ARCADE WATCH

Keeping an eye on the coin-op gaming scene

Game Galaga Assault Manufacturer Bandai Namco

Galaga’s swirling waves of insectoid enemies are preparing to make another run at players in a new version of the 34-yearold Galaxian sequel. Galaga

Assault is another retro-focused collaboration between Bandai Namco and Big Buck creator Raw Thrills following 2013’s Pac-Man

Chomp Mania. Like that game, Assault is a ticket redemption cabinet, handing out paper rewards in exchange for points.

The gaudy green-and-purple cab sticks with a classic upright design and is built around a 1080p, portrait-oriented 42-inch LCD screen, itself surrounded by a colourful LED bezel. This modern exterior encases an updated, shortform take on the 1981 version that splits each session into two stages. The first stage pits you against 100 enemies, which you can destroy or avoid in standard fashion, but survive this and you’ll be warped to a mothership round to fight the boss, the destruction of which nets you the game’s jackpot.

There are other new features, too. The cabinet makes use of QR scanning – something other Raw Thrills cabinets use to track high scores – and there will be the option to buy more ships if your long-dormant piloting skills don’t come back to you straight away. The cabinet can also be switched to ‘Amusement Mode’, presumably for those who have no interest in gathering up piles of tickets and trading them in for novelty pencil erasers and chewy sweets. The game doesn’t have an official release date right now, but expect more details to emerge at IAAPA 2015.