Difference between revisions of "Galaxy Force II"

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==Production credits==
 
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*'''Graphics by:''' Kevin Bulmer.
 
*'''Graphics by:''' Kevin Bulmer.
 
*'''Music by:''' [[Uncle Art]].
 
*'''Music by:''' [[Uncle Art]].
−
*A [[Software Studios]] Production.<br>
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*A [[Software Studios]] Production.
 
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A [[Software Studios]] Production.<br>
 
A [[Software Studios]] Production.<br>
 
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Revision as of 15:36, 26 October 2018

n/a

Galaxy Force 2 Title.png

Galaxy Force II
System(s): Sega Y Board, Sega Mega Drive, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, FM Towns Marty, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher: Sega,
Sega Mega Drive
CRI (JP), Sega (US/EU),
FM Towns/FM Towns Marty
CRI,
Commodore 64
Atari ST
Amiga
Activision
Developer:
Peripherals supported:
Sega Mega Drive
XE-1 AP
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (Y Board)
JP		 ¥? ?
Arcade (Y Board)
US		 $? ?
Arcade (Y Board)
UK		 £? ?


























Amiga
UK 		£24.9924.99[3]
Atari ST
UK 		£24.9924.99[3]
Amstrad CPC
UK
(Cassette) 		£9.999.99[3]
Amstrad CPC
UK
(Disk) 		£14.9914.99[3]
Commodore 64
UK
(Cassette) 		£9.999.99[3]
Commodore 64
UK
(Disk) 		£14.9914.99[3]
ZX Spectrum
UK
(Cassette) 		£9.999.99[3]
ZX Spectrum
UK
(Disk) 		£14.9914.99[3]
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥8,4008,400 T-68013
Sega Mega Drive
US
Sega Mega Drive
EU
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
CA
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Wii Virtual Console
JP ▼ 		600pts600[8]
Wii Virtual Console
US ▼ 		800pts800[9]
Wii Virtual Console
EU ▼ 		800pts800[10]
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Galaxy Force II (ギャラクシーフォースII) is a 1988 arcade game developed by Sega. It is an update to Galaxy Force, similarly to After Burner II. It is a third person on-the-rails shoot 'em up, where the player controls a spaceship traveling across various planets destroying enemies. Like all Sega Y Board games, it is heavily reliant on sprite scaling and rotations to produce three-dimensional graphics.

Gameplay

Galaxy Force II adds two extra "Scenes", allows you choose the first five Scenes in any order, and addresses a number of bugs.

Levels

GalaxyForce Arcade Stage1.png

Scene A/Level 1: Junos

GalaxyForce Arcade Stage2.png

Scene B/Level 2: Velteor

GalaxyForce Arcade Stage3.png

Scene C/Level 3: Malkland

GalaxyForce Arcade Stage4.png

Scene D/Level 4: Orthea

GalaxyForce Arcade Stage5.png

Scene E/Level 5: Ashutar

GalaxyForce Arcade Stage6.png

Scene F/Level 6: Hyperspace
Hyperspace can only be accessed once the previous five levels are complete. In the arcade version of Galaxy Force II, if you die on this level, the game is over — on previous levels you have the option to continue (except in the Japanese version), but this one will send you back to the title screen regardless of how many credits you have.

History

Legacy

Galaxy Force II was ported to the Sega Mega Drive in 1991, and a selection of computers including the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. Due to the inferior hardware of these systems, large cutbacks were made regarding detail and the reception has hence been mixed. There was a more respectable port to the FM Towns Marty in Japan however, which kept the sprite scaling, and there was a re-release for the Sega Saturn under the Sega Ages label. Many of the computer releases mis-label the packaging as "Galaxy Force" rather than "Galaxy Force II", but the in-game title screens retain the numbering. A port to NEC's SuperGrafx was also in development and shown in magazines, but never completed.

Sequels and re-releases

The arcade game has since been re-released in Japan as part of the PlayStation 2's Sega Ages 2500 series. More recently, the Mega Drive version of the game was brought to the Wii's Virtual Console service.

Updated versions of the game have been released, including Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 30: Galaxy Force II: Special Extended Edition for the PlayStation 2 in 2007 and 3D Galaxy Force II for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013.

