Galactic Attack

n/a

NTSC-U/PAL NTSC-J
Galactic Attack
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Acclaim Entertainment (US, Europe), Taito (Japan)
Developer: Ving
Distributor: Arcadia Software (ES), Ecofilmes (PT) Roadshow New Media (AU)
Licensor: Taito
Original system(s): Taito F3 System
Developer(s) of original games: Taito
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (17 tracks)
Genre: Shooting
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1995-09-14 ¥5,800 (5,974)5,800e T-1101G JP (Satakore) 1997-04-25 ¥2,8002,800 T-1112G US 1995-11-29 T-8116H EU 1996-02 T-8116H-50 DE 1996-02 T-8116H-50 PT 1996 STJAK0102 UK 1996-02 £44.9944.99 T-8116H-50 PL 1996
Non-Sega versions Arcade Windows PC

Galactic Attack, known as Layer Section (レイヤーセクション) in Japan, is a shoot-'em-up published by Acclaim (US and Europe) or Taito (Japan) for the Sega Saturn. It is the home conversion of Taito's 1993 arcade game RayForce, otherwise known as Gunlock, ported by Ving.

The game can be played both in standard mode and "tate" mode, which requires the display to be rotated by 90°. Some scaling and scrolling background effects can be only seen in tate mode.

Gameplay

Galactic Attack is a vertical shoot-'em-up with a "space shooter" theme. The player is equipped with two basic weapons, and nothing else:

• A standard shot which fires straight forwards when is held, which can be powered up by collecting red and yellow items. While the game's outfire is alread very fast (presumeable a 1/15 frequency), a higher firing rate can be acchived by turning off the game's default autofire and using an autofire device.
• A"Lock On Laser", which is used to target enemies in the background. A cursor in front of the player's ship automatically targets enemies up to a certain number, then pressing fires missiles which destroy or damage all the targets simultaneously. The original maximum amount of targets is five, but this can be increased to eight by collecting blue-green slabs with an "L" on them. The higher the amount of locked on enemies, the higher the score bonus.

History

Sequels and re-releases

A Layer Section II was later released for Saturn; this is a port of the sequel to RayForce, RayStorm. The use of PlayStation-esque hardware also compelled a port to that platform, under the original RayStorm name.

In 2022, the Saturn version of the game received a re-release by City Connection called Layer Section & Galactic Attack S-Tribute for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam.

Versions

• Compared to the Arcade release, the music has been slightly altered and the graphics have been recolored at bit. The latters has probably been performed to make the game more suitable for displays used for home consoles
• Bonus lives are given out at 500000 and 1000000 points rather than 1000000 and 2000000 points
• According to Japanese BBS talk, the ported version is a bit easier than the Arcade counterpart, but no hard data has been presented
• The reason for the name has been changed from RayForce to Layer Section is due to trademark issues.

Localised names

Also known as

Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	Galactic Attack	Galactic Attack
English (US)	Galactic Attack	Galactic Attack
Japanese	レイヤーセクション	Layer Section

Comparisons

Main article: Galactic Attack/Comparisons.

Production credits

• Producer: Yukio Abe
• Director: Yukio Abe, Tatsuo Nakamura
• Game Design: Tatsuo Nakamura, Yukio Abe, Tomohisa Yamashita
• Software: Tatsuo Nakamura, Shinji Soyano, Hikaru Taniguchi, Masao Kashino, Isao Ooyama
• Character Graphics: Hideyuki Kato, Tomohisa Yamashita, Takayuki Isobe, Shinjirou Sugitani, Hiroyo Kujirai, Yasuhiro Noguchi
• Screen Graphics: Hideyuki Kato, V.A.P, Peacock
• Music & Sound Effects: Tamayo (Zuntata)
• Sound Effects: Mu-Nakanishi (Zuntata)
• Sound Direction: Tono (Zuntata)
• Design Works: Kyoko Umezu
• Hardware: Katsumi Kaneoka
• Special Thanks: Yoshihisa Nagata, Yuji Iwasaki, Toshiaki Matsumoto, Takatsuna Senba, Takamasa Hori, VG Tokyo Lab., VG Osaka Lab., And, All Kumagaya Staff

Saturn's Staff

• Producer: Takeo Shirasaka
• Program: T.Kuribayashi (Ving), H.Iso (Ving), S.Morikawa (Ving)
• Sound Director: Tamayo (Zuntata), Mu-Nakanishi (Zuntata)
• Title Logo Design: Toshiki Sakai, J.Takemoto (Ving)
• Special Thanks: Yosio Imamura, Norio Ichinohe, Masaki Yagi, Youichirou Kugimiya, Kiyoshi Watanabe, VG Kumagaya All Staff

Taito®

©Taito Corporation 1995

All Rights Reserved

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Galactic Attack/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

JP flyer

Print advert in Tips & Tricks (US) #11: "Volume III, Issue 1: January 1996" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Fusion (US) #0106: "Volume 1, Number 6: January 1996" (199x-xx-xx)

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #170: "January 1996" (1995-12-10)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score CD Consoles (FR) 40 CD Consoles (FR) 20 Consoles + (FR) 95 Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC-J 86 Edge (UK) NTSC-J 70 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 80 Fun Generation (DE) 70 GameFan (US) NTSC-J 87 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 80 Hobby Consolas (ES) 79 MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J 71 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 71 Maximum (UK) 50 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 72 Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J 60 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 75 Player One (FR) 91 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 81 Saturn+ (UK) PAL 72 Sega Magazin (DE) PAL 84 Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J 79 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC 77 Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL 79 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 87 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 91 Última Generación (ES) 78 Video Games (DE) NTSC-J 62

	74
Based on 27 reviews

Galactic Attack

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc Manual

Saturn, JP (Satakore)
Cover
Manual

Saturn, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Saturn, EU
Cover
Disc

Saturn, PT
Cover
Disc

Technical information

Main article: Galactic Attack/Technical information.