SD: Gradius Advance strategy that I've never seen before

[landshark]

My buddy discovered this by accident.

I've never seen this in a faq, a post, or anywhere else; I was really suprised.

You can skip almost the entire speed stage.

When the 1st 3 moveable barriers appear, shoot the middle one to move it and immediately fly to the top of the screen and hold up so your ship is constantly in the 'up' graphic. You'll fly over the entire stage. However, at the very end there is a corridor that you can fly down to get back into the level. It's a tight squeeze at the end, but I find it easier than the speed stage as a whole.

On the 2nd loop, they put a single enemy up there (you can destroy it).

[Zach Keene]

LOL.

The enemy seems to be there in the first loop as well; I died a few mysterious deaths just before the exit corridor before I noticed it.

Oh, and moving to Strategy.

[SAM]

This reminds me of Stage 1-2 of Super Mario Bros.

[sjewkestheloon]

this makes me want the game even more now. i just can't find the bloody thing!

[dark penguin]

That stage can be a bitch...I discovered this trick a while ago and it really helps.
Great game...

[SFKhoa]

Erm..Don't they show this technique in the Hint Mode already?

[Zach Keene]

It is shown in Generation's Challenge A hint, but not in the normal mode hint. Strangely Generation's normal hint for this part (and likely most or all the others, but I haven't checked) is different than Galaxies', but neither show this technique.

[NARFNra]

I've always done it...

[mathman]

imo, not worth it. you easily give around 2000 points (7000 if you're crazy enough to pick up the 5k bonus) + this is probably the easiest speed section in the series.