Gaplus

Namco
Industry	Video game development and publishing
Founded	June 1, 1955; 71 years ago
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Video games, including Gaplus

Gaplus is a fixed shooter arcade game developed by Namco and released in 1984 across Japan and Europe, with Midway Games managing its distribution in North America. It represents the third installment in the Galaxian series, directly following the 1981 title Galaga. In the North American market, a modification kit rebranded the game as Galaga 3 to emphasize its place within the series. Notably, it was among only two titles to utilize Namco's Phozon hardware. A Commodore 64 home version was made available in 1988, and a demake mimicking the Nintendo Entertainment System’s aesthetic appeared in the collection Namco Museum Archives Vol. 2.

Gameplay

The primary objective in Gaplus is to accumulate points by eliminating successive waves of enemies through stages known as "Parsecs". Its gameplay mechanics closely mirror those of Galaga: enemy formations appear near the screen’s upper section before launching kamikaze-style attacks. Unlike its predecessors, the player’s ship can move both horizontally and vertically. Extra lives are awarded upon reaching specific score thresholds or by gathering ship components dropped by adversaries, alongside bonus flags obtained from shooting stars. A life is forfeited if the player’s ship is struck by enemy fire or collides with foes; the game concludes once all lives are depleted.

Enemies provide various power-ups, including a tractor beam that allows players to capture enemies, a drill capable of destroying multiple targets simultaneously, enhancements that slow down opponents or nullify their projectiles, and parts used to assemble a new ship that grants an additional life. Certain levels introduce reversed star fields and accelerated enemy assaults before returning to standard conditions.

The game also reintroduces bonus "Challenging Stages" from Galaga, where the focus shifts from destruction to juggling enemies by repeatedly hitting them. Each successful hit adds a dot symbolized by a bee, which collectively forms words or phrases; completing these phrases rewards players with bonuses tied to the specific wording and grants extra points.

Reception

In May 1984, Game Machine listed Gaplus as the leading table arcade game in Japan.

Legacy

The original arcade edition of Gaplus was adapted for mobile phones on January 25, 2007, and included in Wii titles Namco Museum Remix (2007) and Namco Museum Megamix (2010), retaining its original name. It became available on the Wii Virtual Console on March 25, 2009. In 2011, an iOS release as part of the Galaga 30th Collection featured enhanced graphics, audio improvements, and achievement tracking.

In 2020, Bandai Namco introduced a demake version within the compilation Namco Museum Archives Vol. 2. Developed by M2, this edition replicates the visual style of the Nintendo Entertainment System, akin to the NES-inspired remake of Pac-Man Championship Edition found in Vol. 1.

External links

Comprehensive details on Gaplus (Japanese)