Format: HuCard
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Namco
Publisher: NEC

The entire Galaxian series is known for its colorful and distinctive art style. Nominally a hostile invading force, the alien ships look more like endearing creatures. Galaga '90 continues the series trend, and even plays up the playful aesthetic with sequences where the enemies do jitterbug dancing set to music. Scrolling backgrounds and an awesome star blurring effect complete the presentation.

The "pew pew" aural premise is back once again, and it works just as well here as it did in the previous series entries. Sound effects are distinctive and lend the game its own identity. Music, such as during the "galactic dancing" and game over sequences, is well composed and makes full use of the PC Engine's sound chip.

Where Gaplus went experimental, with vertical ship movement and plethora of bizarre Easter eggs that became central to the gameplay, Galaga '90 returns to the core formula, and executes it masterfully; you can join not just two, but three ships, and there is an excellent "dimensional travel" mechanic, where the player can choose their own difficuly level in pursuit of ever higher scores.

If Galaxian and Galaga were great games, then Galaga '90 is a total masterpiece, the epitome of the fixed shooter genre. From the minute the player sees his ship take off from a star base, and hears the incredible remixed Galaga theme song, the game continually assaults with amazing new mechanics, phenomenal stage designs, and awesome graphical effects. As for the port job, the result is phenomenally well done, and gives the PC Engine one of its finest games.