Why do people go for the Options first?...

[sfried]

Aside from the obvious speedup, I noticed a pattern in many Gradius videos that players tend to go with getting a full Option set as a first priority. Is there a certain statistical advantage with this over getting the lazer powerup first?

[CecilMcW00t]

For me personally, I always go for at least 1 or 2 options before I get a lazer because it makes it easier to take out groups of enemies (which in turn will make it easier to snag the power-ups needed to get my laser or whatever).

[bVork]

Option = instant doubling of firepower. Including missiles, which are especially important at the beginning before you have a shield and can't risk flying that close to the ground. Furthermore, it's easier to get more powerups earlier in the game, so it makes sense to get the most expensive upgrades first.

My usual pattern is speedup, missile, option, missile 2 (if it exists in that particular game), laser, shield, the rest of the options and laser 2 (again, if it exists)

[Damocles]

Because of the simple fact that you can cover so much more screen area with even a couple of options. Like Cecil said, it's a pain in the ass to take out groups of enemies without them.

[sfried]

I was thinking that since most of the enemies in Gradius fly in straight formations, maybe getting the lazer first would make things easier. But I guess you have a point about upgrading immediately in later levels since the powerup cost isn't as high.

[neorichieb1971]

If you got one lazer, you would probably get enough power ups afterwards to be opitioned up (1 or 2) by the end of the powering up part of the level.

Speed up 1 > Lazer 1 > Options 4

Or

Speed up 1 > Options 2 > Lazer 1 > Options 4


Or something. Its not a big deal.

[Ganelon]

Options also provide good perimeter protection along with their potent offensive power, something you can't get from any other power up.

[Blade]

In the case of Gradius V, it's the only way to break through some large enemies.

[Pirate1019]

Because they increase your power and area coverage more then any of the other powerups. In gradius V my powerup pattern goes like this:

speedup - option - option - option - laser or option - laser (if I didn't get it earlier)

[FRO]

Option = instant doubling of firepower. Including missiles, which are especially important at the beginning before you have a shield and can't risk flying that close to the ground. Furthermore, it's easier to get more powerups earlier in the game, so it makes sense to get the most expensive upgrades first.

My usual pattern is speedup, missile, option, missile 2 (if it exists in that particular game), laser, shield, the rest of the options and laser 2 (again, if it exists)

My pattern for Gradius games is generally the same, so yeah.

[D]

I thought this thread was for options screens in games.
I for one always go to the options first. I crank up difficulty to the highest. Always changing controls to my preferences.

[BrianC]

I like putting the options earlier in the meter in Gradius Gaiden.

[Gorecki]

You are all mad. Speedup, speedup, laser, options is the one true path to glory!

[Ozymandiaz1260]

You are all mad. Speedup, speedup, laser, options is the one true path to glory!

This is what I always do.

[sfried]

If you got one lazer, you would probably get enough power ups afterwards to be opitioned up (1 or 2) by the end of the powering up part of the level.

Speed up 1 > Lazer 1 > Options 4

This is what I go for, too.

[Sizor]

I have to admit I'm guilty of being an options whore... I just love the fact that they can be used to cover extra ground when there are simply too many enemies to handle alone, or gathered together to make a more powerful, focused attack when you need to blast through a stronger enemy/barrier.

[iatneH]

Nobody uses missiles? Does this have to do with rank?

[Icarus]

S x2 -> O x4 -> L/D -> M -> F

[shinsage]

What kind of a man picks Double?
The fool

[CecilMcW00t]

My power-up cycle is: Speed > Option > Missile > Option > Laser > Option X2 > Shield (or whatever is in the ?, unless it's Parodius XD)

[BrianC]

What kind of a man picks Double?

Double is very useful in the original arcade Gradius, especially in the Moai stage. Kiken 1LCd Gradius PCE using mostly double. http://www.super-play.co.uk/ has some of his replays. It usefulness varies by game, though. It doesn't seem to be very useful in Gradius 2 MSX after you get the up laser, which can be used along with the regular laser.

[SFKhoa]

What kind of a man picks Double?
The fool

You hurt my feelings. *runs away crying*

[Carmen]

"Nobody uses missiles?"

I noticed that too... I usually get missiles right aftermy speedups...

[doctorx0079]

I'm playin' Gradius Galaxies. Double sucks until you get Options because it's so slow, but then when you get Options Double is awesome. I usually get 2 Speeds, then Option, Missiles, Option, Option, Force Field, Double, Option, and then powerup Missiles and Double. The best thing about Options is that they are invulnerable, plus they are the fastest best way to get lots of firepower where you want it, much better than Laser by itself. As a matter of fact the regular shot is pretty good if you have Options. In Galaxies I try to use Laser on the bosses and Double the rest of the time, because Double has the very handy tailgun and Laser doesn't. (I usually use Ship A or Ship D.)

[DJ Incompetent]

Aside from the obvious speedup, I noticed a pattern in many Gradius videos that players tend to go with getting a full Option set as a first priority. Is there a certain statistical advantage with this over getting the lazer powerup first?

It all goes back to the main gun. It is the most well-rounded of the 3 usual shot types. Double and Laser more times than regular shot leave you open to take a hit after firing since you normally get one round going forward. You miss, it may be too late. A standard two shots forward can work in some 98%-ish of stage layouts.

So before diverging into strategic uses for double and laser, the player minimizes the Double and Laser shot-recoil risks by stocking on options with standard shot first.


If you're talkin' Twin Laser from the start, that's a different story.

[doctorx0079]

A standard two shots forward can work in some 98%-ish of stage layouts.

By design, I'm thinking.

[sfried]

By design, I'm thinking.

I was thinking the same thing. I started out with SpeedUp > Missile > 4 Options at the first stage of Gradius: Interstella Assault, but probably that's because of the worm enemy at the very beginning. Besides that, I go for a mixture of aiming between a lazer, missile, or an option upgrade depending on the terrain.

[Twiddle]

I go for the laser first because piercing popcorns is a must.

[Brett]

For me it depends on the exact game. In Gradius V, you can get two speedups and a laser just before four more rows of popcorn come at you. The laser makes it really easy to destroy them all, and to destroy the big ships that are right behind.

In most other Gradius games, though, I need at least a couple of options first. The laser's just too slow for it to be your only real weapon.

[Zaarock]

I usually power up like this in Gradius V:

speed up x2 - missile - option - laser - option x3 - force field ( or the others)

usually depends on the stage though.