Do you prefer Gradius or R-Type.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:03 pm

Both of these series have a long history of great titles but they are both different fundimentaly. I'm asking that you vote for your favorite series, do you prefer R-Type or Gradius? Both games are difficult and really expect the player to have the levels memorized and played to perfection. I'm not asking which is better, what series do you prefer between the two?

Please discuss the following aspects if you want.

Art (Which series has the most pleasing art or theme?)

Music (Which series has the most appealing sounds/tunes)

Design (Do you prefer "options" or "forces"?, Which series has the most pleasing level design?)

Difficulty (Which series is overall more difficult)

Please keep this topic on track, no smartass answers regarding other horizontal shmups. This is just for inventory and personal interest.

KennyMan666 · Post by **KennyMan666** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:10 pm

I'm no big fan of either series, them having about two games each which I can actually play without going crazy.

But of those, I'd pick Gradius as the lesser of two evils, Gaiden being the absolute pinnacle of the series.

I'll however give R-Type one thing. It has a great backstory, and I find Final's presentation of it and some other things to be completely excellent.

SockPuppetHyren · Post by **SockPuppetHyren** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:20 pm

Tough question...I'd have to go with R-type

For one thing, R-type's aesthetic and style is generally has much more flair and style than Gradius', which felt pretty generic (With exception of the Maois). The organic monstrosities in R-type made me wonder about their origins while I was playing, which I really don't think about in most SHMUPs I play.
The enemy placement and stage design also felt more thought out and were simply more fun to play than Gradius', their stages are fun to play through also. Except for a few select songs, neither series' music really appealed with me.
I think the two series' are petty equal when it comes to difficulty, especially the earlier games. Losing all you power ups after dying AND having to redo a large section of a level is always a painful experience.

subcons · Post by **subcons** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:28 pm

Without a doubt, Gradius.

Don't feel like taking the time to discuss all that "stuff" though.

FIL · Post by **FIL** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:42 pm

R-Type has space dongs, Gradius has Moais

mr_m0nks · Post by **mr_m0nks** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 10:52 pm

I would say R-Type, overall it just seems a little more "real" than the Gradius games i have played I find Gradius too fantastic. Floating heads and Sand Dragons just don't do in for me) R-Type just seems grittier.

Also I can not get to grips with the power up system in Gradius, it just sees clumsy to me. Give me a Force and some bits any day!

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:02 pm

I like them both the same...however I think I've played more R-Types than G, so I chose RT.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:09 pm

I prefer Gradius in most ways.

I like the art direction better in the Gradius series. The organic levels are neat in R-Type but the shading looks a bit rushed on their non-organic things. The Gradius ships with their glowing cores just attract me more.

I feel that R-Type is slightly more difficult than Gradius. Gradius was my first 1CC so there is some bias there.

I think Konami wins for music but again both series have decent tunes. The Konami songs just stick better.

Zebra Airforce · Post by **Zebra Airforce** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:15 pm

Gradius destroys R-Type.

tviks · Post by **tviks** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:14 am

Gradius 1 < R-type 1

Gradius 2 > R-type 2

Gradius 3 = R-type 3

Gradius Gaiden = R-type Delta

Gradius V >>> R-type Final

So yeah, it's a pretty close one. Both are great. I'll still go with Gradius.

captpain · Post by **captpain** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:24 am

Life Force on the NES got me into shmups. When I found out that there were other Gradius titles, well, there was no hope for R-Type. Great games, though I can't help but like Gradius more (perhaps irrationally).

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:28 am

There is much love for both series. The poll keeps going back and forth!

As a trivial sidenote, I like the ship design of the Gradius games better. R-Type has original designs but they are not really as aerodynamic as the Gradius ships.

Matsunaga · Post by **Matsunaga** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:44 am

I like R-Type better. I've tried to get into Gradius so many times, I've played every one and I'm just not a big fan. R-Type has cooler ships and better weapons, as far as I'm concerned. Also, every Gradius game seems a little too similar. How about some innovation?

Ex-Cyber · Post by **Ex-Cyber** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:48 am

I think the main thing I prefer about Gradius is that its weapons feel a lot more functional than the ones in R-Type (which tend to strike me as awkward). I think R-Type wins on looks and generally has cooler bosses, but I prefer Gradius's music, power up system, and level designs.

kengou · Post by **kengou** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:55 am

I just plain don't like the R-Type series while I absolutely love most Gradius games. I just don't like how R-Type demands memorization to survive the game. It doesn't feel fair at all if it's not possible to beat it without knowing the level layouts completely. There's other stuff too, but the games just aren't fun at all to me.

MathU · Post by **MathU** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:05 am

Gradius has had some low points, but every R-Type except Final has been excellent. I prefer R-Type's power-up system, Force device, and level and boss design.

Also, LOL at the people who think Gradius is more forgiving than R-Type.

nimitz · Post by **nimitz** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:35 am

First of all, lets forget about Gradius V and R-Type final since they really aren't part of the series.

