Critical Mass is a Galaxian remake. It provides some extra configuration settings like allowing vertical movement of your ship and setting the difficulty level.

DOWNLOAD: http://criticalmass.sourceforge.net/critter.php
OS: Windows, Mac, Linux

We can never have enough Galaxian games in our collection, so here’s another Galaxian-like game from Minionsoft called Phoenix.

This fast-paced game has similar features as Galaxian, but it provides a shield option, which comes in handy when those low-flying aliens fire a hailstorm of missiles on your ship. The shield can be activated with the right control key; although, this can be mapped to a more convenient key (thankfully!) in the options. When the temporary shield is activated, you can’t move but you can fire. Fun game to carry on your flash drive that will take up about 22 MB.

MegaFenix Reloaded is based on the 1991 game called MegaPhoenix from Dynamic. The game looks a bit like Galaxian, so of course it has to be fun!

It’s portable, but it’s a bit big at 55MB. Great graphics and lots up power-ups. What’s different than traditional Galaxian is that if you get hit, you get damage points, which you have to rack up to actually loose a life. Here’s a screenshot:

Everybody knows you can’t have enough Galaxian games in your collection!

I’ve already featured a few on this blog, such as the king of all Galaxian remakes: Minionsoft’s Galaxian and an excellent creative twist on Galaxian called Carax. And now…there’s another remake!

The RetroRemakes blog pointed out a brand spanking new Galaxian game from acoders.com called…Galaxian 2007! Classic Galaxian game play, cool arcade sounds and with some cool power-ups additions…if you can catch them! One gives you a shield, another one gives you a three-way shot and the others I’m not sure; those power-ups are evasive!

Windows only and 1.1 MB.

Well, this blog has been running for one year! I thought it might be good to put together a top 10 list of the best games I’ve reviewed, or at least my personal favorites. Feel free to give your own opinions! Here they are, in no particular order:

• 1. Galaxian
• 2. BurgerTime!
• 3. Aztec Challenge
• 4. Jumpman
• 5. LightCycle 3D
• 6. Space Invaders 2D/3D
• 7. Typhoon 2001
• 8. Chicken Invaders
• 9. Pac Man
• 10. Plasma Pong

I came across another excellent Galaxian remake called Carax. Like any Galaxian game, it keeps the adrenaline pumping and it has some new twists too! What’s neat with this version is that it’s a timed attack: you shoot as many Galaxians as you can during this time; every time you die, you loose 10 seconds but get to keep playing.

As if that isn’t enough to stress you out, the kamikaze Galaxians also launch a whole bunch cruise missiles while attacking, so you not only have to dodge the ships but also the missiles.

Also different from the classic Galaxian is that you get to move your ship vertically too, which is really helpful when trying to outmaneuver those crazy ships and missiles. In classic Galaxian, you only could shoot one shot at a time but with this version, there are no such limits – shoot as much as you can!

The graphics are excellent and surprisingly, this great game is only 1.35 MB!

I can’t seem to stop playing Galaxian! Here are a few more portable Galaxian games:

Glaxium
This is a Windows and Linux 3D game. It’s almost like a Skyroads mixed with Galaxian and it’s really good.

Online Galaxian Flash Games

Galaxian – easy version
This is a good training game for Galaxian; I was able to get through the third level on the first try. It’s much slower and the kamikaze ships don’t appear through the first three levels; I don’t know if they appear at all.

Galaxian and Galaga – faithful remakes
These are really good remakes! The Galaxian game was the best Flash version I tested.

And don’t forget, you can play Galaxian on many different emulators. Here’s a ColecoVision emulator that includes a game pack with Galaxian.

My favorite portable Galaxian is still Minionsoft’s Galaxian!

If you want to learn more about the game and its history, visit The Unofficial Galaxian Homepage.

If you really like Space Invaders but sometimes wish those aliens would move a bit faster in the first few levels, it might be a good time to try out Galaxian, especially this portable Galaxian remake from MinionSoft(Select Arcade from the menu on the left).

This game will keep you on your toes! First of all, these speedy aliens are seriously intent on invasion and are well prepared with plenty of ammunition to spare. Adding to the challenge is the lack of cover – there’s no hiding from aliens in this game! Although, if you need a very quick breather, you can sneak over to the extreme left and right of the screen where alien firepower can’t reach, but make it quick: the aliens are moving in fast!

If that wasn’t enough challenge, the aliens don’t all stay fixed in their swarm pack as in Space Invaders. You have continuous assaults from fighters leaving the pack and moving in close challenging you to out-maneuver not only falling bombs from the swarm but also these wild flyers. The starry background scrolls vertically too, adding to all that action.