Galaga

Galaga is a fixed shooter, developed and published by Namco, first appearing in arcades in 1981.

In Galaga, you're at the controls of a starfighter tasked with defending the galaxy from waves of alien invaders. These aren't just stationary targets; the enemy forces in Galaga form intricate patterns and then break formation to dive-bomb your ship, firing projectiles as they come. Your primary job is to maneuver your fighter left and right along the bottom of the screen and blast them before they hit you.

A key feature of Galaga is the ability to get a double shot power-up, which significantly increases your firepower. You can even achieve a dual fighter by flying into the second fighter that sometimes appears, doubling your ship and its shots. This dual fighter state is crucial for clearing out tough waves.

Another memorable mechanic in Galaga involves the Boss Galaga enemies. These larger ships can use a tractor beam to capture your fighter. If your fighter is captured, you get a chance to shoot it down when it's used by the enemy to attack you. Successfully destroying the captured ship then allows you to rescue it, and your ship will return to fly alongside your main fighter, creating that powerful dual fighter formation.