Galactic Warriors

Overview

Galactic Warriors is a sci-fi fighting game developed and released by Konami for arcades exclusively in Japan on November 1985.

A progenitor to the traditional fighting game genre, Galactic Warriors is the earliest known mecha-based fighting game, with players fighting one-on-one duels with their chosen robot (the sword-wielding "Samson", the feminine "Gaea", and the hulkish "Poseidon") in a tournament throughout the galaxy.

Although it is not Konami's first fighting game, it introduced several concepts to the genre, including multiple playable characters (each with unique attacks), dedicated blocking (with chip damage), and jumping attacks. Depending on cabinet settings, the game can also allow player-vs-player matches, making it the first versus fighting game with multiple playable characters.

It was of the four known games released for Konami's failed "Bubble System" arcade hardware (alongside Gradius, TwinBee, and Konami RF2), originally utilizing special bubble memory cartridges (before being re-released in standard ROM cartridges). It did not receive any home ports, nor was it included in any Konami arcade compilations. It did receive a digital release as part of Microsoft's Game Room hub on the Xbox 360 and PC.

Gameplay

In Galactic Warriors, players are given a three buttons at their disposal: one for attacking, one for guarding, and one for switching their current attack. Players use the joystick for movement, for jumping, and for crouching.

Each of the three playable characters have three attacks at their disposal: basic punches, basic kicks, and their unique attack. After completing a loop, they are given a second unique attack.

• Samson - Able to use its beam sword for powerful close-ranged attacks. In subsequent loops, it is also given a morning star for longer reach.

• Gaea - Able to fire beam projectiles from its breastplate for long-ranged combat. In subsequent loops, it is able to fire beam projectiles from its kneeplate for harder-to-block areas.

• Poseidon - Able to extend its arms for longer-reaching punches. In subsequent loops, it is able to extend its legs for kicks that can reach through the entire playfield.

Stages & Opponents

• 1. Mars - The opponent is Urunus: a quadrupedal walker whose sole attack is small laser beam projectiles. In subsequent loops, it is also given a bonus attack that raises its second cannon high, firing a small energy balls at a downward arc.

• 2. Ice Land - The opponent is Giger: a biomechanical mecha (strongly resembling H.R. Giger's Xenomorph from Alien) who possesses a long-reaching chain whip. In subsequent loops, it is also given a bonus attack that throws a boomerang projectile.

• 3. Satern - The opponent is Boreas: a bipedal walker with both a close-ranged beam sword and a long-reaching ball-and-chain. In subsequent loops, it is given a bonus attack that launches a barrage of energy balls. The stage itself is unique as it players are freely able to move around the screen weightlessly (with no jumping or crouching combat).

• 4. Space - The opponent is Asura: a winged mecha that fires long, quick-moving laser beams. In subsequent loops, it is given a bonus attack that fires wider laser beams.

• 5. Station - The opponent is Orion: a hulkish mech whose sole attacks are powerful punches. In subsequent loops, it is given a bonus attack that launches its fists for rocket-propelled punches.

• 6. Earth - The opponent is a mirror match.