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Galaga 3

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Gaplus (ギャプラス Gyapurasu) is a fixed shooter arcade game that was released by Namco in 1984. It was the only other game to run on Namco Phozon hardware, and in the US, a modification kit was later released to change the name to Galaga 3, possibly to increase recognition among fans of the games eve...

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Developer
Namco

Released on
1984

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
Bally Midway

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Gaplus (ギャプラス Gyapurasu) is a fixed shooter arcade game that was released by Namco in 1984. It was the only other game to run on Namco Phozon hardware, and in the US, a modification kit was later released to change the name to Galaga 3, possibly to increase recognition among fans of the games even though there was no “Galaga 2”.
Gaplus is a sequel to Galaga and has similar gameplay. The player controls a spaceship, that can now move vertically (limited to halfway up the screen, much like Atari’s Centipede) as well as horizontally, and shoots at swarms of incoming insect-like aliens which fly in formation above it and swoop down to attack it in a kamikaze-like dive. In this sequel, the level starts over if the player gets killed before all the enemies have come in. When all enemies are killed, the player moves on to the next level. By obtaining certain powerups, it is possible to shoot sixty bullets per screen, the most any Galaxian-related game has.

Galaga 3

Overview & History

Released by Namco in 1984 as the official sequel to the legendary *Galaga*, *Galaga 3*—later rebranded globally as *Gaplus*—brought a vibrant, cosmic evolution to the fixed-shooter genre. While its predecessors focused strictly on defensive positioning against descending insectoid armadas, *Gaplus* injected aggressive new mechanics, a quirky sci-fi narrative involving the galactic hero "Goodman" combating the returning Zolgear empire, and a distinctly colorful aesthetic. Though it didn't completely eclipse the cultural footprint of the original *Galaga*, it remains a cult-classic arcade marvel celebrated for its deeper tactical layers and humorous interstitial bonus stages.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core gameplay loop retains the fixed-screen shooting foundation, but introduces a groundbreaking addition: the Tractor Beam. Unlike the enemy tractor beam that captured your ship in earlier titles, Goodman can now fire an extended beam *upward* to snag enemy aliens mid-flight, converting them into temporary sidekicks that augment your firepower. Players progress through star systems, encountering varied formations that swoop, dive, and morph across the CRT screen. The game also features "Challenging Stages" where enemies dance across the grid in rhythmic patterns, offering bonus points if you manage a 100% extermination rate. Weapon power-ups can be collected by capturing specific flagship commanders, vastly increasing your plasma spread to obliterate tougher bosses.