Is it really 2022 already? Sheeze, what happened?
We have a new tutorial — to help those with the new Valve Steam Deck portable PC gaming unit get their favorite game running in full.
01 //
About The Game
v2.6 Final
47,865 lines of ASM
A1200 / 030 / 33MHz
Released 10/20/1993
History
03/09/95 … 47,865 lines of Devpac v3.04 assembler code. Assembly time: 32.44 seconds on an A1200/030/33MHz with 6MB RAM.
That is the specification of the final build (V2.6) of Deluxe Galaga — one of the all-time best games for the Amiga, and one of the finest shoot'em ups ever created. It premiered with V1.0 on October 20, 1993.
The game was voted into the Top 100 Games of All Time for the Amiga, reaching #19. Every other title on the list was a commercial release — except one other: Deluxe PacMan, also by Edgar.
Deluxe Galaga is based on the game StarBattle on the old VIC-20. That was one excellent game that I had a lot of fun with. My version is a simple (?) shoot'em up with good game play, but not so much fancy graphics. What I want from a game is some relaxation for a couple of minutes, and then be able to quit and do some more work. — Edgar M. Vigdal, Official Deluxe Galaga Documentation
core concepts
The basic concept mirrors the classic 'Galagaish' shoot'em up formula: pilot your ship at the bottom of the screen, repel waves of descending aliens, survive the bosses. Where most Galaga clones stop, Deluxe Galaga keeps going.
Worked into the gameplay are powerups — from enhanced firepower to speed upgrades to protective armour — plus the ability to capture alien ships and make them fight for you. A full in-game economy lets you spend money at the shop every five waves or so. And then there are the two mini-games: the Meteor Storm and the Memory Station.
With 75 levels of increasingly punishing action, random events, hidden secrets, and two-player co-op that remains one of the best ever implemented in a shoot'em up — this game does not let you go easily.
02 //
Game Play Basics
New to the game? Start here before hitting the Secrets section. No spoilers — just the fundamentals to get you hooked.
Stick & Dodge
Kill aliens without getting killed. Power up your weapon from single shot through double, triple, quad, and eventually the devastating death weapons. Alien sub-bosses specialize in lateral shots — keep out of the corners when they appear.
Recruit from the Enemy
Capture enemy ships using the Scope bonus. With two captured aliens flanking you, the Scope's powerful beams will instantly clear descending ships. Invaluable for bonus stages and dense opening waves.
Get the Money
Money is not optional — it is survival. Cash buys weapons, armour, extra lives, speed, and secrets. Pick up coins from dead aliens, grab chests in Meteor Storm, match dollars in Memory Station. There are also secret methods. The blue coin ($200) is king.
The Mini-Games
Meteor Storm
A dodge-the-rocks gauntlet of increasing speed and density. Numbered rocks give points; money chests are your payday. If you make it through, the rewards are substantial. Activate the fire button to accelerate — push through the sparse first third quickly to build reflexes for the chaos ahead.
Memory Station
Timed Concentration. Uncover boxes two at a time looking for matches. Prizes include extra lives, E-X-T-R-A letters, credits, multipliers, rank markers, and extra time. A skull ends your run immediately. Know what you're hunting before you start.
Other Elements
Catch E-X-T-R-A letters for a free ship. Grab bonus multipliers (×2, ×5) whenever possible. Collect Ship Armour — it is cumulative and saves your skin late-game. The Shield is temporary but devastating on Kamikaze levels.
03 //
Secrets & Strategies
⚠ Spoiler Warning. Reading these secrets and strategies will reveal hidden mechanics.
You can purchase all 14 secrets in-game for $1,000 each — the way Edgar intended.
These are provided here as a community resource only.
Strategies
1 — Ship Movement & Location
Early levels: the far edges are reasonably safe while aliens enter the screen. But sub-boss aliens specialize in lateral, corner-targeted, track-shooting rounds. Keep moving to break their prediction algorithm.
2 — Firepower
Double Shot is probably your most practical workhorse: fast, stackable with Extra Bullet, easy to aim. Triple/Quad are better in Warp Malfunction levels. Fireballs are the best bang for the buck among shop-only weapons. Auto-Fire on a maxed weapon turns you into a death machine.
