Best Gradius port?

splitblkribbon · Post by **splitblkribbon** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:20 am

I was thinking of playing the original gradius (I played the nes version a couple years ago) and I was wondering which in your guys opinion the best port?

Shinichi Chiba · Post by **Shinichi Chiba** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:29 am

Gradius 1+2 Deluxe Pack for Saturn and Gradius for PC engine come to mind . The saturn one goes for about $30-40 and the PC engine goes for $20-40 depending if you want it loose or complete .

MX7 · Post by **MX7** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:31 am

Is MAME an option?

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:39 am

The saturn one goes for about $30-40

Just sold one for $18.

splitblkribbon · Post by **splitblkribbon** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:52 am

DJ Rectal Prolapse wrote:Is MAME an option?

sure

The PC Engine one looks good from videos, but so does the arcade, oh the choices.

Shinichi Chiba · Post by **Shinichi Chiba** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:04 am

GaijinPunch wrote:
The saturn one goes for about $30-40
Just sold one for $18.

Do you sell way below the price you buy or in Japan it is common to find prices this low .

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:38 am

Shinichi Chiba wrote: Do you sell way below the price you buy or in Japan it is common to find prices this low .

Well, it had no spine but was in nice shape. I guess $20-$25 for a complete one isn't a bad price. It's not been above $30 for a while. Unless it's something I am not ready to part with, I try to price things to move.

HeWhoGoverns · Post by **HeWhoGoverns** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 3:15 pm

Yeah, I got my copy for $25. I mainly bought it to play Gradius II. And I recently got a paper vic viper that was supposed to come with it as well

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:42 pm

Gradius Deluxe Pack for PS1.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:47 pm

Ceph wrote:Gradius Deluxe Pack for PS1.

$$$

EDIT: Is it better than the Saturn one?

Shinichi Chiba · Post by **Shinichi Chiba** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:52 pm

GaijinPunch wrote:
Ceph wrote:Gradius Deluxe Pack for PS1.
$$$

EDIT: Is it better than the Saturn one?

I don't think so .

Krimzon Kitzune · Post by **Krimzon Kitzune** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:45 pm

ave · Post by **ave** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:30 pm

Gradius for PSP is a nice idea, but the controls are a goddamned shit.

For an arcade-perfect, get the Saturn- (rather cheap, vic viper papercraft ^_~) or psx-version ($$$!!!, Sticker).

For some very cool exclusive stages, get the PCE-version.

If you are bad at shooting games and need some success for your self confidence, get the NES/Famicom-version

I personally like ALL the versions (didnt play pc-88, msx and stuff though) on their own way. Saturn for an arcade perfect emulation of the classic games and its IMO also the best realization of the idea (the sound of the lasers, the fact that they move with your movements while they're still on the screen). PCE for its exclusive stages and NES for... well its just so beautifully simple

Krimzon Kitzune · Post by **Krimzon Kitzune** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:42 pm

thewestexit · Post by **thewestexit** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:27 pm

For the original Gradius I really like the PCE version. And while I know it's not quite arcade perfect, I'm also really partial to the SCD version of Gradius II... I guess I kinda like how the sprites seem a little bigger in that version, also that's the first version of Gradius II I played so that's what I'm used to.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:51 pm

I feel the DS version in Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits is well done. It also has both the EU Nemesis variant (renamed to Gradius for the US version, but still keeps all the features of that variant) and the original Japanese version for the JP and US versions. Which version plays depends on the language setting of the DS (Japanese for the original JP version and any other language for the Nemesis variant). The Nemesis variant has harder rank, different bonus settings, more enemies in places, continues, and power up enemies at checkpoints. All of the dipswitch settings are intact too.

aventus wrote: For an arcade-perfect, get the Saturn- (rather cheap, vic viper papercraft ^_~) or psx-version ($$$!!!, Sticker)

I will also go with the recommendation for the Saturn Gradius Deluxe Pack. It's a very well done port. However, it's not arcade perfect. The resolution is not the same as the arcade. There are vertical bars on the side and the sprites look thinner. There is a "full" mode that removes the bars, but this only extends the play field slightly further than the arcade and doesn't change the resolution.

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:00 pm

Darius11 wrote:one last in thing in my opion gradius for pc-engine is the port ever!!!

All you need to know.

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:34 pm

iatneH wrote:
Darius11 wrote:one last in thing in my opion gradius for pc-engine is the port ever!!!
All you need to know.

I miss him. Darius11, where areth thou?
You´re our member ever!

lamest thing i´ve posted in a while... not saying much though

Bloodreign · Post by **Bloodreign** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:38 am

Gradius Collection PSP, haven't had the sound issues someone mentioned above, but Gradius 4 does indeed have the slowdown. Gradius 1 overall for older ports, PCE version, extra stages music is simply incredible, Gradius 2 PCE CD, what can I say, that rocking intro they threw in that particular port is awesome, the only beef with it is the scratchy announcer, the music is redbook.

Overall if you can't get used to the PSP d-pad for Gradius Collection (dunno how I ever did), just d-pad mod the PSP and everything should flow like wine.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 1:06 pm

The MSX Gradius is an interesting port. The scrolling is choppy and it doesn't get as intense as the arcade, but it plays well. Unlike the arcade, missiles and laser can be upgraded twice. There is a neat exclusive level in it too.

splitblkribbon · Post by **splitblkribbon** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:43 pm

man, I don't have a psp and im not sure I want one (nor have the money for one

) So I guess I'm leaning toward the PC engine port, except I had a traumatic experience with the extra boss in R-type. I'm still not over it, it was horrible!

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:19 pm

Does salamander for PC Engine have exclusive levels?

splitblkribbon · Post by **splitblkribbon** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:59 pm

sideshow wrote:Does salamander for PC Engine have exclusive levels?

I'm pretty sure it doesn't, at least from what i've heard.

Strider77 · Post by **Strider77** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:08 pm

but I have exclusive levels, i am the port ever.

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:45 pm

I believe Parodius had an exclusive level for the PC Engine. So it appears just salamander was the only one left untouched.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 10:08 pm

Shinichi Chiba wrote:
GaijinPunch wrote:
Ceph wrote:Gradius Deluxe Pack for PS1.
$$$

EDIT: Is it better than the Saturn one?
I don't think so .

Well, since the PS1 has better fmv than Saturn, the intro video looks better on PS1. Otherwise the games are identical (the Saturn version is not better!)

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:07 am

If you play Gradius Deluxe Pack on your PS2 then you will encounter horrendous slowdown for Gradius 2 but it plays fine on a PS1 console. Gradius Gaiden level 7 also has the slowdown issue on the PS2 but not the PS1. Has anybody played these games on the PS3 to see if the slowdown occurs or is there a thread already about this?

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:16 am

Ceph wrote:Otherwise the games are identical

With the way the resolution is on the Saturn Gradius Deluxe Pack, I'm a bit skeptical of that. The Saturn version has bars on the side and the graphics are slightly squished compared to the original arcade. There is a full mode that removes the bars, but doesn't change the resolution. It actually extends the play area further than that of the arcade. Is the PSX version like this too?

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:21 am

I hear the differences between the deluxe packs on Saturn/PSX is very minimal. Probably boils down to whether you like the Saturn controller or the Playstation controller.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:28 am

sideshow wrote:I hear the differences between the deluxe packs on Saturn/PSX is very minimal. Probably boils down to whether you like the Saturn controller or the Playstation controller.

I heard that too, but I'm still curious about the resolution, which I don't usually hear much about with these collections.