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group=lower-alpha is an interactive movie video game developed and published by Taito and Toei Company that was originally released as a laserdisc game in Japan for the Arcade game in 1985. It is an action game that uses full motion video (FMV) to display the on-screen action. The player must correctly choose the on-screen character's actions to progress the story. The pre-recorded animation for the game was produced by Toei Company.
The game is set in a fictional future where time travel is possible. The protagonist, Reika, travels to different time periods in search of a criminal, Luda, from her time. After successfully tracking down Luda, Reika prevents his plans to alter the past. Time Gal was inspired by the success of earlier LaserDisc video games that used pre-recorded animation, including Dragon's Lair (1983) and the previous Taito/Toei collaboration Ninja Hayate (1984), while Reika's character design bears similarities to the anime characters Lum and Yuri from Urusei Yatsura and Dirty Pair, respectively.
Time Gal was later Porting to the Sega CD for a worldwide release as well as home platforms in Japan, such as the LaserActive, MSX home computers, the PlayStation, and the Sega Saturn. The Sega CD version received a generally favorable reception from critics. The protagonist was noted for being an early female heroine and has appeared in other Taito-related games. A sequel was released decades later in 2023 titled group=lower-alpha An HD remaster of Time Gal was released in Japan at the same time and was released worldwide in 2025.
The player uses a joystick and button to input commands, though home versions use a game controller with a directional pad. As the game progresses, visual cues—highlighted portions of the background or foreground—will appear on the screen to help survive the dangers that occur throughout the stage; more difficult settings omit the visual cues. Depending on the location of the cue, the player will input one of four directions (up, down, left and right) or an attack (shoot the target with a laser gun). Inputting the correct command will either avoid or neutralize the threats and progress the game, while incorrect choices result in the character's death. Reika dying too many times results in a game over. Specific moments in the game involve Reika stopping time. During these moments, players are presented with a list of three options and have seven seconds to choose the one which will save the character.
A Macintosh version was also released in Japan in 1994. A Mega-LD version was released on March 25, 1995, in Japan on the Pioneer LaserActive, which requires the Sega Mega-LD module to play Mega-LD games as well as Sega-CD ones. The LaserActive version is the rarest home release of Time Gal, as well as one of the most expensive on the system among collectors. The MSX version also later became an expensive collector's item. In 2019, Japanese gaming store BEEP Akihabara sold a slightly-damaged complete copy for ¥178,000 (US$). Time Gal was ported to the PlayStation in 1996 as a compilation with Ninja Hayate, another LaserDisc arcade game developed by Taito. This release lacks the Sega CD version's additional content but features a more accurate reproduction of the animation. The compilation was also released on the Sega Saturn the following year. Ecseco Development handled the conversion from the original arcade format. On April 1, 2017, Taito Classics announced that they would release several of their older games onto mobile devices, with Time Gal being its first release. The game was later released in Japan on April 5, 2017. A navigational function and a gallery of the game's original concept art are available for purchase as .
The Sega CD release received far more attention than the arcade version. Weekly Famitsu magazine's four reviewers—Hirokazu Hamamura, George Nakaji, Miki Watanabe, and TACOX—were split in their separate reviews. While he noted that the simple gameplay required no strategy, only fast reflexes and memory, Hamamura conceded that he continued playing to see how the story progressed. He included it his picks of the week, commenting that the title could be the future of CD games. Conversely, Nakaji and TACOX described the gameplay as only reflex training and following instructions; however, TACOX did note that he enjoyed playing Time Gal at times. He further stated that fans of the genre would enjoy the game. Both Nakaji and Watanabe called the visuals "old-fashioned", which Watanabe attributed to the age of the original arcade game. Prior to coming to North America, GamePros staff was enthusiastic about the Sega CD release. Electronic Gaming Monthly writers were also enthusiastic. They praised the use of CD technology and felt it would be followed by titles with similar gameplay. Writing for Sega Pro, Sam Hickman lauded Time Gals visuals, praising the variety of characters, backgrounds, and settings. He called the graphics "outstanding" and the animation a "complete joy". Hickman also praised the audio and called the theme "bubbly and catchy". He summarized his review by calling the game one the of best CD games available at the time. MEGA magazine ranked the Sega CD version the number five CD game, commenting that though it lacked difficulty, it was a good showcase of the system.
Critics praised Time Gals visuals. GameFan magazine, in praising Wolf Team's port of the game, complimented the Sega CD version's graphics and short load times. GamePro said the animation is "great, with bright, vivid colors, and fast-paced, exciting movement" and praised the "funny gameplay" and "nonstop action". Chris Bieniek of VideoGames & Computer Entertainment criticized the story as "nonsensical" and said that while the unlockable video gallery is a nice feature, it effectively eliminates any replay value, which compounds the easiness of the game to give it very low longevity. He nonetheless recommended Time Gal, based chiefly on the gameplay: "Though you never really feel like you're in control of Time Gal's movements, the zany action has an undeniable appeal that takes up a lot of the slack." Shawn Sackenheim of AllGame complimented the animation, calling it "high quality", but criticized the Sega CD graphics, calling them "downgraded". He commented that, though Time Gal offered a good thrill, it lacked replay value. Ciolek echoed similar statements, saying it is more enjoyable to watch than to play. He further commented that the game is frustrating and rigid when compared to more contemporary standards. Electronic Gaming Monthlys group of reviewers praised the Sega CD version's graphics quality. Three of the four reviewers lauded the gameplay, specifically the challenge and format. The other reviewer stated he didn't care for this type of game, referring to the gameplay as "nothing more than memorizing".
Todd Ciolek referred to the protagonist as one of the first human heroines in the industry. He further added that Reika was an appealing lead character that Taito could have easily turned into a mascot and featured in other games and media. Bundy also noted that Reika was an early female video game protagonist, predating Samus Aran. He commented, however, that her original appearance did not have much impact until Time Gal gained mainstream recognition on the Sega CD. The character was later included in Alfa System's shooting game Castle of Shikigami III—Taito published the arcade version in Japan. In the game, Reika features attacks and a personality similar to her original debut as well as an updated visual design. Reika's also appeared in the 2011 Elevator Action remake Elevator Action Deluxe as one part of downloadable content.
In July 2023, a sequel titled Time Gal Re:Birth was revealed to be included as a bonus downloadable content pack for the Taito LD Game Collection. It will follow a new character named Luna, who is sent on a mission to stop the villain Luda as well as Reika. The collection will also include an HD remaster of the original game as part of the base game. On April 10, 2025 the game will receive a standalone release on Nintendo Switch, in Japan only, the same day the remaster will release on Steam in North America.
Legacy
IGN's Levi Buchanan listed interactive movie games like Time Gal as one of the reasons behind the Sega CD's commercial failure, citing them as a waste of the system's capabilities. In describing the cinematic gameplay in the 2009 action game Ninja Blade, producer Masanori Takeuchi attributed the quick time event game mechanic featured in his title to LaserDisc games like Dragon's Lair and Time Gal.
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Categories: 1985 Video Games, Android Games, Arcade Video Games, Full Motion Video Based Games, Interactive Movie Video Games, Ios Games, Laserdisc Video Games, Msx Games, Playstation Games, Sega Cd Games, Sega Saturn Games, Sharp X1 Games, Science Fantasy Video Games, Taito Games, Telenet Japan Games, Video Games About Time Travel, Toei Animation Video Game Projects, Video Games Featuring Female Protagonists, Taito Arcade Games, Video Games About Dinosaurs, Multiplayer And Single-player Video Games, Video Games Developed In Japan
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