3 — Maximum Points & Cash
Gems from Gem Bombs are worth serious points. Rank Markers you already own still give points. Never skip the Meteor Storm — you literally cannot die. Buy Extra Time from the shop: at higher levels, accumulated Extra Time can give you 15 minutes in Memory Station worth millions of points with a ×5 multiplier active.
4 — Playing the Mini-Games
Meteor Storm: fire button = accelerate. Use it through the sparse first third; let off for dodging later. Two players going through simultaneously reduces individual odds. For Memory Station: decide your goal before entering — usually Extra Life first, then cash.
5 — Level Preparation
Kamikaze Levels require maximum firepower. Boss levels: stockpile lives and Ship Armour. Bonus Levels: have at minimum Double Shot with Extra Bullets. Know when you're approaching a Warp and save some cash.
6 — The Deadly Random Ships
Hurry Up Ship: appears when you stall. Releases semi-guided missiles. Shoot it for a Rank Marker. Dodge rockets by positioning under them then swerving at the last moment. Laser Ship: park along the fringe of the beam and hammer it — Fireballs or War Plasma required, Auto-Fire mandatory. Thief Ship: steals all your money. Kill it if you can; impossible to avoid.
7 — Miscellaneous Tricks
If your score rolls over zero — you haven't lost anything. The game tracks the full total and adjusts the display font. Rank Markers increase end-game bonus points AND can net you 1,000,000 points at Admiral rank. Shield + Kamikaze Level = obscene points.
Killing the Laser Ship
Requires Fireballs or War Plasma at minimum. Auto-Fire is non-negotiable. Park to the side of the beam when it drops to 2/3 screen height or lower. The War Plasma beam scatter means you don't need dead-center alignment. At 1,000+ levels, the Laser Ship becomes a near-constant presence.
the 14 game secrets — click to reveal
Secret #1
Catching a skull will add to the chances that extra life and cash multiplier bonuses appear.
Secret #2
By shooting the hurry-up ship, you can collect the rank marking that you are missing.
Secret #3
When a smart bomb has exploded and the gems are falling, you can collect them by holding down the joystick.
Secret #4
If you have a multiply bonus when entering the Meteor Storm, you may get a lot of points.
Secret #5
Catching a warp icon in an alien stage with a bonus level will give you a perfect score.
Secret #6
Red, green and blue skulls will give you a very good weapon — full fire power and the best ship speed.
Secret #7
When a hurry-up ship has appeared 8 times, a Money Ship will appear. Shooting this ship can give you a lot of money.
Secret #8
If you have a weapon type and catch the same weapon again, you will get more firepower.
Secret #9
Completing the Meteor Storm will give you 100,000 points and $1,000 in cash. And if you … hmm. He He..
Secret #10
You can figure out which skull you have not yet taken by looking at the color of the meteors in the Meteor Storm.
Secret #11
If you have captured 2 aliens and the scope is active, you can get a lot of points by using the aliens to clear off-screen targets.
Secret #12
If you have the rank of Admiral and you buy more rank markings, you will get 1,000,000 points.
Secret #13
Having a multiply bonus active when completing the game will give you a massive point bonus.
Secret #14
If you have all the rank markings for a new rank, and then buy more rank markings, you will instead buy a new rank.
Secrets documentation contributed by Ivan Wheelwright and Todd Ehlers.
04 //
Glossary
Every item, enemy, bonus and game mechanic — defined.
Auto-Fire
Weapon Powerup
Catch or purchase ($250). Continuous fire while holding the button; concentrated bursts by tapping.
Occurrence: Frequent
Bonus Multiplier
Bonus
Catch or win in Memory Station. Multiplies scored points from alien kills for a limited time. Does not affect money.
Occurrence: Frequent
Boss
Enemy
Appears on dedicated boss levels as the sole enemy. Very dangerous. Very big. Very nasty.
Occurrence: Boss Levels
Currency
Currency
Catch only. Four coin colors: grey=$10, orange=$50, green=$100, blue=$200.
