An age-old question, but one that needs to be asked again.
Actually I just thought of this because I busted out the PS2 Gradius III & IV pack yesterday and dabbled in III a bit. The difficulty is even harder than I had remembered. Absolutely insane! I wonder how many people on this board have 1CC'd it?
Anyway, I've beaten the SNES version, but overall I think I like the arcade game better. The immense challenge it presents is quite awesome, and then it's just technically a much nicer experience (sound, graphics). The 3D levels are extremely dumb though.
Well, I own and enjoy playing both, but my preferance would be the Super Nintendo version. It just seems more balanced, and thus more fun.
Then again, I started off with the SNES version...as I never knew it was an arcade PCB back then, so I've come to accept the SNES version as the original, so I tend to stick with it.
I have to say that I enjoy the SNES version better because I can get pretty far without dying (thank you slowdown ). I suck at gradius games and get frusterated more easily than any other game.
For someone of my skill level (or lack thereof) the SNES version's more appealing...the slowdown and whatnot do make it easier, but compared to the head-banging frustration of the arcade version (and not even in a "hard, but fair" way, just plain evilly "why even bother?" difficult) it's a minor sin.
Isn't it surprising that Gradius III & IV got a release on the PS2 in the US? And not as part of some large retro pack? I can't think of any other 16-bit shmups that got such a royal treatment.
To compare the 2 isn't fair since the Super Nintendo version changed a lot from it's initial release. The first is a good benchmark to that point.
Many things about the Super Nintendo version annoy me after I started playing Arcade: enemy location, boss fights, overall level progress/design, etc.. so like the rest of the arcade bound Gradii I prefer G3 Arcade. Even with it being balls hard in most sections I still appreciate it's presentation moreso.
professor ganson wrote:Isn't it surprising that Gradius III & IV got a release on the PS2 in the US? And not as part of some large retro pack? I can't think of any other 16-bit shmups that got such a royal treatment.
Sony would take anything to add to its launch list.
I love the arcade original, still have yet to beat it on Hardest.
As different as the arcade version was, I still hated it for its insane difficulty. The SNES was just right and I argue that the slowdown made the experience enjoyable.
One of the few times I'd say editing was needed. Then you have the added graphics...the music retooling...the elimination of "straight white lines kill you"....and the added boss music. The version added some of the best weapons and abilities in all the series.
SNES by far. Still very challenging but way more balanced and more polished presentation overall. Only drawback is the missing stages.
I was playing Gradius III arcade last week on the PSP comp and could not believe how difficult it is even on the easiest setting, and that is with imperfect diff emulation no less!
A while ago I would have said the SNES version. It's very tasty, but the arcade version isn't quite as insurmountable as you might be led to believe, and I appreciate its prolonged challenge (and reward) a lot more these days...
On the one hand, the SNES version is the one I played first and the most and I can single life loop the thing on "arcade" difficulty until I get bored (went like 4 or 5 last time I tried) and I prefer some of the way the game works (formation option with E Laser... yeaaaaaah).
On the other hand, arcade gives me more enjoyment in various ways (better/more stages) and has a much higher difficulty (also a con to it ) and more enemy variety.
So yeah, I'm not sure you can really compare the two. they should have just called it Super Gradius or something like Irem did with R-Type II and Super R-Type.
I first played the SNES version back when it first came out, then tried the arcade version over MAME, then bought the PS 2 port later. I'm more an arcade Gradius 3 person myself, the SNES port was nice enough to stand on it's own, but the arcade version made you go that extra mile, and figure out how to get through some of the stages intricacies, like cutting through sand and not being able to destroy the boulders, frustrating if you don't shoot enough of the sand (or dirt) away, but if you shot yourself a big enough space to get through you could get by them.
The SNES version brought back the old speed zone stage, good for the old reflexes, also a few bosses not found in the arcade version, as well as cutting out the unneccessary 3-D stage.
However I do find some twisted enjoyment in the PS2/PSP version of Gradius III. Its extreamly hard (for my skill level) and can only manage to get to level three on seldom occassions where I pretty much just die 1/4 in to the stage. I can 1 life the first level woo hoo and can get though level 2 with out death but I always get an option stolen
It's a toss-up for me. I can get further in the SNES one (I'm sure I can 1cc it without too much effort, but I haven't had the time lately), but the slowdown annoys me to no end. I love how smoothly the Arcade version plays on the PS2. Of course, I can't seem to pass the Moai stage on one credit.
PFG 9000 wrote:It's a toss-up for me. I can get further in the SNES one (I'm sure I can 1cc it without too much effort, but I haven't had the time lately), but the slowdown annoys me to no end. I love how smoothly the Arcade version plays on the PS2. Of course, I can't seem to pass the Moai stage on one credit.
I agree that the slowdown is a big downer for both games, that's why I'll say I prefer the PS2 version, with NO WAIT.
Though I do love the exclusive levels and extras found in the SNES version, namely the bonus levels and new music. The Reduce shield has to be the best shield in any Gradius game.
Well the SNES one is better IF there was no slowdown. Or heck, if there was only a little slowdown or at some reasonable level. But theres just SO much that even firing with three options and nothing else on screen noticibly slows the game down! And that just sucks. But all in all both versions are a real letdown.
I didn't know the arcade version was regarded that hard. I'm not any good at shmups but I have to say that Gradius 3 Arcade was one of the first shmups I played and after a while it didn't seem THIS hard anymore... (which doesn't mean I'll be able to 1CC anywhen soon)
Never played the SNES version long enough to make a real vote but I'm up for the arcade version.
). I suck at gradius games and get frusterated more easily than any other game.
) and more enemy variety.
