Galaxian (universe)

Galaxian (universe)
Developer(s)	Namco Various
Publisher(s)	Namco Midway Various
Genre(s)	Shooter
Console/platform of origin	Arcade
First installment	Galaxian (1979)
Latest installment	Galaga Revenge (2019)

The Galaxian universe (ギャラクシアン, Galaxian) is a series of famous fixed shooters developed by Namco. The series revolves around the player in a spaceship who must shoot all of the enemies of an alien swarm. The second game in the series, Galaga, is among the most successful arcade games of all time.

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Various elements from Galaxian appear in Super Smash Bros. 4, most notably the Boss Galaga item.

Item

• Boss Galaga: The strongest enemies in Galaga appear as an item. When used, it will fly to the top of the screen (dealing a small amount of damage to anyone it collides with), then fly in formation as it did in its home series. After such, it will dive down and home in on the targeted player's last known position and fire its tractor beam. A character caught by its tractor beam will be taken to the top of the screen and over the upper blast line while 8-bit sound effects from the original Galaga plays: this can be avoided by mashing buttons to escape. The tractor beam can only catch fighters a few moments after being fired; anyone near the beam after that will not be affected.

Music

• The start music from Galaga appears in Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 1.

Cameo

• The Galaxip from Galaxian, the fighter from Galaga, and the secret Hypership from Gaplus all cameo in Namco Roulette. Additionally, the boss Galaxian appears in Bonus Fruit in reference to its cameo in Pac-Man in that purpose. Pac-Man's grab animation also has him shooting out the same tractor beam as the Boss Galaga.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Item

• The Boss Galaga keeps its function from SSB4. Additionally, when a character gets caught the background of the stage changes into a spacescape reminiscent of the original Galaga game.

Music

• Galaga Medley, a remix of music and sound effects from the game.

Cameo

The Boss Galaxian "fruit" and tractor beam both reappear as part of Pac-Man's moveset, as do the three Namco Roulette cameos.

Spirit

Boss Galaga also appears as a spirit.

No.	Image	Name	Type	Class	Cost	Ability
1,292		Boss Galaga		★★	1	Bury Immunity

Games with elements appearing in the Super Smash Bros. series

Galaxian

• Playable Character:
  • The Galaxip is one of the cameos in Namco Roulette.
  • The Boss Galaxian appears in Bonus Fruit in reference to its cameo in Pac-Man.

Galaga

• Playable Character:
  • Pac-Man's grab animation has him shooting out the same tractor beam as the Boss Galaga.
  • The Fighter from this game is one of the cameos in Namco Roulette.
• Item:
  • Boss Galaga appears as an item.
  • When a character gets caught by Boss Galaga, the background of the stage changes into a spacescape reminiscent of this game.
• Music
  • Namco Arcade '80s Retro Medley 1: The startup music from this game appears in this track.
  • Galaga Medley: a remix of music and sound effects from this game.

Gaplus

• Playable Character:
  • The secret Hypership is one of the cameos in Namco Roulette.

Trivia

• With Galaxian's release in 1979, it is the oldest Namco property represented in Smash, predating Pac-Man.
  • It is also one of only three properties represented in Smash to debut in the '70s, the others being Color TV-Game and Sheriff.
  • Furthermore, it is the only one of those three to be a third-party property, making it the oldest third-party represented series as a result.