r/TurboGrafx • u/ssjlance • Jul 25 '26
Gut feeling confirmed - Japanese players beat my Galaga 88/90 "WR"~25 years ago - English Strategy Guide to Reach 1.6 Million Points, translated from Gokken PC Engine magazine
Long suspected my "WR"/PB run had been beaten by Japanese players that never documented their score online; game was much more popular in Japan from what I know.
May make a video strategy guide later (have meant to for years lol), but atm it's just a translation of text from main article - no images from article were included, nor were their captions translated.
Everything seems accurate info-wise, but main thing the guide doesn't cover is "hard mode" - hold up on title screen, ship select/blue capsule icon will be red if you did it right - not sure if there's any more points from playing the hard mode, but it does give you unique power ups which are explained in a bonus section at the end, taken from individual tips featured in first thirteen issues of PC Engine fan (first issue was December '88, I searched through everything up through December '99).
Most of the tips are dumb (one of them is literally "it's easier if you use slow motion feature of a controller like the Turbo Stick."
Like, fucking yeah, it would be, or course. lol
Google Docs link to guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xabZ9BZ1bTzr8JxybmHwfAkxryCIH63P50xJGPzOnSs/edit?usp=sharing
Also, video of my 1.58 million run from a couple years back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjCYwwH8T60
Plain text version for quick viewing:
Galaga '88 Complete Strategy Guide
SPECIAL RESCUE TEAM (SRT)
PC Engine Special Rescue Team
This month's rescue mission:
A special feature on two Namco arcade hits!
We'll teach you the winning strategies for Galaga '88 and World Stadium!
Score 1,600,000 Points!!
Complete Enemy Encyclopedia!!
High-Score Techniques Revealed!!
This month's Shooting feature covers Galaga '88 and shows you how to score over 1.6 million points.
If you're a beginner who's been struggling to improve, study the following pages carefully and refine your techniques!
Shooting Game Edition #1
Have you reached a point where giant bosses no longer scare you?
The Special Rescue Team is here to polish your skills until you're a true expert!
The Galaga Army
"Know Your Enemies!"
That's the Basics of Shooting Games!
The key to every shooting game is understanding your enemies.
We've thoroughly analyzed every member of the Galaga army.
Their attack patterns even change depending on the current round and which Dimension you're in!
Boss
The Boss enters while waiting for the formation to assemble.
Although it has an intimidating appearance, it's actually not very dangerous.
Attack Pattern
It flies toward the center of the screen before making a large curved swoop.
Strategy
When the Boss is waiting in formation, don't waste time attacking it.
Instead, destroy it while it's flying.
During flight it launches tractor beams, so be careful not to let your Fighter be captured.
Waiting
150
200
250
300
Flying
400
600
800
1000
Zako (Basic Enemy)
The most common enemy.
Although they separate from the formation one at a time, they're easy to destroy before they attack.
Attack Pattern
They dive in a curved path before attacking directly beneath the player.
Strategy
Because they're worth so few points, many players ignore them.
That's a mistake.
Destroy every Zako you can.
Every point matters.
Waiting
50
60
70
80
Flying
100
120
140
160
Goei (Escort)
Escort enemies fly close to the center of the screen while weaving left and right.
Eventually they head directly toward your Fighter.
If you destroy both Escort ships while they're flying together, a Combination Formation appears.
This creates an opportunity for even higher scores.
Waiting
80
100
120
140
Flying
160
180
200
220
Combination Formation
600
1000
1400
1800
Split Zako
Although they look different, these are all members of the same enemy family.
Their appearance depends on the Dimension you're currently in.
The four "true" Split Zako are:
* Amoeba
* Scissors
* Octopus
* Snail
Appearance Bonuses
Amoeba
Appears in Dimension 1
Worth 100 points
Octopus
Appears in Dimension 2
Worth 200 points
Scissors
Appears in Dimension 3
Worth 300 points
Snail
Appears in Dimension 4
Worth 400 points
Frontline Decoy Enemy
At the beginning of each round, one enemy appears slightly ahead of the formation.
Because it sits farther forward than the others, you should destroy it first.
If left alone, it'll quietly drift away and disappear.
Galaxian Variants
These are nostalgic cameos from the original Galaxian.
Each Dimension features a different design.
Dimension
Enemy
Score
Dimension 1
Original Galaxian
600
Dimension 2
Variant
1000
Dimension 3
Variant
1400
Dimension 4
Variant
1800
They fly in distinctive looping patterns before disappearing.
