Megatack (set 1)

Megatack is a fast-paced, two-player gallery shooter released in 1980 by Centuri under license from GamePlan. Players control a spacepod at the bottom of the screen, using a joystick to dodge incoming bombs and laser blasts while targeting waves of descending monsters above. Three simultaneous laser beams can be fired in any direction—left, right or up—to destroy the advancing enemies; each monster defeated awards points, with bonus rings appearing between rounds that must also be destroyed before new enemy formations arrive. The game features alternating turns for two players using a shared control panel on upright cabinets, or separate controls on cocktail versions, with the screen image flipping to orient itself toward the active player. Losing all spacepods returns the display to an initial state and reduces the number of remaining pods displayed; as gameplay progresses, monsters become more aggressive, dropping bombs at a faster rate and exhibiting varied attack patterns. Waves of monsters are presented in groups of twenty-five, with increasing difficulty after each completed wave, ultimately presenting a challenging test for both novice and experienced players alike.