Galactic Wars EX Collector's Edition

Real hardware palettes. Pixel-perfect authenticity. Chiptune soundtrack. Galactic Wars EX isn't just inspired by retro shmups, it's built like one. The Galactic Wars EX Collector's Edition on PlayStation 4 delivers a side-scrolling shoot-em-up that uses actual vintage hardware specs to achieve a level of authenticity most "retro-style" games only pretend to offer. For PS4 shmup collectors, this is the real deal in physical form.

Three unique ships with distinct strengths and weaknesses let you match your playstyle to your loadout before launching into 40 phases of interstellar combat across three areas. Bosses and mini-bosses demand pattern recognition and quick reflexes, while local co-op lets you bring a wingman along for the ride. The 60FPS HD presentation keeps everything silky smooth, and the original chiptune soundtrack hits that sweet spot between authentic and modern. Score chasers will love the bonuses and multipliers that reward aggressive play.

There's something special about a game that commits this hard to its retro DNA while still running in blistering HD. Galactic Wars EX occupies a very specific spot in the collector's ecosystem: the physically released, authentically crafted shmup that most people scrolled right past on the digital storefront. Those of us who know better grab the disc. The rest figure it out later, usually when it's too late.