Why the lack of love for Gradius IV??....

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:45 pm

Seriously, 3 I can understand, but I've played IV on the PS2 Gradius III and IV pack, and I thought 4 was great! It was pretty hard, though not near as hard as III, but then I didn't try the double weapon.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:24 am

I think the main complaint I hear about 4 is that it's too much like other Gradius games and doesn't have much new. However, I viewed that as a good point with some of the Mega Man games and the GBA Gradius Galaxies, so I think I might like Gradius IV. I think I want to get a version of Gradius II first, though.

EvilAkito · Post by **EvilAkito** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:30 am

I haven't played Gradius IV since I have never seen a copy of Gradius III and IV for sale in my life, but I sure would like to try it out. Even though I've heard bad things about it, I usually hear that it's better than Gradius III. And since Gradius III is a decent game, IV can't be too bad.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 1:01 am

BTW, Gradius IV has been emulated, but AFAIK it does not work on any emualtor.

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP · Thu Mar 17, 2005 1:04 am

why the lack of love for Gradius V?

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 1:08 am

Good point!

In any case, does anyone know of an emulator that IV works on? It won't work on Mame32 v.92

snap monkey · Post by **snap monkey** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 1:45 am

I haven't played IV in a while, but I remember not being able to get past the bubble stage (stage 3) at all. However, I did enjoy the early part of the game, just felt that it was kinda ruined by an near impossible section.

sethsez · Post by **sethsez** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 1:59 am

I love the game, but it's probably the best example of "Gradius by numbers" that exists. And the 3D effects are amazingly dated and give it a very cheap feel.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:18 am

snap monkey wrote:I haven't played IV in a while, but I remember not being able to get past the bubble stage (stage 3) at all. However, I did enjoy the early part of the game, just felt that it was kinda ruined by an near impossible section.

I'm not sure about the arcade version, but in the SNES version, it's actually better to shoot at the bubbles than it is to avoid them.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:20 am

Does it work with any emulator, though? I just want to play it again, using the double weapon this time.

landshark · Post by **landshark** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:34 am

Why the lack of love? I'm not 100% sure. I personally like part 4, but I have to say the last few levels seem VERY unfair. Mainly the bacteria/cell level (where the severed arteries spawn cells), the speed level, and the level with the rocker-pendulum-arm-thingies (aweful aweful aweful level).

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:54 am

I played it a few weeks ago on a co-worker's PS2 a lot. Had been a few years since I had played it. I honestly like it a lot but like others have said, the 3D graphics look a little dated (although the early organic stage with the weeds which try to get in your looks very nice). That said though, I can't get past the bubble stage which feels nigh impossible to start over on. Otherwise the control and play feel tight, it just doesn't have the epic or polished feel of the previous games.

One thing I learned quick with the III/IV pack was Gradius III SNES is much easier (initially anyways) than the arcade rev.

Anyways, I need to buy a slim line PS2 so I can finally play V.

LoneSage · Post by **LoneSage** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:04 am

Because Konami should have gone with sprite-based graphics.

I remember a fellow at the old forums once said something along the lines of this: I like its artistic style, but the graphical engine doesn't do it justice.

I like Gradius IV, and am I the only one that really likes its Kenny G-esque music? It's like playing Gradius IV at a dentist's office, but 78% more cooler.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:05 am

LoneSage wrote:Because Konami should have gone with sprite-based graphics.

I remember a fellow at the old forums once said something along the lines of this: I like its artistic style, but the graphical engine doesn't do it justice.

I like Gradius IV, and am I the only one that really likes its Kenny G-esque music? It's like playing Gradius IV at a dentist's office, but 78% more cooler.

I actually played Alcon at a dentist's office. No joke. The polygonal graphics did work for Gradius V, though I still like the sprite based artwork in previous games better.

crithit5000 · Post by **crithit5000** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:15 am

I got Gradius III & IV this week...the few reviews I've read on IV made it sound utterly boring and lacking in new ideas. But I've come to appreciate the game...it's pretty damn fun.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:17 am

I for one don't see how it's any worse than the original Gradius, which is far more bland IMO.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:57 am

I've been told that the slowdown option on III on this collection doesn't work so well.

