Parents' Guide to Galaga Wars+

This take on the classic arcade game is good, but it's not great. Galaga Wars+ impresses by reinventing this beloved franchise, and it sure is challenging, but it doesn't have the depth or longevity found in many other Apple Arcade games. That said, if you already pay for the Apple Arcade service and have fond memories playing the original Galaga, then for sure download Galaga Wars+. It's certainly better than Galaga Wars, available for iPhone and Android, because that version had so many ads to sit through and heavily pushed the option to spend real money on in-game content, which isn't here, thankfully. While the game gets difficult (avoiding enemy fire gets tougher and tougher as you advance through the levels), at least the controls are simple. Firing is handled automatically, so you need to only swipe your finger around the screen to move your ship. In the touchscreen versions, the moment you take your finger off the screen, the action pauses, which is a good idea as the action gets frantic.

Like the original game, you can double up your ship by shooting the alien dragging it across the screen. The good news is you'll have twice the firepower, but the bad news is you're now twice as wide, which makes it even harder to avoid enemy fire. Unlike the classic Galaga, you can unlock different ships, each with its own abilities, and spend virtual currency to level up your spacecraft in multiple abilities, with there being 10 levels per ability. While it's fun to unlock new ships and experiment with their strengths, some fun is lost over time. Plus, Galaga's signature Challenging Stages are missing, which were bonus stages found in the original title. At least there are Achievements (like "Destroy 1000 Dragonflies"), as well as a global leaderboard. Galaga Wars+ is fun, if you like arcade games with a challenge, and the music and graphics will be a treat for fans of the franchise, but don't expect it to be a game you'll keep going back to for weeks and months to come.