Developed by Toaplan and published by Midway in the US and Taito outside the US (as Tatsujin), Truxton is a vertically scrolling sci-fi shoot-em-up that charges players with fighting an alien invasion by the alien Gidans, led by the dastardly Dogurava. Released during a period of increasing complexity in SHMUPs, Truxton is more technical than some games of the era, based around memorizing enemy placements and choosing the right weapon to counter them. Its distinctive weapon power-ups and memorable skull-shaped bomb and enemies give it a unique appeal that has made it an enduring favorite decades later.