UnscathedFlyingObject · Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:15 am

It's not lack of love. What happens is that there are better Gradiuses around that are more worthy of playing/talking. That said, I enjoyed IV quite a bit when I was credit feeding to get to the end. There were some cool bosses and level ideas thrown in, but the overall execution is somewhat weak.

I don't see many posts about Gradius 2. We need more love for Gradius 2. Gradius Gaiden and Gradius V are evil games because a lot of people like them. We need to love the average Gradius games because people don't make a lot of fuss about them [Sarcasm].

tehkao · Post by **tehkao** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:29 am

Average? Gradius 2 is still tops in the series, IMHO.

gs68 · Post by **gs68** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:31 am

Gradius 4 is pretty much Gradius 2 with updated hardware, new weapons, and rehashed levels. The soundtrack is not too bad, though.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:31 am

tehkao wrote:Average? Gradius 2 is still tops in the series, IMHO.

Amen. Well, it or Gaiden anyway.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:38 am

I like Gradius Galaxies and Nemesis quite a bit, but I don't hear much about Nemesis and some people complain about Gradius Galaxies having too much love when I do talk about it, even though it isn't mentioned here often. I like Nemesis better than the original Gradius. I think it's a very well done game.

tehkao · Post by **tehkao** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:40 am

I'd like to hear more about Nemesis too. In fact, I'm really curious about the other lesser well known original GB shmups (Solar Striker, R-Type, etc)

UnscathedFlyingObject · Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:47 am

tehkao wrote:Average? Gradius 2 is still tops in the series, IMHO.

My opinion has changed somewhat over time. I used to think Gradius 2 was excellent, but I began to develop "minimum graphical/sound quality expectations" for games. It was mostly from playing Gaiden and V, I guess. When I run the game on MAME nowadays, I can't help but hate on the somewhat choppy animation and uneven frame rate. The designs are nice; however, a boss with 4 or 5 frames of animation can't be considered great with my current standard. I don't care if the graphics were gold in their day.

Devilsheep · Post by **Devilsheep** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 4:59 am

Gradius Gaiden is the best of them, IMO. I have it for the PSX as an import game...it's a shame my hacked PSX broke. *sigh*

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:42 am

Dylan1CC wrote:I played it a few weeks ago on a co-worker's PS2 a lot. Had been a few years since I had played it. I honestly like it a lot but like others have said, the 3D graphics look a little dated (although the early organic stage with the weeds which try to get in your looks very nice). That said though, I can't get past the bubble stage which feels nigh impossible to start over on. Otherwise the control and play feel tight, it just doesn't have the epic or polished feel of the previous games.

One thing I learned quick with the III/IV pack was Gradius III SNES is much easier (initially anyways) than the arcade rev.

Anyways, I need to buy a slim line PS2 so I can finally play V.

Do you know if slim line PS2's are less user friendly to have modded than the Standard PS2?

Post by **Ghegs** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:19 am

Back when I wasn't into shmups quite as much as I am now I used to play Gradius IV on the easiest setting.

It was pretty fun and I thought the lava level looked very cool. Never could get past Stage 6 or 7, I forget which.

Then later, after Gradius V and all, I played IV with defaults and can't get past the bubble stage. I tried avoiding them, I tried shooting them, but no luck. There are too many bubbles, they take too many shots to destroy 'cause Vic's weapons, even with full options, are bloody useless against them.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:32 am

Ganelon wrote:I for one don't see how it's any worse than the original Gradius, which is far more bland IMO.

hmm, let me see... it's about 14 years worse.

MSZ · Post by **MSZ** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:35 am

One of the reason is because its insane difficulty. IMO its the 2nd hardest Gradius of all time just behind the infamous arcade Gradius III.

DEL · Post by **DEL** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:01 pm

The question for me is: "Is Gradius IV hard or simply awkward?"
The Japanese have managed to do 14 Loops on it.

Gradius III is not too bad really, its just a learning game. Once you've learnt the 'behind the Boss' method for ST3 and the top left corner method for the Ice Cubes at the end of ST9, all you have to do is practice and learn the route through ST10. The final escape chute is tight though

Tviks has a Gradius III replay somewhere.

shmups.system11.org

Why the lack of love for Gradius IV??....

Why the lack of love for Gradius IV??....

G IV