Galaga '88/Stages 8-10

The next three stages feature a vertically scrolling challenge in which enemies and other obstacles appear until you have traveled far enough into the stage, at which point the entire formation appears all at once. There are no opportunities to obtain warp capsules throughout the next three stages. The tenth stage will culminate in a fight with a mini-boss. If by the time you defeat the boss you are still in Dimension 1, you will be automatically advanced to Dimension 2.

Dimension 1

Stage 8

Enemies encountered

1. A trio of goei will descend from the top of the screen. This is quickly followed by a pair of them.
2. When the first red asteroid appears, it will be immediately followed by another trio of goei.
3. More asteroids will come into view above the first, and four crystals will descend down the right side of the screen.
4. Once the crystals pass, three more goei appear.
5. The goei are followed by a set of brown asteroids, which move faster, but are easier to destroy.
6. The sequence ends with two combined goei drifting back and forth as they make their way down the screen. As a reminder, you won't receive warp capsules from any combine goei that you kill.

After the two combined goei disappear, the screen comes to a stop. The background will rumble as the entire stage formation appears instantly. Because you've never been forced to fight against an complete formation, it's sudden appearance can be a bit daunting. Begin firing as rapidly as possible as soon as the formation comes into view. Be keenly aware of where the enemy bullets are dropping, and do your best to keep moving back and forth, in an effort to draw the enemy's fire from one side of the screen to the other. The more firepower you have, the better off you'll be. If you're not already a triple Fighter, and you have lives in reserve, allow a Boss Galaga to capture your Fighter and rescue it to improve your firepower.

Stage 9

Enemies encountered

1. This stage starts off with all four colored varieties of Dons. Immediately after the Dons appear, a set of red asteroids will appear on the left side.
2. Some brown asteroids will drop down the right side. When they're gone, a couple of red asteroids appear above them.
3. Three pink Dons float through the passage between the asteroids.
4. Four Crystals fall down the left side of the screen.
5. A set of baby Dons will drop in the shape of a dragonfly. If you manage to destroy all of them, you will earn 3000 bonus points.
6. Four Pans from Dimension 3 will make an appearance. Pans must be shot four times in order to blow them up before they are destroyed.

After you deal with the Pans, the screen will stop scrolling and the formation will come into view. All of the same strategies for the previous stage apply. Fire up at the formation as rapidly as possible while moving back and forth to draw the enemy's fire. You tend to be a bit safer on the right side of the screen than the left. Staying in one place for too long will guarantee that you get hit, but don't just move in any direction. Plot your course along the bottom by judging where the bullets will land, and move accordingly.

Stage 10

Enemies encountered

1. A pair of zakos greet you when the stage begins, followed by two goei flying in a line.
2. A red asteroid field will appear on the right side.
3. Four more zakos will appear, followed by a trio of Dons. Two red asteroids will be hanging out on the left side.
4. Four brown asteroids will fall down the middle of the screen.
5. Four Pans will fly in and swoop around the middle of the screen before dropping to the bottom.

At this time, you will be presented with a mini boss fight. A giant purple Galaxian will appear at the top of the screen. It attacks by shooting bullets at you, as well as spawning several enemies such as zakos, goeis, Dons, Boss Galagas, and combined goeis. It takes 15 shots to defeat the mini boss, at which time it will retreat through the top of the screen. After defeating this mini boss, you will advance to Stage 11, and you will also be advanced to Dimension 2 without any notice or fanfare.

Dimension 2

Stage 8

Enemies encountered

1. Four zakos drop down the screen, followed by four goei. Then a red asteroid field will appear on the right.
2. A trio of zakos will fly down the left side, followed by a single Nin.
3. A set of baby Dons will fly down in the shape of spy ship from Bosconian. If you manage to destroy all of them, you'll earn 3400 bonus points.
4. Four crystals will drop down the left side of the screen.
5. Four Pans from Dimension 3 will make an appearance. Pans must be shot four times in order to blow them up before they are destroyed.

After the four Pans disappear, the screen comes to a stop. The background will rumble as the entire stage formation appears instantly. Because you've never been forced to fight against an complete formation, it's sudden appearance can be a bit daunting. Begin firing as rapidly as possible as soon as the formation comes into view. Be keenly aware of where the enemy bullets are dropping, and do your best to keep moving back and forth, in an effort to draw the enemy's fire from one side of the screen to the other. The more firepower you have, the better off you'll be. If you're not already a triple Fighter, and you have lives in reserve, allow a Boss Galaga to capture your Fighter and rescue it to improve your firepower.

