Q-Games programmer Kalin Gorski has released Galaxy Defenders, a freeware shoot-'em-up for Windows that he developed as a free-time project. The game's source code is also available for download.

Inspired by the DOS shooter Tyrian, Galaxy Defenders features a wide variety of enemy types, and allows players to team up with a co-op partner throughout its 12 included levels. Gorski offers further details in a post at his blog.

Despite Gorski's warning that the game features programmer-drawn art, I really like the way this one looks. The simplistic art style makes it easier to focus on incoming enemies and their surprisingly tricky bullet patterns. RushJet1's soundtrack is great stuff, too.