Gaplus

Yes, Gaplus is a 1984 fixed shooter arcade game developed by Namco and serves as the direct sequel to the massive hit Galaga. In some regions, the game was actually released under the alternate title Galaga 3. It expands upon the iconic alien-blasting formula of its predecessor with new mechanics.

Unlike the original game where enemies could capture your ship, Gaplus allows the player to capture enemy fighters to use as valuable shields or offensive options. The game also features scrolling backgrounds and special items that can upgrade your ship's weapons. Players could even turn into a transforming ship for a limited time.

The game ran on custom arcade hardware developed by Namco, utilizing the specialized Namco Phozon system architecture. This allowed the game to render more complex sprite movements and scrolling starfields than the original Galaga board. The hardware was incredibly robust for the early 1980s arcade scene.

Yes, a newly created demake version of Gaplus was included as a bonus feature in the Namco Museum Archives Vol. 2 collection. This collection was released on modern platforms like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The original arcade ROM is also occasionally featured in various Namco retro compilations.