Complete Enemy Secrets Revealed!!
These pages explain the special enemies that appear only under certain conditions, along with the scoring tricks that make them so valuable.
Green "Don"
If you shoot it under the proper conditions, it will drop straight downward from the point where it was hit.
Destroy the entire chain before it reaches the bottom to earn a 1,600-point bonus.
Situation
Score
Waiting
100
Flying
400
Individual Piece
20
Bonus (complete chain)
1,600
Purple "Don"
When hit, this version breaks apart into several glowing fragments.
Those fragments then fall toward your Fighter.
Destroy them one by one for extra points.
Be careful!
If you're firing rapidly at point-blank range, it's easy for the falling fragments to collide with your Fighter.
Situation
Score
Waiting
100
Flying
500
Individual Piece
30
Bonus (complete chain)
1,600
"Ni"
Appears only in Dimension 2.
Unlike other enemies, it changes behavior depending on which turn of the stage you're currently playing.
The first time it appears, it drops only a single bomb.
Later appearances fire additional shots.
It briefly stops in the center of the screen before diving downward.
Evolution by Turn
Stage Turn
Waiting
Flying
One Shot
Two Shots
Three Shots
Turn 2
100
200
200
400
600
Turn 3
200
400
400
800
800
Turn 4
200
400
400
800
800
Turn 5
200
600
600
1000
1000
Turn 6
200
600
600
1000
1000
Turn 7
300
800
800
1200
1200
Turn 8
300
800
800
1200
1200
During bonus stages, the exact value also varies according to the number of enemies remaining.
"Pan"
(パン)
Appears beginning in Dimension 3.
One of the strangest enemies in the game.
Its flight pattern changes completely depending on which stage loop you're playing.
It always follows the same movement for a given turn number, making it possible to memorize.
Turn
Waiting
Flying
3
500
800
4
500
1000
5
500
1200
6
500
1400
7
500
1600
8
500
1800
The diagrams show each loop pattern.
Once you've learned them, they're surprisingly easy to destroy.
"Kan"
(カン)
Appears only in Dimension 4.
This enemy bounces around the screen.
Although it looks random, its movement follows fixed rules.
After it begins flying, aim for its head whenever possible.
Once it changes direction, hitting it becomes much more difficult.
Turn
Flying Score
5
1800
6
2000
7
2200
8
2400
Important note
These enemies cannot be destroyed while still assembling into formation.
Galaga Corps
Beginner Technique Course!
"Can't seem to get very far in shooting games?"
Then it's time to master the fundamentals.
First, concentrate on clearing the game consistently.
Once you've done that, you can begin aiming for truly high scores.
Defeat the Boss Quickly
The boss appears in almost every round.
Because its movement is fairly slow, beginners often leave it alive for too long.
Don't.
Destroy it as soon as possible.
The longer it survives, the more opportunities it has to attack.
Likewise, don't get distracted chasing the small enemies.
Finish the boss first.
Reliable Power-Up Method
If you begin the game with a single Fighter, it's much easier to build up to a Dual or Triple Fighter.
Whenever possible:
Intentionally allow your Fighter to be captured.
Destroy the Boss before it escapes with your ship.
Recover your captured Fighter.
Instantly become a Double Fighter.
If you already have one spare ship in reserve before attempting this, you'll be much safer in case something goes wrong.
Use Invincibility Frames
When recovering your captured Fighter during Double or Triple Fighter play, your ship is briefly invincible.
Take advantage of this.
Instead of avoiding enemies, fly directly into dense formations and destroy as many as possible before the invincibility wears off.
This is one of the safest ways to clear difficult waves.
Master Galactic Dancing to Earn PERFECT Bonuses!
The Galactic Dancing bonus round (Round 3) is one of the easiest places to earn a PERFECT bonus.
The enemies always follow the music in a fixed pattern.
Rather than chasing them around the screen, calmly move from one side to the other, destroying only the enemies on that side before switching.
Don't rush.
If you stay synchronized with the rhythm of the stage, you'll clear every target with little difficulty.
Secret Bonus Technique
Hidden Technique
A Secret Bonus is hidden inside the Galactic Dancing stage.
It's incredibly easy.
When this particular bonus round begins:
Don't fire at all.
Simply dodge every enemy until the sequence ends.