Occurrence: Frequent
Double Shot
Weapon Powerup
Catch or purchase ($100). Two side-by-side rounds per press. Fast shot speed.
Occurrence: Frequent
Drunk Mode
Ship Upgrade
Random Mystery Bonus only. Temporarily reverses player controls. Stay out of trouble until it wears off.
Occurrence: Infrequent
E-X-T-R-A
Bonus
Collect all five letters to earn an extra ship. Duplicates still give bonus points.
Occurrence: Frequent
Extra Bullet
Weapon Powerup
Catch or purchase ($75). Allows more simultaneous rounds on screen. Upgradeable multiple times.
Occurrence: Frequent
Extra Life
Bonus
Catch or purchase ($400). Shop purchase can be assigned to either player.
Occurrence: Infrequent
Extra Speed
Ship Powerup
Catch or purchase ($50). Increases ship movement speed. Upgradeable multiple times. Essential for Meteor Storm.
Occurrence: Frequent
Extra Time
Bonus
Catch or win in Memory Station. Extends level timer / Memory Station timer. Purchased Extra Time persists across rounds.
Occurrence: Very Infrequent
Fire Balls
Weapon Powerup
Purchase only ($750). Giant single-round fireballs. Fast. Powerful. Best shop value for firepower.
Occurrence: Shop Only
Game Secrets
Game Element
Purchase ($1,000). Reveals the 14 secrets of the game in-game. Worth every dollar.
Occurrence: Shop Only
Gem Bomb
Bonus
Catch only. Destroys all weak aliens; they release waves of gems with significant point value.
Occurrence: Infrequent
Hurry Up Ship
Enemy
Appears when you stall on a level. Releases semi-guided missiles. Killable; drops a Rank Marker and reduces missile intensity.
Occurrence: Frequent
Kamikaze Level
Game Element
Level where the alien set sends tight, rapid waves. Destroy all waves for escalating point bonuses.
Occurrence: Frequent
Laser Ship
Enemy
Rare visitor that sweeps across the screen shooting lethal laser bolts. Difficult to kill — requires Fireballs or better with Auto-Fire.
Occurrence: Very Infrequent
Memory Station
Game Element
Timed Concentration mini-game. Match boxes to win bonuses. Skull = instant exit. No life at risk.
Occurrence: Infrequent
Meteor Storm
Game Element
Dodge-the-rocks mini-game with increasing difficulty. Complete it for 100,000 points and $1,000. Two players can participate. No life at risk.
Occurrence: Infrequent
Mirror Mode
Ship Upgrade
Catch only. Creates a mirrored copy of your ship. Impervious to attack. Easy to lose track of your real ship.
Occurrence: Infrequent
Money Bomb
Bonus
Catch only. Destroys weak aliens; they release waves of coins. Prioritize blue coins ($200) during the shower.
Occurrence: Very Infrequent
Money Ship
Enemy
Appears under a specific condition (see Secrets). Drops ~$2,000 in coins when destroyed. Cannot harm the player.
Occurrence: Special
Mystery Bonus
Bonus
Catch only. Gives a random bonus — often Drunk Mode, but can be almost anything catchable including money and powerups.
Occurrence: Frequent
Quad Shot
Weapon Upgrade
Catch only. Four rounds in a slight spread pattern, straight up. Slow shot speed. Best in Warp Malfunction levels.
Occurrence: Very Infrequent
Rank Marker
Game Element
Catch, purchase ($300), or win. Six colored orbs — collect all six to advance rank. Higher rank = bigger end-game bonus. Admiral rank + extra purchase = 1,000,000 points.
Occurrence: Frequent
Ship Armour
Ship Upgrade
Catch or purchase ($600). Cumulative up to four. Each absorbs a single hit plus grants a brief invulnerability window.
Occurrence: Infrequent
Single Shot
Weapon Upgrade
Catch only. Default weapon. Single round, medium speed.
Occurrence: Frequent
Skulls
Ship Upgrade
Catch only. Red, blue, and green. Degrade weapon, Extra Bullet, and Speed by one level each. But see Secret #6…
Occurrence: Frequent
Sub-Boss
Enemy
Larger aliens in Warp Malfunctions and regular levels. Lateral-shooting specialists — death drops a Rank Marker.