But either way Gradius wins hands down, the gradius games just show everything that Konami can do right. R-type is far from flawless, and the farther you go in the series the worse are the games.

Also lets not forget that R-type was release in July 1987 and Gradius 2 in August 1987. so comparing the original Gradius to R-type like tviks did is a little unfair. I would put it this way

1985 Gradius > ****
1987 Gradius 2 > R-type
1989 Gradius 3 > R-type 2
Gradius 4 > R-type Leo
Gradius Gaiden > R-type Delta

and finally lets not forget the awesome Art, imagine seeing that back in 1985 or so...

j^aws · Post by **j^aws** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:14 am

I was never that impressed with the original Gradius; mainly because I played another shoot-em-up in the Arcades, years before it, with a better weapon system; scoring system; enemy design and AI...

It wasn't until the orginal R-Type in the Arcades that I was impressed quite as much with a shoot-em-up; level design, the Force and artstyle were the main hooks for me... And I've enjoyed most of the series since; so I voted for it!

Andi · Post by **Andi** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:17 am

I voted R-Type. I prefer the style and atmosphere, plus, I just don't really care for the power-up system in Gradius. Both are fine series in their own right and you really have to look at them on a game by game basis.

Sly Cherry Chunks · Post by **Sly Cherry Chunks** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:18 am

Voted Gradius. I think we have to count GV as part of the series though as without it, R-Type would've won.

I prefer Gradius style gameplay - more room for agressive/reaction-based play. It's the memory-based sections that let R-Type down, in particular stage 4 of R-Type III. Not that it's too difficult, it just isn't fun to learn.

R-Type's weapon system is vastly superior, unfortunately the games themselves dont leave much room for experimentation (i.e. force front or back or detached) with the options youre given as they can only really be played one way. The weapon system was also tweaked significantly throughout the sequels, most notably in Delta where your choice of ship started to affect how you played. Leo was a total departure.
Gradius' system was tweaked through the sequels but all the newer weapons pretty much all did the same thing (biggest disapointment = Gaiden) It wasnt until V that we got our first major departure - and that's what tipped my vote.

LSU · Post by **LSU** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:29 am

I appreciate why people like the R-Type games so much, but I've always been a much bigger Gradius fan.

I prefer absolutely everything about the Gradius series - art direction, music, level designs, weapon systems, and most importantly pacing. The Gradius games are spot-on for me difficulty wise, whereas the R-Types tend to have me pulling my hair out in frustration after a while.

j^aws · Post by **j^aws** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:12 am

Sly Cherry Chunks wrote: ...
R-Type's weapon system is vastly superior, unfortunately the games themselves dont leave much room for experimentation (i.e. force front or back or detached)...

I found plenty to experiment with the Force being detached, not leaving it to do its own thing, but reattaching it. Careful ship positioning and calling your Force back can destroy enemies along a line-of-sight, leaving you to focus your charge shots... And still leave your options to do their thing...

shinsage · Post by **shinsage** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:32 am

nimitz wrote:First of all, lets forget about Gradius V and R-Type final since they really aren't part of the series.

lol, what a load of shit.

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:01 am

shinsage wrote:
nimitz wrote:First of all, lets forget about Gradius V and R-Type final since they really aren't part of the series.
lol, what a load of shit.

If you really want to get ugly, Konami acknowledged "Scramble" as a part of the Gradius lineage in Gradius Galaxies for the GBA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scramble_(arcade_game)

gs68 · Post by **gs68** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:08 am

Sly Cherry Chunks wrote:Gradius' system was tweaked through the sequels but all the newer weapons pretty much all did the same thing (biggest disapointment = Gaiden)

</3

Anyways, I vote Gradius. I can never get into an R-Type game after the first stage. R-Type has less focus on action and more on memorizing entire levels, something that I'll reserve for Castlevania (yes, I know, completely different genre).

Dremark · Post by **Dremark** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:13 am

LSU wrote:Gradius games are spot-on for me difficulty wise

You're not counting the arcade version of 3, right?

Impervious · Post by **Impervious** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:18 am

gradius V > R Type Final.

LSU · Post by **LSU** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 5:08 am

Dremark wrote:
LSU wrote:Gradius games are spot-on for me difficulty wise
You're not counting the arcade version of 3, right?

That one's obviously by the far the toughest. The rest of the series are much more my pace. And yet, despite being rock hard, somehow I still find Gradius III to be much less frustrating than the R-Types!

moonblood · Post by **moonblood** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:38 am

R-Type all the way. I'll add some why's later maybe

sven666 · Post by **sven666** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 6:44 am

i very much prefer r-type and concider Delta to be one of the best shmups ever actually.

only gradius i properly enjoyed was Gaiden (tho theyre all quality games) but nowhere near as much as Delta.

if you go by console ports then super r-type is a helluva lot better than the port of gradius 3 aswell..

shmups.system11.org

Do you prefer Gradius or R-Type.

Overall do you prefer Gradius or R-Type?

Do you prefer Gradius or R-Type.