Gradius on PS3 - to be a traditional scrolling shmup or new?

[AirRaidX]

do you think Gradius on PS3 (Gradius 6 or whatever) will be a traditional shump that scrolls from left to right, up and down, like all the normal Gradius games, or do you think they will make it a 3D shmup as Konami attempted with Solar Assault in the late 90s ?

I absolutely love the rendered CG intros on PS1 Gradius Deluxe Pack,
Salamander Deluxe Pack, Gradius Gaiden, PS2 Gradius III & IV, and Gradius V.

it has been about 21 years since the first Gradius game hit arcades. the formula has not changed much.

could a shmup be made in 3D space without becoming a 'shooter' that lacks the intensity of a 2D-playing shmup?


though, I suppose most people are expecting Gradius V part 2 with much better graphics and new levels.

also, any idea who is actually developing it?

[Kiken]

also, any idea who is actually developing it?

No one. The game has been put on indefinite hold.

[bay]

also, any idea who is actually developing it?

No one. The game has been put on indefinite hold.

GREAT THREAD. THANKS.

[Strider77]

No one. The game has been put on indefinite hold.

I read this also awhile back.... that news blows

[sideshow]

Well Konami could port Solar Assault to the PS3 but hey, thats a long stretch of the imagination for that to happen.

[dave4shmups]

Well Konami could port Solar Assault to the PS3 but hey, thats a long stretch of the imagination for that to happen.

Well, I don't see any good reason why they couldn't port it to XBLA, Sony Online, or the Wii, or all three. I'd rather play that then the games they have been releasing which are readily available on their GBA compilation.

I certainly hope that the next Gradius, if there is one, has more original enemies, and isn't so repetitive. I know that there were plenty of original enemies in V, but there were also bosses, and other enemies, that we've seen in plenty of past Gradius games.

[WarpZone]

or do you think they will make it a 3D shmup as Konami attempted with Solar Assault in the late 90s ?

I think Konami is smart enough to know that a Gradius with '3D gameplay' would bomb. Fans of the series would just complain that such a game was ruined by going 3D and wouldn't buy it (look at what happened with Metal Slug 3D), and it wouldn't attract anyone that isn't already interested in the series, either.

[Gungriffon Geona]

I certainly hope that the next Gradius, if there is one, has more original enemies, and isn't so repetitive. I know that there were plenty of original enemies in V, but there were also bosses, and other enemies, that we've seen in plenty of past Gradius games.

And kill a major point of the series? I personally liked fighting the old bosses revamped in V. (Though I wish they would choose some of the more interesting ones like Crystal Core from 2 and 3 and Tetran MK2 from Salamander 2.) But yeah, more new bosses would be quite welcome as long as they keep to the series roots somewhat. I wouldn't be all that happy if they completely removed the Core bosses entirely, but I seriously think that they haven't explored the full versatility of designing bosses. (That and I would rather Treasure not make the sequel again if there ever is one. IkaGrad-Silvergun didn't really feel right at all, and lack of a true Moai level was stupid considering what they replaced it with.)

You know what could really help though? Vertical and horizontal stages ala Salamander. It'd give the ability to do more with the game design overall.

[tviks]

3D and vertical stages don't belong to Gradius.

Anyway, I'm sure the game will be released at some point, considering the huge feedback they got with Gradius V and Gradius Collection (Konami have said that themselves). I also have a feeling that more and more people are discovering the greatness of the series.

[Turrican]

Einstein once said: "I cannot predict what breed of weapons will be employed in the waging of the Third World War; what I CAN predict is that the Fourth World War shall be fought with sticks and stones."

Similarly, I cannot fathom what weird 3D gameplay they could implement in Gradius VI, but I KNOW Gradius VII would quickly revert to the old formula, for the joyce of us all.

[AirRaidX]

also, any idea who is actually developing it?

No one. The game has been put on indefinite hold.

dang. since when? I only heard that it was announced, never heard that it got put on indefinite hold. then again, i haven't been reading this forum since this past spring.

[AirRaidX]

solution: for Gradius VI, create a traditional 2D-playing intense and accurate shmup, with a few new play mechanics but ultimately keeping it the same ole Gradius to not piss off shmupers.

then, for those that want something new, create a new LifeForce, that's a 3D on rails shooter with different paths and some mobility in where you go, but not total freedom, the overall look is like the 2nd CG intro of IIIandIV on PS2 where Vic Viper is speeding over the surface of a sun or firey planet.

but the game has got to be done better than Sega's Galaxy Force, Taito's Galactic Storm, Konami's Solar Assault or the aborted Geist Force for Dreamcast.