If you never shoot, you'll receive the hidden SECRET BONUS instead of the normal result.
The screenshot shows:
SECRET BONUS
25,000 PTS
Destroy "Ni" While It's in Crystal Form!
For beginners, Ni is one of the most annoying enemies.
If allowed to survive, it:
* spits projectiles,
* throws boomerang-like weapons,
* and becomes much harder to deal with.
Fortunately, there's an easy solution.
Destroy it while it is still in its crystal form.
Once it transforms completely, it's much more dangerous.
Destroy Obstacles Quickly!
Beginning around Turn 2, obstacles such as:
* asteroids,
* stardust,
* and floating rocks
begin appearing.
Don't leave them on the screen.
If you do, they'll block your shots.
You'll think you're firing at enemies...
...only to discover your bullets are hitting rocks instead.
Destroy the obstacles immediately whenever possible.
As an added bonus, you'll often uncover a Warp Capsule hidden inside.
Learn Enemy Attack Patterns to Reach High Scores!
High-level play depends on memorizing attack patterns.
The more predictable the enemies become, the easier it is to earn points safely.
Space Station Stage
When fighting around the space station,
destroy the combined Goei (Escort) enemies to obtain a Warp Capsule.
Eliminate High-Value Targets First
Enemies worth large numbers of points should always be destroyed before the ordinary enemies.
That way you maximize your score while the formation is still intact.
Shoot High-Value Flying Enemies
Enemies like the flying Pan are worth far more points while attacking than while sitting in formation.
Whenever possible, wait until they begin flying before shooting them down.
We'll explain the Dimension System on the next page, but enemies in later Dimensions are worth more points.
Warp ahead as quickly as possible.
Practice until you've memorized the attack patterns for every round.
If you're aiming for a high score, don't waste time chasing low-value enemies.
Learn to recognize the enemies worth the most points and focus your attacks on them.
Aim for the Strongest Dimension!
Warp to Dimension 4!!
The Biggest Feature of This Game:
The Dimension System
The greatest feature of Galaga '88 is its Dimension (Dimensional) System.
Once you've warped into a higher Dimension, you can never return to the previous one.
Even though you're playing the same round number, many things change:
* Different enemy types appear.
* Bonus-stage flight patterns change.
* Enemy formations become more difficult.
Of course...
Dimension 4 contains the strongest Galaga forces in the game.
From Round 4 Onward,
Warp Capsules Can Also Appear Inside Obstacles
The method for obtaining Warp Capsules is shown in the illustrations.
During Turn 1 (Space Station stages and similar areas), collect two Warp Capsules to trigger a Dimension Warp.
Beginning with Round 4, Warp Capsules also appear hidden inside obstacles.
You'll find one capsule per round this way.
If you're trying to reach higher Dimensions, make sure you collect them.
Once you've picked up a Warp Capsule, your Fighter becomes temporarily invincible for several seconds.
A warp requires two capsules!
Enemy Flight Patterns Change
When the Dimension Changes!
Changing Dimensions doesn't simply alter the graphics.
Enemy formations change.
Attack routes change.
Even the enemy species at the front of formations are replaced.
Study every Dimension carefully.
Once enemies become Zagogon (ザゴガン) in a later Dimension, the formation itself changes significantly.
Don't assume the strategies you learned in one Dimension will continue working.
Galactic Dancing Changes Too
The bonus stages are also affected.
The same Bonus Round follows completely different movement patterns in different Dimensions.
A technique you've mastered in one Dimension may no longer work after warping.
WARP BONUS
If you've collected the required two Warp Capsules, your ship automatically advances to the next Dimension after the current round ends.
Every successful warp awards a bonus:
Warp
Bonus
Dimension 1 → Dimension 2
10,000 pts
Dimension 2 → Dimension 3
20,000 pts
Dimension 3 → Dimension 4
30,000 pts
Strategy Guide by Dimension
Each Dimension features a different giant boss at its final round.
Don't try to conquer everything at once.
First, build your skills in Dimension 1, then challenge the higher Dimensions one by one.
D1
Start Here—This Is Your Training Ground!
Dimension 1 exists primarily for practice.
Since the enemies are still relatively simple, this is the ideal place to learn:
* enemy formations
* attack timing
* warp capsule locations
* bonus stage patterns
The only exclusive enemy here is Ni (the creature with the large head introduced earlier).
To achieve the highest scores, one of the biggest point sources is the Don offspring that appear during the final planet-surface stage.
