Galaxy Defense Force Review

Galaxy Defense Force has almost no right to be as good as it is. The only thing more generic than its graphics and gameplay template is its unfortunate title [Editor's Note: that icon looks familiar], too. And yet, a simple but huge genre inversion makes it one of the better iOS space shooters around.

Classic scrolling shoot ‘em ups, or shmups, typically come in one of two flavors: vertical shmups where players move a ship up and down shooting at enemies, and horizontal shmups where they scroll left to right doing otherwise the same thing. But Galaxy Defense Force doesn’t play by those rules. Instead, players control three ships facing outward in a circular cluster formation fixed in the center of the map. Holding down on the screen causes the ships to automatically fire while moving one’s thumb up and down rotates the circle. Whereas most shmups have players skillfully bobbing and weaving to shoot down their foes, here they just sit back and let the fight come to them. Soon, waves of enemy fighters start flying in from all directions and players must hold out as long as possible in what’s essentially a final stand.

It’s a fascinating reversal that really changes the way players approach battles. With virtually no mobility, players are forced to consider things like shot angles and ship positioning in new ways. As the formation takes damage, it drops from three ships down to two and eventually one. Not only does this limit firepower but also what directions players can simultaneously fire in. Since all enemies will inevitably converge on the player, prioritizing who to take down first is also crucial. Different enemies have different flight patterns to pay attention to, like foes that stay behind a few seconds before rushing towards the middle and ruining the player’s plan of attack.

Even after dozens of replays, Galaxy Defense Force holds up. Beyond its great core hook, the game extends its longevity through numerous upgrades and unlockables. Using the gems earned from high scores, players can purchase tools like shields and bombs as well as new ship components like improved lasers and Gatling guns. There are five ships to collect in total, and the only bad part about them is that they are all rendered in the game’s boring, flat, uninspired sci-fi art style.

Tedious aesthetics aside though, Galaxy Defense Force is a fresh spin on one of the most well-worn game formulas. Sometimes, the center can hold.

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