The success of Galaxian led the way to Galaga, a sequel that improved upon its predecessor in every way and became one of the defining hits of the early 80s. Galaga's bug-like alien attackers are larger and more lifelike that the Galaxian invaders, and the added level of skill and reflexes required to defeat them consistently made the game a popular proving ground in 80s arcades. Each wave features several distinct phases – the alien fly-in, a brief pause and then a constant series of diving attacks – but the highlight is the opportunity to allow your ship to be captured via tractor beam and, if you time it right, recaptured to double your firepower. This unique risk-reward mechanism, along with intermittent challenge waves that reward skillful gameplay, added an irresistible and addictive quality that kept gamers coming back and the quarters rolling in.