Versions

In its original form, Galaxy Force II was designed to make maximum use of the Sega Y Board hardware, capable of rending vast amounts of sprites at 60FPS, all scaled and rotated natively by the hardware. At the time of release, no home consoles or computers could match this raw processing power, leading to significant downgrades in graphical quality.

A 1990 port to the FM Towns computer, then a relatively high-end Japanese-only machine was for many years the closest home conversion, retaining the majority of the arcade game's features but running at a lower resolution and frame rate. Fewer sprites are rendered on-screen (and rotations/scaling are estimated) causing noticable "pop-in" in places, however the release came with a remixed CD audio soundtrack exclusive to this version of the game.

The Sega Mega Drive version is the most widespread, having landed on the system in September 1991 before being included in several Mega Drive compilations and the Wii's Virtual Console service. On the Mega Drive, Galaxy Force II's frame rate is cut even more (leading to an artifically longer play time) and sprite rotation is entirely eliminated. Scaling, like many X and Y Board arcade conversions, relies on pre-rendered sprites of differing sizes being swapped in and out at runtime, leading to a "jerky" look. The slower pace of play compared to OutRun or After Burner and the more 3D-esque playfield exacerbates these concerns.

Interiors and textured surfaces (such as the lava in level 2) are simplified, becoming flat colours attempting to simulate movement in a similar manner to OutRun's road. Transitions between outside and inside portions of levels are removed, usually in favour of fade-ins/outs and black screens.

In the West, home computer ports were published by Activision, and all both drop the rotation effects and simplify the scaling in a similar manner to the Mega Drive. The Amiga and Atari ST versions are similar in nature to the Mega Drive, but run in a smaller window and are generally less responsive. Unlike their console counterpart, however, interior walls are textured (though floors and ceilings are still not). ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC ports take further cuts to resolution, colour counts and frame rates, resulting in ports more akin to the earlier Space Harrier than Galaxy Force.

The Commodore 64 resembles the arcade version the least, with very choppy scaling and busy graphics, making it difficult to judge what is going on.

Production credits

Y Board version


Mega Drive version


Amiga version

  • Manufactured under license from Sega Enterprises Ltd. Japan
  • Galaxy Force & Sega are trademarks of Sega Enterprises Ltd.
  • Code by: Bill Allen.
  • Graphics by: Kevin Bulmer.
  • Music by: Uncle Art.
  • A Software Studios Production.


Commodore 64 version

A Software Studio Production


ZX Spectrum version

  • Code by: Keith Burkhill
  • Graphics by: Focus C.E. Ltd
  • Music by: Paul Hiley

A Software Studios Production.

Digital manuals

  • Steam manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Galaxy Force II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Galaxy Force II/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Y Board version

Y Board, US
Y Board, JP

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
68 №1991-10, p34[13]
68 №, p85[14]
37 №3, p86/87[15]
49 №121, p63[16]
53 №144, [1]
30 №1991-10, p90
58 №10, p104[17]
58 №2
58 №21, p188[18]
30 №5, p92
31 №9, p20
59 №15, p146/147[19]
45 №33, p37
47 №1, p65[20]
20 №18, p65
56 №7, p56[5]
86 №12, p37[6]
Sega Mega Drive
 50
Based on
17 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
20
[21]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
68
[22]
Consoles + (FR)
37
[23]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
40
[24]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
49
[16]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
51
[25]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
53
[26]
Game Informer (US)
65
[27]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
30
[28]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
58
[29]
Joker (SI)
35
[30]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
58
[31]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
58
[18]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
30
[32]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
62
[33]
Mega (UK) PAL
31
[34]
Mega Force (FR)
55
[35]
Mean Machines (UK)
59
[19]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
59
[36]
Play Time (DE)
39
[37]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
45
[38]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
47
[20]
Sega Pro (UK)
47
[39]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
20
[40]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
56
[5]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
68
[41]
Supergame (BR)
86
[6]
Super Gaming (US)
43
[42]
Supersonic (FR)
58
[43]
Tilt (FR)
65
[44]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
10
[45]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
70
[46]
Video Games (DE)
29
[47]
Sega Mega Drive
 49
Based on
33 reviews

