Galaga

Codes, Secrets, Hints for game Galaga

Passwords

1. Unlimited lives C64

   Load or reset the game, then execute the following BASIC command before running or restarting the program.

   Effect	Password
   Unlimited lives	POKE 17388,173

Easter Eggs

1. Stop Enemies from Firing ARC

   On most revisions of Galaga, there's a trick that stops enemies from firing at your ship. In Stage 1, kill all aliens except the two bees in the bottom-left corner. Allow the bees to dive down and shoot at you, while dodging their shots. After around 15 minutes or so, the bees will continue to drop down, but they won't fire. Let them drop down another 5 or 6 times, then kill them. After all this, enemies will not shoot at you for the rest of the game.

Secrets

1. Double Ships ARC

   Wait until one of the top ships(the green ones that take two shots to kill) comes down and fires off a tractor beam(the beam that can capture your ship). Let it capture your ship. Now, wait until it swoops down again with your ship behind it. Simply kill the head ship(the green one), and it will lose your ship. Your ship will then lock on to the side of your current ship, giving you two ships to play with at the same time! Now, be careful. Not only will both ships be firing at you after your ship gets captured, but if you accidently shoot your captured ship, you'll destroy it. Also note, this will cost you one life, but will definately make the Challenging Stages, and perhaps the game itself, a little easier to play.

   Note: This works in all non-bootleg/hack versions of Galaga, as well as most of the sequels and Arranged Mode in Namco Classic Collection Vol. 1.

2. Double-Fire Ship (or 1,000 Points) MSX 2600

   This trick concerns the Galaga enemies at the top of the screen - they normally only arrive in quantities or four and are the only enemies able to take two hits, switching to blue after the first. One of their attacks - which won't occur if too few (2~5) enemies are left - is to use a tractor beam to get your ship. This initially causes a loss of life, implying this is bad. Actually, this is good - if you shoot down the Galaga that took your ship while it is diving for another attack, then you will be able to recapture that ship and fire two missiles at once, and take two hits before another loss of life. (If you shoot the ship, it gives you a bonus 1,000 points instead. You can shoot the ship at any time. Just note that if you hit the Galaga while it's not actively moving, then the ship will attack you!)

3. Double-Fire Ship (or 1,000 Points) 7800 NES FDS

   This trick concerns the Galaga enemies at the top of the screen - they normally only arrive in quantities or four and are the only enemies able to take two hits, switching to blue after the first. One of their attacks - which won't occur if too few (2~5) enemies are left - is to use a tractor beam to get your ship. This initially causes a loss of life, implying this is bad. Actually, this is good - if you shoot down the Galaga that took your ship while it is diving for another attack, then you will be able to recapture that ship and fire two missiles at once, and take two hits before another loss of life. (If you shoot the ship, it gives you a bonus 1,000 points instead. You can shoot the ship at any time. Just note that if you hit the Galaga while it's not actively moving, then the ship will attack you!)

4. Invoke the System Check ARC

   When a game session is not active and the game is just running through the demo, at the exact moment that a Galaga releases its tractor beam to try and take up your ship, try to move the ship out of the way. If done correctly, you'll be able to control the ship for a short while - without even inserting a coin - until, eventually, the system check screen appears.