Stage 9

Enemies encountered

1. Three zakos lead the charge against you, followed very quickly by a red asteroid field on the left.
2. Four brown asteroids drop down the left side of the screen, followed by a single Nin.
3. More red asteroids occupy the middle of the screen. A single goei will descend from the right.
4. Two more Nin float down the screen side by side.
5. As you clear the middle asteroids, two combined goei will criss-cross the screen to the bottom.

After the two combined goei disappear, the screen will stop scrolling and the formation will come into view. All of the same strategies for the previous stage apply. Fire up at the formation as rapidly as possible while moving back and forth to draw the enemy's fire. You tend to be a bit safer on the right side of the screen than the left. Staying in one place for too long will guarantee that you get hit, but don't just move in any direction. Plot your course along the bottom by judging where the bullets will land, and move accordingly.

Stage 10

Enemies encountered

1. Two Nins appear immediately with the first red asteroid of a field that occupies the left side.
2. Another Nin will appear on the right side, followed by another asteroid field on the right.
3. Four Dons will fly through the path between the asteroids.
4. Four brown asteroids will fall down the middle of the screen.
5. They are followed by a pair of Pans.

At this time, you will be presented with a mini boss fight. A giant purple Galaxian will appear at the top of the screen. It attacks by shooting bullets at you, as well as spawning several enemies such as zakos, goeis, Nins, Boss Galagas, and combined goeis. It takes 15 shots to defeat the mini boss, at which time it will retreat through the top of the screen. After defeating this mini boss, you will advance to Stage 11.

Dimension 3

Stage 8

Enemies encountered

1. The stage starts off with a chain of four zakos descending from the top. They are followed by three more zakos that fly together in a row.
2. A red asteroid field appears along the left side. Shortly after, three goeis will appear.
3. Six crystals will descend down the right side of the screen.
4. A set of baby Dons will fall down the right side, in the shape of the scorpion enemies which appear in Galaxian. If you destroy all of them, you will earn a 3800 point bonus.
5. Two combined goei will fly back and forth across the screen as they drop. They are quickly followed by a trio of Pans.

After destroying the Pans, the screen comes to a stop. The background will rumble as the entire stage formation appears instantly. Because you've never been forced to fight against an complete formation, it's sudden appearance can be a bit daunting. On top of that, this is the first opportunity you've had to fight enemies from Dimension 3, so you have to get used to fighting Pans, which expand when shot before they blow up. In this manner, they can serve as shields to enemies above them.

Begin firing as rapidly as possible as soon as the formation comes into view. Be keenly aware of where the enemy bullets are dropping, and do your best to keep moving back and forth, in an effort to draw the enemy's fire from one side of the screen to the other. The more firepower you have, the better off you'll be. If you're not already a triple Fighter, and you have lives in reserve, allow a Boss Galaga to capture your Fighter and rescue it to improve your firepower.

Stage 9

Enemies encountered

1. Four Pans will fly through the scene, requiring several shots to defeat.
2. Simultaneously an Amoeba will come into view on the right, along with three zakos on the left. The Amoeba takes 16 shots to defeat.
3. While you are firing at the Amoeba, two goeis will fly in from the left. You'll have to decide whether to focus your fire on the Amoeba, or switch to the goeis.
4. Three red Pans will appear, followed by three red asteroids along the left.
5. Three green Pans appear, along with more asteroids on the right.
6. Finally, four Dons fly through the screen.

After the four Dons disappear, the screen will stop scrolling and the formation will come into view. All of the same strategies for the previous stage apply. Fire up at the formation as rapidly as possible while moving back and forth to draw the enemy's fire. You tend to be a bit safer on the right side of the screen than the left. Staying in one place for too long will guarantee that you get hit, but don't just move in any direction. Plot your course along the bottom by judging where the bullets will land, and move accordingly.

Stage 10

Enemies encountered

1. This stage starts off immediately with a single combined goei floating through the scene, ahead of a large field of red asteroids on both the left and right sides.
2. Four brown asteroids fall through the middle, followed by two combined goeis whose flight path is more narrow on account of the asteroids.
3. A pair of Nins fly down to attack, followed almost immediately by a second pair.

At this time, you will be presented with a mini boss fight. A giant purple Galaxian will appear at the top of the screen. It attacks by shooting bullets at you, as well as spawning several enemies such as zakos, goeis, Pans, Boss Galagas, and combined goeis. It takes 15 shots to defeat the mini boss, at which time it will retreat through the top of the screen. After defeating this mini boss, you will advance to Stage 11.