Galactic Attack

From Sega Retro

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GalacticAttack title.png

Galactic Attack
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Acclaim, Taito (JP)
Developer:
Original system(s): Taito F3 Syetem
Developer(s) of original games: Taito
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (17 tracks)
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 T-1101G
Sega Saturn
JP
(Satakore)
¥2,8002,800 T-1112G
Sega Saturn
US
T-8116H
Sega Saturn
EU
T-8116H-50
Sega Saturn
PT
STJAK0102

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 C 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 B 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.

Tips and tricks

  • Increase credits: Credit is doubled to 8.
In title screen,  START  by holding Left+L+R+C.

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.

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.[5]

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

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

Magazine articles

Main article: Galactic Attack/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

LayerSection Saturn JP Flyer.jpg
JP flyer
LayerSection Saturn JP Flyer.jpg
Logo-pdf.svg
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)[6]
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #170: "January 1996" (1995-12-10)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
40 [7]
95 [8]
86 [9]
70 [10]
80 №353, p29
71
60 [11]
60 [12]
75 [3]
91 [13]
79 №75, p75
77 №53, p65
79 [14]
87 [15]
91 [16]
Sega Saturn
76
Based on
15 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
CD Consoles (FR)
40
[7]
CD Consoles (FR)
20
[17]
Consoles + (FR)
95
[8]
Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC-J
86
[9]
Edge (UK) NTSC-J
70
[10]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
80
[18]
Fun Generation (DE)
70
[19]
GameFan (US) NTSC-J
87
[20]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[21]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
79
[22]
MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J
71
[23]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
71
[24]
Maximum (UK)
50
[11]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
72
[25]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J
60
[12]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
75
[3]
Player One (FR)
91
[13]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
81
[26]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
72
[27]
Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
84
[28]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
79
[29]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC
77
[30]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL
79
[14]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
87
[15]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
91
[16]
Última Generación (ES)
78
[31]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-J
62
[32]
Sega Saturn
74
Based on
27 reviews

Galactic Attack

Saturn, US
GalacticAttack US backcover.jpgGalacticAttack US cover.jpg
Cover
GalacticAttack Saturn US Disc.jpg
Disc
Galacticattack sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
GalacticAttack EU cover.jpg
Cover
GalacticAttack Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, JP
LayerSection Saturn JP Box Back.jpgGalacticAttack JP cover.jpg
Cover
GalacticAttack Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
LayerSection Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
GalacticAttack SS jp manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, JP (Satakore)
LayerSection Saturn JP Box Back Satakore.jpgGalacticAttack Saturn JP Box Front Satakore.jpg
Cover
GalacticAttack SS jp manual Satakore.pdf
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Saturn
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
539,668,752 CD-ROM(EU) T-8116H-50 V1.000
Sega Saturn
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
539,666,400 1995-07-27 CD-ROM(JP) T-1101G V1.001
Sega Saturn
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
539,666,400 CD-ROM(JP) T-1112G V1.002
Sega Saturn
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
539,668,752 CD-ROM(US) T-8116H V1.000

Track list

1. [data track]  
2. The First Report (00:32) 
From: Opening demo
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
3. On Standby (02:02) 
From: Start demo
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
4. Penetration (03:02) 
Japan Penetration ~Mind Bomb~
From: Area 1
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
5. G (04:02) 
Japan G ~雪のように降りしきる彼女の為に~
From: Area 2
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
6. Vision (03:32) 
Japan Vision ~不確かな残像~
From: Area 3
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
7. Cracking! (03:32) 
Japan Cracking! ~鏡の裂け目~
From: Area 4
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
8. Into Darkness (03:02) 
Japan Into Darkness ~死にたくなる程、ロマンティックな闇~
From: Area 5
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
9. Mobius (04:32) 
Japan Mobius ~永遠と並列~
From: Area 6
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
10. The Plot Thickens (02:02) 
From: Area 7-1
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
11. Quartz (03:02) 
Japan Quartz ~水晶~
From: Area 7-2
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
12. Aggressiveness (03:02) 
Japan Experiment 1 : Aggressiveness
From: Boss 1-4
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
13. Atrocity (03:32) 
Japan Experiment 3 : Atrocity
From: Boss 5-6
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
14. The Fates (02:22) 
From: Last Boss 1
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
15. Doomsday (08:02) 
From: Last Boss 2
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
16. Q.E.P.D. (01:42) 
Japan Q.E.P.D. (Que En Paz Descanse)
From: Ending
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
17. KP-4 (00:52) 
From: Name entry
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
18. Reason For It (00:30) 
From: Game over
Composed by: TAMAYO (ZUNTATA)
Running time: 49:22

References

  1. @nak1104ray on Twitter (Wayback Machine: 2018-05-18 20:57)
  2. Sega Saturn Magazine, "February 1996" (UK; 1996-01-24), page 10
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mean Machines Sega, "February 1996" (UK; 1995-12-xx), page 90
  4. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 108
  5. https:/twitter.com/nak1104ray/status/614062154602319874 (Wayback Machine: 2018-05-18 20:58)
  6. Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 6: January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 89
  7. 7.0 7.1 CD Consoles, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 118
  8. 8.0 8.1 Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 134
  9. 9.0 9.1 Computer & Video Games, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-13), page 42
  10. 10.0 10.1 Edge, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-11-30), page 81
  11. 11.0 11.1 Maximum, "January 1996" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 144
  12. 12.0 12.1 Mean Machines Sega, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-30), page 77
  13. 13.0 13.1 Player One, "Janvier 1996" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 86
  14. 14.0 14.1 Sega Saturn Magazine, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-12-15), page 82
  15. 15.0 15.1 Sega Saturn Magazine, "October 1995" (JP; 1995-09-08), page 175
  16. 16.0 16.1 Sega Saturn Magazine (readers), "Final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 11 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p11" defined multiple times with different content
  17. CD Consoles, "Mars 1996" (FR; 1996-xx-xx), page 95
  18. Famitsu, "1995-09-22" (JP; 1995-09-08), page 29
  19. Fun Generation, "01/96" (DE; 1995-12-20), page 67
  20. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 11: November 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 23
  21. GamePro, "March 1996" (US; 1996-xx-xx), page 75
  22. Hobby Consolas, "Febrero 1996" (ES; 1996-xx-xx), page 103
  23. MAN!AC, "11/95" (DE; 1995-10-11), page 48
  24. MAN!AC, "01/96" (DE; 1995-12-06), page 81
  25. Mega Fun, "01/96" (DE; 1995-12-20), page 71
  26. Saturn Fan, "1995 December" (JP; 1995-11-08), page 60
  27. Saturn+, "Easter/April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-07), page 60
  28. Sega Magazin, "Januar 1996" (DE; 1995-12-13), page 77
  29. Sega Power, "Christmas 1995" (UK; 1995-12-21), page 75
  30. Sega Pro, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-11-30), page 55
  31. Última Generación, "Febrero 1996" (ES; 1996-0x-xx), page 80
  32. Video Games, "11/95" (DE; 1995-10-25), page 87