Occurrence: Special
Super Weapon
Weapon Powerup
Purchase only ($500). Similar to Triple Shot but more powerful bullets and faster rate of fire.
Occurrence: Shop Only
Thief Ship
Enemy
Random appearance. Steals all carried money instantly. Can be killed with a high-level weapon. Cannot take your life.
Occurrence: Very Infrequent
Triple Shot
Weapon Powerup
Catch or purchase ($200). Three rounds: one straight up, two at 45° angles. Slow shot speed.
Occurrence: Infrequent
Warp
Game Element
Triggered by catching a warp icon or game event every few levels. Takes you to the shop.
Occurrence: Infrequent
Warp Malfunction
Game Element
Randomly occurs during a Warp. Drops you into a sub-boss arena. Can chain up to 4 consecutive malfunctions.
Occurrence: Infrequent
xC (Extra Credit)
Currency
Win in Memory Station only. Grants an additional Continue option for future game-over screens.
Occurrence: Infrequent
Egg Gem
Bonus
Catch only. Worth $1,000 — drops only when you kill the Laser Ship.
Occurrence: Special
05 //
Installation & FAQ
Also see the official Deluxe Galaga documentation (HTML conversion of the original AmigaGUIDE format).
what you need
1 — The Game Installer
Download the AGA Preconfigured installer below (EXE, 5.02 MB). This bundles WinUAE configured and ready to run Deluxe Galaga. No separate emulator setup required.
2 — Amiga Kickstart 3.1 ROM
You will need an Amiga Kickstart 3.1 ROM file. This cannot be provided here. The legal route is to purchase Amiga Forever from Cloanto (the rightful owners of the Amiga IP). You need the PLUS edition for Kickstart 3.1.
MD5 checksum: e40a5dfb3d017ba8779faba30cbd1c8e
installation steps
- Run the EXE installer. Accept the defaults. No toolbars or bundleware — it is clean.
- Do not attempt to launch the game at the end of the installer — it will fail because you have no ROM yet.
- Place your Kickstart 3.1 ROM file into:
C:\Program Files (x86)\DeluxeGalaga\kickstarts\ - The file must be named
kick31.rom— nothing zipped, exact filename required. - From the Windows Start menu, launch Deluxe Galaga (WinUAE AGA Version).
- After a few moments you will see a grey AmigaDOS screen and the message LOADING DELUXE GALAGA…
- Double-click WINDOWED or FULL SCREEN — game is identical either way. Windowed recommended for first run.
Controls
Move: Arrow Keys · Fire: Right Ctrl
Controller support exists but will likely need configuring inside WinUAE.
Press F12 to access the WinUAE menu. Press Alt+F4 to exit.
common problems
I get a flickering red screen that goes black, then red again.
Your Kickstart ROM is bad or corrupted. Obtain a fresh copy and verify its MD5 matches the checksum above:
e40a5dfb3d017ba8779faba30cbd1c8e.I can move my ship but cannot fire.
Use the Arrow keys to move and Right Ctrl to fire. Do not use the left Ctrl key.
During the game, how do I do [thing]?
See the Gameplay, Secrets, and Glossary sections of this site. Also read the official documentation.
06 //
Screens / Media
Screenshots from the Amiga AGA version running under emulation.
07 //
Download Area
All resources for Deluxe Galaga are available here. Amiga Kickstart ROM images are not and will never be provided. Obtain them from your own hardware or legally through Amiga Forever.
For Real Amiga Hardware
For PC Emulation (WinUAE)
Extras
08 //
Other Versions
The definitive way to play Deluxe Galaga is on a real Amiga or via Amiga emulation. For those who want a more modern alternative, there is an official option.
Warblade — The Modern Version
Warblade is the PC/Mac/iOS port of Deluxe Galaga, coded by Edgar Vigdal himself. Nearly identical in terms of powerups, bonuses, and alien types. The graphics and framerate are substantially improved. It does feel somewhat slower and more sluggish compared to the original Amiga version — but for those who don't want to run emulation, it is a solid alternative.