Konami is big enough to handle a shmup and a 3D shooter.


/dream

[DJ Incompetent]

Since Konami threw out 5 (+spinoffs) of the same damn game already. This is somethin' the microtransactions thing could actually work on.
Initial Purchase = same weapon choice variety as the old games and 8 Stages.
Add-on Packs = more stages (+ new weapons for the Weapon Edit?)..or just full 8-stage sets so tourney wanna-bes could choose from a variety of different stage sets when runnin' something. They could get as creative as they want. Or better yet, after enough stage sets have come out, grant the user the ability to Stage Edit a full 8-10 stage custom gradius game out of all the stage packs the guy downloaded. Or put the user's entire stage collection on Random.

Hell, maybe they'll finally use the HD to let us add-in our own tracks to the stages and bosses.

Oh, and systemwide online rankings....can't forget systemwide online rankings.

I'd buy into all that. Hell I'd give them as much money as they wanted...as long as they kept making fresh stages. A garden of Eden for me I'd say.

[Gungriffon Geona]

Since Konami threw out 5 (+spinoffs) of the same damn game already. This is somethin' the microtransactions thing could actually work on.
Initial Purchase = same weapon choice variety as the old games and 8 Stages.
Add-on Packs = more stages (+ new weapons for the Weapon Edit?)..or just full 8-stage sets so tourney wanna-bes could choose from a variety of different stage sets when runnin' something. They could get as creative as they want. Or better yet, after enough stage sets have come out, grant the user the ability to Stage Edit a full 8-10 stage custom gradius game out of all the stage packs the guy downloaded. Or put the user's entire stage collection on Random.

Hell, maybe they'll finally use the HD to let us add-in our own tracks to the stages and bosses.

Oh, and systemwide online rankings....can't forget systemwide online rankings.

I'd buy into all that. Hell I'd give them as much money as they wanted...as long as they kept making fresh stages. A garden of Eden for me I'd say.

gimme a level and boss editor along with it and I'd be really freakin' happy.

[captain ahar]

then, for those that want something new, create a new LifeForce, that's a 3D on rails shooter with different paths and some mobility in where you go, but not total freedom, the overall look is like the 2nd CG intro of IIIandIV on PS2 where Vic Viper is speeding over the surface of a sun or firey planet.

clearly an extreme hypothetical. but can't help but cringe. konami is allowed no perversion. if they make another salamander/life force it better be classic, and absolutely fantastic.

[Strider77]

That and I would rather Treasure not make the sequel again if there ever is one. IkaGrad-Silvergun didn't really feel right at all

WTF ever.....

Comments like these make me wonder what new shooters folks are being spoiled with these days. I only see about 5 to 6 a year if we are lucky. I must be letting 20 or so titles slip by each year of such astounding quality that I can't be as easily judgemental. Please bring them to my attention so I can be as picky and scrutinizing of any new shooters.

and lack of a true Moai level

that I would deffinately see return also however
---------------------------

As for what I'd like to see. I'd like to see the same folks who did GV take a stab at a new slamander. Would love to flip back in forth between hori/vert stages again.

[bcass]

Gradius V was a dissapointment for me. Especially considering Treasure developed it. Judging by the result, it doesn't appear to be a wholley independant development. It's beautiful to look at, but it lacks the excitement one expects from Treasure.

[Twiddle]

was certainly more exciting than radiant silvergun

[Pirate1019]

Well, while not pertaining to horizontal games per se, a 3d shmup might be possible. Let me explain before you tell me it's an impossible concept.

A game on the NES...AD&D Dragon strike I think (god bless emulation) was a shooter. Not a great one, but a shooter nonetheless. You were a flying dragon and you killed mythical enemies...I guess. You could also switch beetween two planes of flight. One plane was up in the skies where your movement was unhindered and flying enemies were your trouble. You could then descend down to a lower altitude to fight enemies between islands that you could run into for loss of life. The point I'm getting at is that you might be able to make a game with this mechanic, only in a 3-D setting. You could have the camera at an angle kind of like Iridion II for the GBA so you could see the area beneath you. Pressing a certain button would make you dive down to the lower altitude to do battle or what have you. You could then go back up to the upper level to continue your fighting there. The only problem would be getting the camera to adjust to allow you to to see above you. Maybe you could use a second window that shows enemy movement above you. The game would still move on a straight path like vert shmups, but have the 3-D element because you have a z-axis to travel on. Just a limited use of the Z-Axis.

