the GBA.