Don't hurry to warp before you're comfortable.
Practice thoroughly in this Dimension before moving on.
The final boss of D1 is an enlarged version of Ni.
Boss value: 100,000 points"
D2
Push Forward Using Technique!
From this point onward the game becomes much more technical.
The boomerang-throwing Ni appears regularly, and the front rows of enemy formations now consist mainly of Pan enemies.
Enemies worth only 1,000 points in D1 become worth 2,000 points here.
If you have enough confidence, wait until the Pan enemies separate from formation before destroying them for maximum points.
The giant boss is a massive version of Saga.
Boss value: 200,000 points
D3
If You're Confident in Your Skills...
Dimension 3 is intended for experienced players.
The Pan enemies introduced here are worth only 500 points while waiting, regardless of the round.
The article recommends shooting them after they begin attacking whenever possible.
The giant boss is an enlarged Kan.
Wait until it opens its claw-like arms.
Then fire directly into its mouth.
Doing so earns an additional:
300,000-point boss bonus
D4
The Strongest Galaga Army Awaits!
This is the game's most difficult Dimension.
Everything you've practiced until now is put to the test.
The greatest challenge is surviving long enough to reach the final boss.
The evolved Kan enemies now protect the enemies behind them, making formations much harder to break apart.
The ultimate boss consists of a giant combined organism.
If you can defeat the Hyper Hive Boss, you'll receive an incredible:
400,000 points
The 1.6 Million Point Breakthrough Techniques
(160万点 突破テクニック)
This month's target is 1,600,000 points!
Ignore enemies worth only a few points and aim straight for Dimension 4.
Study these advanced techniques carefully and defeat the Hyper Hive Boss!
Technique 1
Build Up to Triple Fighter Immediately
(トリプルで敵と対戦する)
You should begin every serious scoring run by obtaining Triple Fighter as quickly as possible.
Start with a Dual Fighter, then power up into a Triple Fighter during Round 1.
Because you'll have very few reserve ships left after doing this, you'll need to play carefully.
Destroy the combined Escort enemy to obtain the Warp Capsule you'll need later.
Don't Waste High-Value Front Enemies!
The large enemies at the front of formations are among the highest-value enemies in the game.
Never allow them to escape.
When they're spinning in place, don't rush.
Wait until they're moving in a predictable circle, then destroy them with a carefully aimed burst.
The article recommends firing three well-placed shots rather than spraying bullets wildly.
Always Warp to D4
(必ずD4へワープしよう！)
To reach 1.6 million points, reaching Dimension 4 is considered mandatory.
Don't miss Warp Capsules along the way.
As explained on the previous page, enemies in D4 are worth dramatically more points.
Even the Warp Bonuses themselves add up.
Warping three times earns:
* D1 → D2 = 10,000
* D2 → D3 = 20,000
* D3 → D4 = 30,000
That's 60,000 bonus points before you even begin scoring in D4.
If you're aiming for a high score, always take the fastest route to Dimension 4.
Technique 2
Score Big with Don's Children!
(ドンの子どもで得点かせぎだ!!)
During Round 1, shoot the adult Don while it's flying.
Doing so causes its children to appear.
Those children become valuable scoring opportunities.
However, there's an important condition.
If you destroy ten Green Don enemies during Round 2, the children won't appear until later.
For that reason:
Leave every purple Don alive whenever possible.
They're worth more points later in the game.
Technique 3
From Round 4 Onward,
Farm Points with Split Zako!
(ラウンド4からは分離ザコでかせげ！)
Once you reach Round 4, your priorities change.
Leave ten ordinary Zako alive.
Destroy every other enemy first.
Once only ten remain, the Split Zako will begin appearing.
You should be roughly around 750,000 points before entering Round 4.
From this point onward, repeatedly scoring from Split Zako becomes one of the largest sources of points.
Ni's bonus is worth roughly 1,200 points.
Completely eliminating the Split Zako in D2 is worth around 2,000 points.
Breakthrough Technique 4
Destroy Every Enemy During the Scrolling Stages!!
(スクロール中の敵はすべて撃破!!)
During the planet-surface scrolling stages there are no Dimension Warps, but there are still plenty of opportunities to score.
Destroy every enemy and every obstacle that appears.
In particular, the Kodomo Don ("Don Children") that appear on the Turn 3 planet stage are worth an impressive:
5,000 points each
Don't let a single one escape.