Available for PC, Mac, and iPhone (no Android version).
Get Warblade →No Network Play
There is no network or internet multiplayer on any version of Deluxe Galaga or Warblade. Two-player co-op is local only — both players on the same machine. As Edgar intended.
Is it identical to the Amiga?
Most elements are the same. Powerups, bonuses, enemy types, and the shop all carry over faithfully. But the feel of the original — the raw speed, the fluid motion on native Amiga hardware — remains unique to the original platform.
09 //
Steam Deck Tutorial
Work in ProgressYes, you can run Deluxe Galaga on your Steam Deck. Here's how.
Launcher Options
-config=dg.uae -s use_gui=noAdd these as launch parameters in the Steam non-Steam game entry.
Kickstart 3.1 ROM images cannot be provided here. You must supply your own.
MD5 checksum:
f65597ee2a8a5306b4718a64f835019e
Files You Will Need
- AGA Hard Drive Version (.EXE installer)
- Steam Artwork Pack (all artwork in one ZIP)
- Kickstart 3.1 — source your own (MD5:
f65597ee2a8a5306b4718a64f835019e)
Steam Artwork (individually)
Banner
Box
Icon
10 //
Site History
This site has been online in one form or another since 1999 — originally as hand-coded HTML, migrated through various hosts over the decades, and now back to pure static HTML where it belongs. Below is a complete preserved record of every post ever published here.
All entries by Shane R. Monroe (darkuni) unless otherwise noted.
SteamDeck Tutorial Added (oh and 2022 says 'hi')
Welcome to 2018!
We got the domain name back. We've moved the site to WordPress. We have an all new PC based installer that is even easier to use than ever before (you'll still have to provide your own Kickstart image).
Next year we celebrate 20 years of supporting this amazing game. Thanks for being here with us.
Welcome to 2010!
Dragged this site into 2010 🙂
Warblade is available for PC, Mac and for the iPhone (of all things).
Warblade New Beta Out …
Not much new — just fixed some bad images. Get over to Warblade's site and get the latest beta.
Warblade Announcement, Docs Added
First off, get yer butts over to Edgar's page and check out some of the new screenshots for the PC version of Deluxe Galaga, WARBLADE. Damn, I can't wait! We also have some older screenshots and video clips here at the Official DG page.
Next, we've added the OFFICIAL Deluxe Galaga Docs (converted to HTML from AmigaGUIDE format) online. You might learn some useful things about the game from reading it — I sure did!
WinFELLOW DG on HDD
We've done it! We've created a version of the HARD DRIVE version of Deluxe Galaga that runs on WINFELLOW! That's right — the FULL ECS version featuring enhanced graphics and sound effects! You Win2K folks can now play the full meal deal.
FAQ Update, WinFELLOW
Added a few items to the FAQ (namely the keys to use while playing — seems folks can't find the right CTRL key). Getting one or two mails a month about it, so it's added to the FAQ.
Good news — Deluxe Galaga seems to work fine in the latest incarnation of the WinFELLOW emulator. Windows 2K/NT folks can finally play Deluxe Galaga. Check out my own Amiga Emulation Zone for more about this emulator and to get more Amiga games.
DG on HDD!
Finally got around to adding the Hard Drive version of Deluxe Galaga for emulation under the PC. You'll have to provide your own KICKSTART, but everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) else is provided. This is the easiest way to play Deluxe Galaga on the PC.
The Official Deluxe Galaga Website took 5th place in the Opera Software Best Web Page contest!
New Additions to the Site — The Beginning
New additions to the site — mainly a WHAT'S NEW area, Screenshots/Media, and Deluxe Galaga PC. The latter is an area for the latest news on Deluxe Galaga for the PC (currently named WAR BLADE). We'll be adding great video clips and screenshots in the Media area — starting with a Rolling Demo (non-interactive movie) of War Blade, the PC version currently in development.
Hi! Wanted to download the RAR file of the music mods — but the only link there is to the RAR website, not the file :(
Man, now I can't find the original file I made. I'll have to search for it :(