Galaforce

''Galaforce'' is a fixed shooter video game for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron, written by Kevin Edwards and published by Superior Software in 1986. It spawned a sequel, ''Galaforce 2'' (1988), and later, ''Galaforce Worlds'' (2003).

Gameplay

The game is set in the 25th century, in the fictional Magellanic galaxy. The player takes the role of a pilot of the Galaforce, an elite unit of the United Cosmological Federation, on a mission to conquer and overthrow hordes of "savage" aliens.''Galaforce''
at Acorn Electron World

''Galaforce'' is inspired by arcade fixed shooter games, particularly the ''Galaga'' series, but is not a specific clone. The player controls a spaceship that can move horizontally and vertically in the bottom part of the screen (as in '' Galaga 3''). The ship comes under attack from successive formations of aliens. The object of the game is to survive while scoring as highly as possible. Unlike many similar games, not all aliens need to be destroyed. Most of the formations involve aliens entering from one side of the screen, moving quickly across the screen in a set pattern, then leaving the screen or disintegrating at the edge. This most resembles a "Challenging Stage" in ''Galaga'' as unlike the standard ''Galaga'' stages, the aliens do not settle into a ''Galaxian'' style swarm.

There are thirteen different aliens, requiring between one and ten hits to be destroyed, and a large number of different formations. The game is broken up into zones that include a series of formations. The aliens in Zone 1 do not fire at the player and never fly into the bottom area of the screen so as long as the player does not move upwards, it is not possible to be killed. The zones get progressively more difficult, with aliens entering or leaving the screen at the bottom (from Zone 2), firing at the player (from Zone 4) and firing homing bombs (from Zone 14). Some formations are known as multiplier formations where a small number of one type of alien keep spawning other aliens until the originals are destroyed.

Development and release

The game was created by Kevin Edwards for the BBC Micro and ported to the Acorn Electron."Profile"
A&B Computing, February 1988 The Electron version runs a little slower and in a four colour mode rather than the eight colour mode used on the BBC. Both versions were released in September 1986 by Superior Software.''Galaforce''
at MobyGames It was the first title released under the joint Superior Software / Acornsoft name in the new double-cassette sized cases which would become standard for Superior releases.

Reception

'' Electron User'' gave the game a score of 9/10 with reviewer Jon Revis concluding "''Galaforce'' is a game to get the adrenaline flowing, the kind of game you continue playing when you close your eyes in bed at night - it should carry a government health warning!"."Gala Is A Force To Reckon With"
Jon Revis, Electron User #4.02, November 1986

Legacy

''Galaforce'' was included on the ''Play It Again Sam 2'' compilation in 1988 and re-issued as part of the Superior/ Blue Ribbon budget range in 1989.

''Galaforce 2''

Following the motorbike racing game ''Crazee Rider'', Kevin Edwards created a sequel to ''Galaforce''. The game is similar with the main difference being the inclusion of end of level bosses and bonus items. It also supports two players, alternating turns. ''Galaforce 2'' was first released on the ''Play It Again Sam 6'' compilation in 1988.''Galaforce 2''
at 8-bit Software It was later given a stand-alone release in the Superior/ Blue Ribbon budget range in 1990.Superior/Blue Ribbon
at Acorn Electron World

''Galaforce Worlds''

An updated and expanded version of the game was released as ''Galaforce Worlds'' for Microsoft Windows in 2003 by Superior Interactive,"Galaforce Worlds Released Today"
Richard Hanson, Superior Interactive Newsletter Issue 5, 18 December 2003 and iOS and Android versions of ''Galaforce Worlds'' were published in 2017.
Richard Hanson, Superior Interactive Newsletter Issue 47, 29 September 2017 These versions add extra worlds, zones, power-ups and achievements to the earlier game format.

References

{{Superior Software

1986 video games
Acornsoft games
BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games
BBC Micro and Acorn Electron-only games
Fixed shooters
Single-player video games
Superior Software games
Video games developed in the United Kingdom