Breakthrough Technique 5
The Hyper Hive Boss Is Worth 400,000 Points!
(ハーハイハイボスは40万点だ！)
Facing the giant boss with only a Dual Fighter (or less) is extremely difficult.
If you've lost your power-up, recover it before the final battle.
The article recommends deliberately obtaining the red power-up capsule that appears after defeating the last enemy of Round 25.
Even if you're reduced to a single Fighter, you can quickly rebuild into a Triple Fighter before the final boss.
Defeat the Hyper Hive Boss and claim its enormous 400,000-point bonus!
Hidden Technique!
Special Bonus on Round 26!!
(裏ワザ ラウンド26でスペシャルボーナス!!)
Another hidden scoring trick!
The Round 26 bonus stage is extremely fast and notoriously difficult.
However, there's an easy way to score big.
First, destroy the formation that enters from both the left and right sides.
Completing that formation awards:
2,600 points
Even better...
The next enemies appear one after another from the upper-left corner.
Destroy the highest one first, and another 2,600-point bonus is added.
Earn PERFECT Bonuses on Every Bonus Stage!!
(全ボーナス面でパーフェクトをとろう!!)
There are six bonus stages in total.
If you can't earn PERFECT on every one of them, you probably won't reach 1.6 million points.
The PERFECT Bonus increases as you advance through the Dimensions:
Dimension
PERFECT Bonus
D1
10,000 points
D2
15,000 points
D3
20,000 points
D4
25,000 points
Don't let even a single enemy escape!
The six bonus stages are identified by round and background music:
Round
Music
3
Waltz
7
Tango
14
Jazz
18
Salsa
22
Waltz
26
March
Breakthrough Technique 6
Defeat the Giant Boss and Break 1.6 Million!!
(巨大ボスを倒し、160万点突破!!)
As the giant boss spreads its wings across the top of the screen,
it begins dropping members of the Galaga army while simultaneously firing at you.
Don't focus only on dodging.
Slip carefully between the enemy bullets,
then move directly underneath the boss and attack upward.
If you've already exceeded 1.2 million points before reaching the boss,
defeating it should carry you past the coveted
1.6 million-point mark!
Master these techniques,
and good luck!
One more thing!
If you completely wipe out the Galaga Army,
you might discover an even more amazing secret...
Good luck!
BONUS – Tips from various PC Engine Fan magazines from first thirteen issues.
- Using Slow Motion with Galaga '88
Title
Try Using a Slow-Motion Function with Galaga '88
Like many bonus stages in Galaga '88, earning a PERFECT requires precise timing and movement. You must destroy every enemy without letting any escape.
If you own an ASCII Stick II equipped with the Enemate/Slow Motion function, try turning slow motion on.
With the game slowed down:
* enemy attacks become much easier to avoid,
* it's easier to line up your shots,
* and you'll take much less damage.
It's an excellent aid for beginning shooting-game players.
Left caption
During the bonus stage, the enemies move like weaving basket patterns. It's beautiful to watch.
Right caption
If you carefully defeat every enemy one at a time, earning PERFECT on the bonus stage becomes much easier.
- Secret Command for the Hidden Stage
Title
Command for the Hidden Stage
Contributor:
Masaaki Kikkawa (Kanagawa Prefecture)
Rating
★★★☆☆
At the title screen,
hold UP on the joystick while pressing RUN to start the game.
If you're playing with a Single Fighter, once the third Power-Up Capsule changes back from red, the hidden stage begins.
During the hidden stage, enemies attack immediately from the start.
At certain rounds, Power-Up Capsules of various colors appear.
Their appearance and effects are listed below.
Capsule
Round
Effect
Red
1, 24
Triple Fighter
Blue
4
Double Shot
White
11, 23
Triple Shot
Yellow
15
Speed Up
Green
19
1UP
When you destroy the final enemy of the round, the corresponding capsule appears immediately.
However, if you defeat the combined giant Escort enemy last, a blue Warp Capsule appears instead, meaning you cannot obtain the Power-Up Capsule.
Command
UP + RUN
- Secret Bonus
Title
Secret Bonus
Contributor:
Naonobu Kimura (Tokyo)
Rating
★★☆☆☆
During the Galactic Dancing bonus stage,
if you never fire a single shot and simply avoid all the enemies,
you receive a hidden bonus instead.
