Galaga (version found in the Switch port of “Namco Museum Archives Volume Two” played for review)

The previous “Galaxian” was something of an underrated gem, but “Galaga” blows it out of the water. Enemies don’t only move faster but attack more quickly, which can be mitigated with smart play and knowing how to access a second ship, a method of play that can turn this fast-paced “Space Invaders” knockoff from a harrowing experience into a power fantasy. There’s plenty of “classics” that command respect for getting there first and little else besides, but I was having an unironically good time playing this more than fifty years past its release.  Among the best of Namco’s arcade offerings.

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