Doing a game like this would be possible, but the chances of making it fun and accessible enough to be successful is slim to none.

Graphics might be made 3-D in the next gradius if they decide to make a bad business decision, but it'll never be fully 3-D.

I'm all burned out of ideas so feel free to pick this apart as you see fit. I pretty much wrote it off the top of my head.

[shinsage]

After the minigame in ZOE2, I highly doubt Konami would go and make an actual game somewhat like that.
Konami knows better than to fuck with something that sacred; Gradius will forever stay a shmup.

[captain ahar]

After the minigame in ZOE2, I highly doubt Konami would go and make an actual game somewhat like that.
Konami knows better than to fuck with something that sacred; Gradius will forever stay a shmup.

ummmmm<-click me ^_^

[DJ Incompetent]

All that stuff

Vertical Force. Virtual Boy. Pretty good.

[shinsage]

I've never even seen a SA cab :-(

[Gungriffon Geona]

That and I would rather Treasure not make the sequel again if there ever is one. IkaGrad-Silvergun didn't really feel right at all

WTF ever.....

Comments like these make me wonder what new shooters folks are being spoiled with these days. I only see about 5 to 6 a year if we are lucky. I must be letting 20 or so titles slip by each year of such astounding quality that I can't be as easily judgemental. Please bring them to my attention so I can be as picky and scrutinizing of any new shooters.

This a series, and in all honesty I feel that Treasure shouldn't have reused so much making it. The recycled homing lasers has been mentioned, and it's very obvious they didn't try when they made some of the bosses/levels. (tater asteroids and poorly done bio level, and if it matters much the rediculousness of the green slime stage.) They even cut the boss rush in half. (methinks they should have done it the same way as the other games, a slew of them in a row.)

[Icarus]

WTF ever.....

Comments like these make me wonder what new shooters folks are being spoiled with these days. I only see about 5 to 6 a year if we are lucky. I must be letting 20 or so titles slip by each year of such astounding quality that I can't be as easily judgemental. Please bring them to my attention so I can be as picky and scrutinizing of any new shooters.

Gradius 5 is a good game, but there is so much about it that does not feel Gradius that you get the impression it should be called something else, instead of having the Gradius name tacked on it. The respawning and Option Types are quite nice, however.

For some/most people (myself included) Gradius Gaiden will probably be the definitive Gradius game and better than Gradius 5, as it feels like a Gradius game, plays like a Gradius game, and has a lot more in common with the series than Gradius 5's recyclejob does.

[Kaiser]

WTF ever.....

Comments like these make me wonder what new shooters folks are being spoiled with these days. I only see about 5 to 6 a year if we are lucky. I must be letting 20 or so titles slip by each year of such astounding quality that I can't be as easily judgemental. Please bring them to my attention so I can be as picky and scrutinizing of any new shooters.

Gradius 5 is a good game, but there is so much about it that does not feel Gradius that you get the impression it should be called something else, instead of having the Gradius name tacked on it. The respawning and Option Types are quite nice, however.

For some/most people (myself included) Gradius Gaiden will probably be the definitive Gradius game and better than Gradius 5, as it feels like a Gradius game, plays like a Gradius game, and has a lot more in common with the series than Gradius 5's recyclejob does.

I'm thinking that Gradius Gaiden >>>>> Gradius 5 in terms of gradius-ness

[sideshow]

I'd say keep the next gradius game tradional 2D sidescrolling but put in some fancy PS3 graphics in the background.

[Alpolio]

I've heard that a lot of companies have been moving their game development over to the Wii. SNK was the first, and then Sega. Something about the developers not liking the graphical standards imposed by Sony and the cost of development for the PS3. And I've heard that Konami's not too happy with Sony either. Perhaps Gradius VI is going to be moved too.

Just a thought.

[Icarus]

I've heard that a lot of companies have been moving their game development over to the Wii. SNK was the first, and then Sega. Something about the developers not liking the graphical standards imposed by Sony and the cost of development for the PS3. And I've heard that Konami's not too happy with Sony either. Perhaps Gradius VI is going to be moved too.

Just a thought.

You got some sauce for that? The "companies migrating" thing at least.

[Twiddle]

well i dunno japanese next gen developers would have to be stupid to pass over the PS3 because of GUARANTEED SALES