Gardia (317-0006)

Gardia is a two-player vertical scrolling shooter released in Japan by Coreland and Sega in 1986. Players control spacecraft navigating upwards through increasingly challenging environments while battling waves of enemies. Utilizing an eight-way joystick for movement and two buttons for firing, players must strategically manage their firepower to survive the onslaught and progress deeper into the game’s levels. The gameplay rewards skillful maneuvering and precise shooting; collecting specific parts grants a substantial point bonus. A unique feature allows players to unlock secret characters—including recognizable figures like Darth Vader and R2D2—by targeting particular objects with an alternate firing mode. The game runs on Sega's "System 1" hardware, offering a distinctive visual style for the era. Two players can cooperate in Gardia, combining their efforts to overcome obstacles and achieve higher scores.