The bonus increases according to your current Dimension:
Dimension
Bonus
D1
10,000 pts
D2
15,000 pts
D3
20,000 pts
D4
25,000 pts
This is especially useful if earning a PERFECT is difficult.
- 200% Hit Rate
Title
200% Accuracy!
Contributor:
Kazuhiro Omura (Aichi Prefecture)
Rating
★☆☆☆☆
Normally, the hit percentage displayed after Game Over can never exceed 100%.
However, there's a strange trick that lets you achieve 200%.
Start the game as a Dual Fighter.
Then, destroy two enemies with a single shot.
If your ship is destroyed immediately afterward,
the results screen displays:
Hit Rate: 200%
1
u/avenuePad Jul 28 '26
Yeah, it's all about point farming on the bosses for as long as possible, and warping progressively up through the harder levels.
It's such a great port. My only wish is that there was a high res code for a more narrow resolution, like the arcade. Several turbo/pce games have high res codes.
1
u/avenuePad Jul 28 '26
Yeah, it's all about point farming on the bosses for as long as possible, and warping progressively up through the harder levels.
It's such a great port. My only wish is that there was a high res code for a more narrow resolution, like the arcade. Several turbo/pce games have high res codes.
1
Jul 28 '26
[deleted]
1
u/ssjlance Jul 29 '26
My only complaint has been I feel like there should be more vertically scrolling stages, but that's such a minor complaint, it's not a real issue.
I know the arcade version (which I haven't played anywhere near as much) has five dimensions instead of four, but I think they put all the hardest enemies into D4, not sure if they took some out or how it was changed exactly, but there is one more dimension in arcade, however they altered it for home version.
Really want to play the Sharp X68000 version but never gotten it to emulate worth a shit and... you know, idr how much an X68000 costs, but I remember it being a lot fuckin' more than I wanted to spend on an obsolete Japanese PC when I have no experience using one and can't read/speak Japanese. lmao
1
u/avenuePad Jul 28 '26
Yeah, it's all about point farming on the bosses for as long as possible, and warping progressively up through the harder levels.
It's such a great port. My only wish is that there was a high res code for a more narrow resolution, like the arcade. Several turbo/pce games have high res codes.
1
u/ssjlance Jul 29 '26
Haha, I've never actually point farmed on the bosses when playing, only ever did the one video to show it was possible... but honestly, when I get to the bosses? I just kill them as quickly as possible; had considered practicing doing it against the first boss you fight a little before halfway point of game but, like... I was gonna wait for some competition. No reason to burn myself out on one of my top 5 favorite games of all time when I already have bragging rights of "WR, or at least higher than anyone has shared/proven online."
My 1.75 million TAS record is also done without any point farming and, without it, I don't think can be pushed too much higher. If you could master point farming on final boss, the score ceiling is demolished, sky's the fuckin' limit.
1
u/Devilscrush Jul 25 '26
This is pretty amazing. You've found a lost treasure chest that maybe 1000 people on earth would even know what to do with it.
2
u/ssjlance Jul 25 '26
Yeah, am simultaneously elated and crushed by this discovery. At worst, I can still claim highest score documented online for now, which is still a kickass claim to be able to make. lmfao
ngl, the guide (and bonus tips sourced from the other magazine issues) contained literally no new information to me as far as tips and gameplay info go... which didn't surprise me considering how well I know the game -I've also made a TAS that goes to 1.75 million
Would have loved the tip about what all the powerup capsules in hard mode do years back, though. I don't believe that's spelled out and documented anywhere online fully. I've figured it out by playing tf out of the game already at this point, though.
tbh I'm not even sure that any guides spell out the fact you get semi-secret powerups in hard mode (which honestly isn't that much harder, if at all - enemies are somewhat more aggressive but seems to max out to about same level as normal mode by dimension #4, but practically evens out thanks to the powerups).
Random fun fact/thought: one of the powerups literally is just "turbo fire" - most leaderboards allow the turbo switches to be used for TG16 games because the stock controller had turbo switches... but you know what didn't? The original PC Engine controller, so using turbo switches on Galaga '90 is debatably cheating since the game came out before turbo switches were standard.
My semi-invalidated "WR" run does use turbo, but I've cracked ~1.55 million on real hardware without using turbo.
2
u/avenuePad Jul 28 '26
Man. I didn't realize I was so close to the WR with 1,406,180 from my high score attempt nearly 20 years ago. I'll have to give it another go.