Gaplus (Arcade)

The sequel to Galaga, Gaplus is also known as Galaga 3 thanks to a licensed modification kit distributed by Namco because they thought a lack of name recognition, not the US video game crash of '83, was the reason it wasn't doing well in arcades.

Unused Graphic#

Unused	Used

Within the font is this unused graphic for the Japanese version's blood-type high score header. The game uses the individual letters instead.

Copyright Message#

After entering the service mode via dipswitch settings, hold Player 1 Start and Player 1 Fire and change the sound test to 19.

High-Score Codes#

If you set a high score, you are prompted to enter a name, age, and blood type. There are two codes which can be entered here in the Japanese version only, and then only if the score is #1.

Secret Message#

Makes a hidden message appear on-screen that will not disappear until the game is power-cycled.

You have beaten Gaplus. In commemoration, we send you this message. Send a letter to Kojima at Namco, and he'll give something to the first 10 respondents. Sorry, but turn off the power now.

Extra Lives#

Starts each subsequent game with eight ships until the machine is turned off. It should be noted that the maximum amount of starting lives via dipswitch settings is 5.

Revisional Differences#

Gaplus	Galaga 3

Gaplus didn't do as well as Namco had hoped financially. In an attempt to boost interest, Namco licensed out modification kits to change the game to Galaga 3 (an odd naming choice given that there was no "Galaga 2" at the time, and seems to suggest that Namco was trying to pass off Galaxian as Galaga's sequel despite the opposite actually being true).

The only thing this kit changes is the title screen, replacing the Gaplus logo with a shoddy Galaga 3 one. Other releases use the Gaplus logo regardless of region.