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Galaxy Force

From Sega Retro

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Galaxy Force
System(s): Sega Y Board, Sega Master System
Publisher:
Arcade
Sega,
Sega Master System
Activision (US), Sega (EU)
Developer:
Peripherals supported:
Sega Master System
FM Sound Unit
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up






























Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (Y Board)
JP 		¥? ?
Arcade (Y Board)
US 		$? ?
Arcade (Y Board)
UK 		£? ?
















Sega Master System
US 		$? ?
Sega Master System
UK 		£27.95[3] 29001
Sega Master System
FR 		?F 29001
Sega Master System
DE 		DM ? 29001
Sega Master System
ES 		?Ptas 29001
Sega Master System
BR 		R$? ?



Galaxy Force (ギャラクシーフォース) is a 1988 arcade game developed by Sega AM2 for Sega Y Board hardware. It is similar to other games released by the company at around this time (After Burner, Thunder Blade), being a third-person on-the-rails shooter reliant on sprite scaling effects.

Gameplay

In its original form, Galaxy Force is a four-level rail shooter in which you fly across various planets shooting enemies. Roughly two months after release, however, it was updated in the form of Galaxy Force II - a bug-fixed version of the game with extra levels. The vast majority of Galaxy Force cabinets were upgraded, and Galaxy Force II is often seen as the "definitive" version of the game, finding the original Galaxy Force is extremely difficult. It is also very rarely mentioned by Sega - Galaxy Force II almost always gets priority.

Versions

Galaxy Force II has been brought to several systems, but the original Galaxy Force was only ported to the Sega Master System, where it arrived in 1989. Though built by Sega, Activision handled distribution in the US, and though not released in Japan, it has an FM sound track intended for use with the Japanese-only FM Sound Unit.

The Master System Galaxy Force makes a number of significant cutbacks, including the scrapping of an entire stage and the energy meter, which in turn removes the time limit. Rotational effects have been removed entirely, and scaling is simplified, with much of the scenery removed in favour of waves of enemies. The net result is a game that plays more like the earlier Space Harrier, though is significantly shorter.

Production credits

Master System version

  • Co Producer and Co Coordinator: K.Muura
  • Coordinator: K.Yama
  • Designer: Y.Sadamony
  • Sound: K.Tukaara
  • Assistant Programmer: S.Fujida, M.Sakada, M.Yamamo
  • Assistant Designer: N.Ichikuwa, Y.Yamakuchi, T.Kawakuchi, K.Sasake
  • Programmer and Executive Producer: K.Tany
  • Presented by: Sega


Magazine articles

Main article: Galaxy Force/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Sega Y Board version

GalaxyForce Arcade US Flyer.pdf

PDF
US flyer

GalaxyForce Arcade JP Flyer.pdf

PDF
JP flyer

Master System version

VG&CE US 11.pdf

PDF
Print advert in VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) #11: "December 1989" (1989-xx-xx)

CVG UK 097.pdf

PDF
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #97: "December 1989" (1989-11-16)
also published in:
  • Computer & Video Games (UK) #98: "January 1990" (1989-12-16)[4]

Photo gallery

  • Cabinet

Physical scans

Sega Y Board version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 №59, p93
100 №78, p74/75[5]
Arcade
 90
Based on
2 reviews

Y Board, US
GalaxyForce YBoard US Manual.pdf
Manual
Y Board, JP

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
82 №22, p57[6]
91 №1, p56[7]
91 №4, p96[8]
91 №1, p56Media:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf[9]
85 №0, p58-60
90 №92, p92/93[10]
58 №2, p14[11]
60 More...[12]
75 №2, p69[13]
28 №2, p39[14]
85 №8, p72-74[15]
85 №1, p133[16]
32 №7/89, p53[17]
87 №3, p12/13[18]
80 №23, p56
89 №3, p18[19]
79
60 №67
Sega Master System
 75
Based on
18 reviews

Master System, US
GalaxyForce SMS US Box.jpg
Cover
GalaxyForce SMS US Cart.jpg
Cart
Galaxyforce sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
GalaxyForce SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
® variant
GalaxyForce SMS EU R cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, BR
GalaxyForce SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
GalaxyForce SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
GalaxyForceSMSBrManual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 A4AC35D8
MD5 96042C7A53DC6F9DE13B7A32FA3E4035
SHA-1 54FE2F686FB9EC3E34B41D58778118B11F920440
512kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 6C827520
MD5 DBAAC7C72EB3E0BF9E6D70B799D62799
SHA-1 874289A1E8110312DB48C5111FBF8E70B2426B5F
512kB Cartridge (US)

References

  1. ↑ https://sega-interactive.co.jp/special/history/title/galaxyforce.html
  2. ↑ http://www.solvalou.com/subpage/arcade_reviews/270/145/galaxy_force_review.html
  3. ↑ File:CVG UK 097.pdf, page 36
  4. ↑ File:CVG UK 098.pdf, page 115
  5. ↑ File:SinclairUser UK 078.pdf, page 74
  6. ↑ File:ACE UK 22.pdf, page 57
  7. ↑ File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf, page 56
  8. ↑ File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 96
  9. ↑ File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf, page 56
  10. ↑ File:CVG UK 092.pdf, page 92
  11. ↑ File:EGM US 002.pdf, page 14
  12. ↑ The Games Machine, "September 1989" (UK; 1989-08-18), page 97
  13. ↑ File:HobbyConsolas ES 002.pdf, page 69
  14. ↑ File:Joystick FR 002.pdf, page 39
  15. ↑ File:MeanMachines UK 08.pdf, page 72
  16. ↑ File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf, page 133
  17. ↑ File:PowerPlay DE 016.pdf, page 53
  18. ↑ File:StheSegaMagazine UK 03.pdf, page 12
  19. ↑ File:SegaPro UK 03.pdf, page 18


Games in the Galaxy Force Series
Galaxy Force (1988) | Galaxy Force II (1988) | Sega Ages Galaxy Force II (1998) | Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 30: Galaxy Force II: Special Extended Edition (2007) | 3D Galaxy Force II (2013)
Galaxy Force related media
Music
 Galaxy Force (album) (1988) | Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade Original Sound Track (2007) | Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade (2017)
Film
 Galaxy Force (video) (1988)
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