Yes, it's an excellent conversion. The main changes are as follows:copy-paster wrote:Is Gradius PCE are worth playing? I know the graphics are not very bright, but the game fixes the option positioning and trailing.
- The laser is not as powerful as it is in the arcade version. It does less damage (which is not terribly important) and has a smaller hit box which means that you can't easily take out enemies on ceilings anymore. From the third stage onwards you're better off using double (which has a much higher shot frequency here).
- The increase in difficulty from one loop to another is linear instead of exponential as it is in the arcade game. Loop 4 difficulty on the PCE is comparable with loop 2 difficulty in the arcade version.
- Checkpoint recovery is also universally easier since enemy aggression abates after a death for a while. The infuriating checkpoint in the middle of stage 4 for example is rather trivial.
- I'm not entirely certain, but I think the hit detection is just a jot more lenient. I got the impression it's almost like Gradius II instead of the harsh scale of the first arcade game.
- Addition of a new MSX-themed stage (which is great). Prudent placement of the carcasses in conjunction with little turrets that submerge and your typical stationary turrets. Really fun checkpoints, too.