Galmedes

Game Details:

Developed by Visco and officially released to the arcade market in 1992, Galmedes is set in the distant future where players pilot cutting-edge fighters to repel alien invaders. The title is renowned for its intense bullet density and blistering pace, which left a deep impression on the player community. The game offers three aircraft with distinct performance characteristics, each featuring a unique attack pattern. While it may not share the commercial fame of contemporary titles from Capcom or Konami, its solid gameplay feel and art design make it a hidden gem among shmup enthusiasts.

Game Guide:

The core of any strategy lies in mastering the timing of the Charge Shot.

Holding down the fire button accumulates energy, which can be released as a high-penetration special attack; this is the key to your damage output against mid-sized ships and bosses. It is recommended that beginners prioritize the blue craft, as its wider attack coverage effectively reduces the pressure of clearing minor enemies.

Because the collision hitboxes for enemy ships in this game are quite large, you must leave extra room when maneuvering.

Pro Tips:

In the Stage 3 asteroid belt, stay within the lower-middle section of the screen and make small adjustments left and right—avoid large movements at all costs. Firepower increases significantly after picking up Power Up items, but if you happen to crash, your starting firepower upon respawning will be extremely weak. Thus, prioritizing survival is more important than greedily chasing scores. Memorizing enemy spawn points and pre-charging shots is the only shortcut to handling the high-difficulty stages.