Galaxy Force II

Mega Drive, US
Galaxy Force 2 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Galaxy Force 2 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Galaxyforceii md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Galaxy Force 2 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
GalaxyForceII MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Galforceii md jp cover.jpg
Cover
GalaxyForceII MD JP CartTop.jpg
Galforceii md jp cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
GalaxyForceII MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
GalaxyForceII MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, CA
GalaxyForceII MD CA Box.jpg
Cover

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
36 №5, p80[48]
69 №1990-01, p22[49]
80 №76, p37[50]
78 №26, p28/29[51]
Amiga
 66
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Amiga Action (UK)
36
[48]
Amiga Format (UK)
47
[52]
Amiga Joker (DE)
69
[49]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
33
[53]
Commodore User (UK)
80
[50]
The Games Machine (UK)
78
[51]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
50
[54]
Power Play (DE)
43
[55]
Amiga
 55
Based on
8 reviews

Galaxy Force II

Amiga, UK
GalaxyForceII Amiga EU Box Front.jpg
Cover

Amstrad CPC version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
70 №1, p112/113[56]
Amstrad CPC
 70
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
53
[57]
Joystick (FR)
70
[56]
Amstrad CPC
 62
Based on
2 reviews

Galaxy Force II

Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette)

Amstrad CPC, UK (disk)
GalaxyForce2 CPC EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngGalaxyForce2 CPC EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Amstrad CPC, ES (cassette) (MCM)

Amstrad CPC, ES (disk) (MCM)

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
39 №28, p91[3]
55 №98, p54[58]
86 №26, p28/29[51]
70 №17, p50
50 №21, p32[59]
68 №6, p66
Atari ST
 61
Based on
6 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
ACE (UK)
40
[3]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
35
[53]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
55
[58]
The Games Machine (UK)
86
[51]
Génération 4 (FR)
70
[60]
ST Action (UK)
50
[59]
ST Format (UK)
68
[61]
Atari ST
 58
Based on
7 reviews

Galaxy Force II

Atari ST, UK
GalaxyForceII AtariST EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngGalaxyForceII AtariST EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
GalaxyForce AtariST UK Disk1.jpg
Disk 1
GalaxyForce AtariST UK Disk2.jpg
Disk 2

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
35 №34, p57[62]
50 №77, p72[63]
Commodore 64
 43
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
The Games Machine (UK)
35
[62]
Zzap!64 (UK)
50
[63]
Commodore 64
 43
Based on
2 reviews

Galaxy Force II

Commodore 64, UK

FM Towns version

FM Towns, JP
GalaxyForce2 FMTowns JP Box Front.jpg
Cover

ZX Spectrum version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
79 №72, p50/51[64]
78 №26, p28/29[51]
50 №94, p63[65]
78 №50, p18[66]
ZX Spectrum
 71
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Crash (UK)
79
[64]
The Games Machine (UK)
78
[51]
Sinclair User (UK)
50
[65]
Your Sinclair (UK)
78
[66]
ZX Spectrum
 71
Based on
4 reviews

Galaxy Force II

ZX Spectrum, UK
GalaxyForceII Spectrum EU Box.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 d15f5c3c
MD5 9fa0649fcb53963a432812254ccb4f02
SHA-1 db1615fc239cb0ed9fdc792217964c33e1e700fc
1MB 1991-10 Cartridge
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 cae883c5
MD5 00f475ac5e7a5c2f753bb14ef62a9d98
SHA-1 d4143bf5f49b0d03f4b8fe270c2ecc23fa6627e0
1MB 1991-06 Cartridge

