The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

GALAFORCE

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Shoot-'em-up

Author             : Kevin Edwards

Standalone Release(s)  : 1985: GALAFORCE, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

Compilation Release(s) : 1987: PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 2, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

                    1987: FIVE STAR GAMES 2, Beau Jolly, £9.95

                    1988: 10 COMPUTER HITS 4, Beau Jolly, £9.95

                    1989: GALAFORCE, Superior/Blue Ribbon, £2.99

Stated compatibility    : BBC Side A, Electron Side B

Actual compatibility    : Electron

Supplier            : SUPERIOR/ACORNSOFT

Disc compatibility     : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00

Instructions

"8-directional movement of the player's spaceship; fast and slow-speed bombs which home in when later zones are reached; keyboard and joystick control; self-play demo mode; high score table and superb atmospheric music."

"In the midst of the 25th century, the United Cosmological Federation declared war on the savage, belligerent aliens inhabiting the Magellanic galaxy. Only the most experienced of the U.C.F. pilots were chosen to embark upon the perilous mission of conquering and overthrowing the hordes of Magelian, the Galaforce."

The Galaforce aliens attack in precise preconceived formations with each zone comprising several such formations. You must pilot your spaceship carefully avoiding the aliens, or shooting them whenever possible. Some aliens have to be hit more than once to destroy them; the score for killing each type of alien and the number of hits required is shown in the Identity Parade of Aliens*. You have four spaceships and an extra spaceship is awarded if your score reaches 20,000 points.

Pilot's Briefing

In ZONE 1 (The Perimeter) you will encounter the following formations: (a) Quazars in Zig-Zag formations, (b) Maadis in a Criss-Cross formation (c) a Shower of Diones, (d) Deviants in U-Turn formations. This is a warning zone. If you keep to the edge of the zonal screen these aliens are quite harmless; but you should attack them - the Federation abhors cowardice.

ZONE 2 (The Spearhead) has Pateras and Planitias in Paired Loop formations - harmless if you keep to the centre. Also, Pateras appear with Quazars and Ejnars in a Multiplier formation. To complete this zone you must shoot these aliens.

ZONE 3 (The Offensive) you may find it useful to use vertical as well as horizontal movement. The Staircase and Big Dipper formations are used for the first time. From ZONE 4 onwards the aliens drop bombs towards you. At the end of ZONE 4, the aliens assemble into the inciting Deck of Cards formation. In ZONE 5 (The Annihilator) the aliens use the Switchback, Poisson and Corkscrew formations.

The Federation has not issued any official information about ZONE 6 or later zones. However, it is known that the dreaded snaker formation first occurs at ZONE 11, and it is reported that the aliens start to drop homing bombs in ZONE 14 (The Impossible).

Identity Parade Of Aliens*

Name            Points value          Hits Required

QUAZAR               20                      1

DIONE                20                      1

PATERA               40                      1

PLANTIA              40                      2

SERVITOR             60                      5

NEANDER              80                      2

EJNAR                20                      1

MAADI                20                      1

DEVIANT              40                      2

MINION               40                      5

NEXOD                60                      1

CALLISTON            80                      2

COZENAGE             80                     10

* Original inlay includes sketches of the aliens to accompany this data.

Game Controls

Z - Left,   X - Right,   * - Up,   ? - Down,   <RETURN> - Fire

<ESCAPE> - Exit from game,   <SPACE> - Start game

S - Sound on/off,   H - Halt on/off

K - Toggle joystick/keyboard,   J - Toggle joystick type: D = Digital, P = Plus 1

Standard joystick movements apply. The type of joystick interface is shown at the bottom of the screen. The digital interface recommended is First Byte.

Title Page Controls

C - Change colours

Press the "C" key on the title pages before restarting  the game. You can then change the three foreground colours to any colour except black by pressing the "1", "2" or "3"  keys.

Instructions' Source   : PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 2 (Superior) Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User) - "Gala Is A Force To Reckon With"

War has been declared upon the aliens of the Megellanic galaxy. As one of the federation's more experienced pilots you have been enlisted to fly with the elite Galaforce. Have you got what it takes to defeat the Magellan hordes single handed?

GALAFORCE is an arcade game which bears a strong resemblance to that classic ZALAGA - swirling clouds of aliens just begging to be zapped. ZALAGA owners should not be put off as the game has much more variety and the animation is fractionally better. Some very impressive music accompanies both the demo screen and the demise of your spacecraft. The graphics are a delight - all spacecraft are represented by huge colourful sprites with the action occurring against a twinkling starscape.

Control of your ship is via keyboard or joystick. Movement is possible horizontally, vertically and diagonally, though you are restricted to the bottom quarter of the screen. In practice only left, right and fire are necessary.

The game is divided into 48 separate zones, each consisting of six waves of aliens. Zone 1 serves to break you in gently - the aliens tend to give in without a fight. The end of zone 2 sees the arrival of the motherships. Close examination of the swarm of attacking aliens reveals that several of the little devils are releasing more fighters into the upper atmosphere! The destruction of these motherships must therefore be your main priority.

Zone 4 brings on the heavy brigade. Taking on a traditional space invaders formation a heavily armed bomber attacks you from behind a moving shield of other ships. Each of the defending ships must be hit five times before it is destroyed and the bomber must be struck ten times!

This seemingly impossible screen can be mastered with more than a little perseverance. You are then given time to recover as the next few screens are similar to those already encountered.

When being sent on such missions I like to know that my ship is capable of tackling anything the enemy can throw at me. The Galaforce spacecraft certainly lack nothing in the fire power department. Just hold down the fire button and admire the volley of electric death which soars skywards!

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!

Sound ........................... 8

Graphics ........................ 9

Playability .................... 10

Value for money ................. 9

Overall ......................... 9

Jon Revis, ELECTRON USER 4. 2