| First appearance: Galaxian (Namco, ARC, 1979) Distinguishing features: Color Known tactics: Rank-and-file formations; dive-bombing runs Weaknesses: Ace players gunning for an 800-point hat trick |
| Profile by Jeremy Parish? | March 6, 2011 |
The Invaders? had the right idea: assault and conquest through superior numbers and rigid organization. But Earth’s own history reveals the shortcomings of too much rigidity, too much organization; and just as the powerful Redcoat army was ultimately pushed back by the numerically inferior but tactically fluid American revolutionaries, so too were the Invaders defeated by a single defender thanks to their predictability -- not to mention their inability to adapt to the situation at hand. “Go faster” is a viable stratagem, but ill-suited to serve as the entirety of an army’s invasion plan.
The Galaxians watched, and learned. They were impressed by the Invaders’ fundamental tactics -- overwhelming forces, heavy firepower, and careful organization -- but vowed not to fall into the trap of thinking that sheer quantities could inundate their foes. Instead, their strategy revolved around a more aggressive approach, with their pride and joy -- the Galaxian-class flagship -- taking the vanguard of breakaway detachments that would swoop forward, away from the primary ranks, to harass Earth’s defenders.
But even the best of intentions can be thwarted by an unforeseen blind spot, and the Galaxians’ weakness was their love of ceremony. By royal decree, the Galaxian fighters were required to enter formation with elaborate acrobatics -- leaving them vulnerable to defender counter-fire as they executed their traditional performances.
But no matter. The Galaxians’ plan may have failed, but their cousins the Galagans were paying careful attention, learning from their failings just as the Galaxians had learned from the Invaders....
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