External links

References

  1. ↑ https://sega-interactive.co.jp/special/history/title/galaxyforce2.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 File:CVG UK 094.pdf, page 111
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 File:ACE UK 28.pdf, page 91 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 28.pdf_p91" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ File:GamePro US 031.pdf, page 40
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 File:SegaForce UK 07.pdf, page 58 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 07.pdf_p58" defined multiple times with different content
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 File:Supergame BR 12.pdf, page 37 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Supergame BR 12.pdf_p37" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/09.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-01-28 13:27)
  8. ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_gf2 (Wayback Machine: 2009-02-03 13:17)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/Epk7WeHf3l5FioNq7oRbaxJMBrya0VK_ (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 22:49)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/galaxy_force_ii (Wayback Machine: 2017-07-05 09:46)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 https://steamdb.info/app/34310/ (Wayback Machine: 2017-05-22 15:30)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 http://steamdb.info/app/34310/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 20:09)
  13. ↑ File:BeepMD_JP_1991-10.pdf, page 36
  14. ↑ File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 87
  15. ↑ File:ConsolesPlus FR 003.pdf, page 78
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 File:CVG UK 121.pdf, page 63 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 121.pdf_p63" defined multiple times with different content
  17. ↑ File:HobbyConsolas ES 010.pdf, page 96
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 File:Joystick FR 021.pdf, page 188 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 021.pdf_p188" defined multiple times with different content
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 File:MeanMachines UK 15.pdf, page 148 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 15.pdf_p148" defined multiple times with different content
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf, page 65 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf_p65" defined multiple times with different content
  21. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 84
  22. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-07), page 34
  23. ↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-07), page 86
  24. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 130
  25. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 49
  26. ↑ Famitsu, "1991-09-20" (JP; 1991-09-06), page 38
  27. ↑ Game Informer, "January/February 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 7
  28. ↑ Hippon Super, "October 1991" (JP; 1991-09-04), page 90
  29. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Julio 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 104
  30. ↑ Joker, "Januar 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 19
  31. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-1x), page 42
  32. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 92
  33. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "December 1991" (JP; 1991-11-08), page 91
  34. ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 20
  35. ↑ Mega Force, "Juin 1992" (FR; 1992-06-05), page 82
  36. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 139
  37. ↑ Play Time, "(8/9)/92" (DE; 1992-07-08), page 94
  38. ↑ Sega Power, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-02), page 37
  39. ↑ Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 19
  40. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
  41. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  42. ↑ Super Gaming, "Winter 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 6
  43. ↑ Supersonic, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 12
  44. ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 35
  45. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 104
  46. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "February 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 45
  47. ↑ Video Games, "8/92" (DE; 1992-07-22), page 89
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 File:AmigaAction UK 05.pdf, page 82 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:AmigaAction UK 05.pdf_p82" defined multiple times with different content
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 File:AmigaJoker DE 1990-01.pdf, page 22 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:AmigaJoker DE 1990-01.pdf_p22" defined multiple times with different content
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 File:CommodoreUser UK 76.pdf, page 37 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CommodoreUser UK 76.pdf_p37" defined multiple times with different content
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 51.5 File:TGM UK 26.pdf, page 28 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 26.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 26.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 26.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 26.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 26.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content
  52. ↑ Amiga Format, "February 1990" (UK; 1990-0x-xx), page 38
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Aktueller Software Markt, "Januar 1990" (DE; 1989-1x-xx), page 43
  54. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Marzo 1990" (ES; 1990-0x-xx), page 33
  55. ↑ Power Play, "2/90" (DE; 1990-01-25), page 49
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 File:Joystick FR 001.pdf, page 112 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 001.pdf_p112" defined multiple times with different content
  57. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1990" (DE; 1990-xx-xx), page 68
  58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 File:CVG UK 098.pdf, page 54 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 098.pdf_p54" defined multiple times with different content
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 File:STAction UK 21.pdf, page 34 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:STAction UK 21.pdf_p34" defined multiple times with different content
  60. ↑ Génération 4, "Décembre 1989" (FR; 1989-1x-xx), page 50
  61. ↑ ST Format, "January 1990" (UK; 1989-12-21), page 66
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 File:TGM UK 34.pdf, page 57 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 34.pdf_p57" defined multiple times with different content
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 File:Zzap64 UK 077.pdf, page 72 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Zzap64 UK 077.pdf_p72" defined multiple times with different content
  64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 File:Crash UK 72.pdf, page 50 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Crash UK 72.pdf_p50" defined multiple times with different content
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 File:SinclairUser UK 094.pdf, page 63 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SinclairUser UK 094.pdf_p63" defined multiple times with different content
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 File:YourSinclair UK 50.pdf, page 18 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:YourSinclair UK 50.pdf_p18" defined multiple times with different content


Galaxy Force II

Galaxy Force 2 Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Credits | Hidden content | Bugs | Magazine articles | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding


Music: Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade Original Sound Track (2007)

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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 (1988) | Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade Original Sound Track (2007) | Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade (2017)
Film
 Galaxy Force (1988)
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