Help: Gradius novice needs advice

[redrob67]

Hello

Apologies to the die-hard Gradius veterans amongst you for this one, but I'm a Gradius newbie who is struggling.

Basically, I recently bought Gradius V for the PS2 and I can't seem to get through even half the game (at least according to the screenshots I found online).

Whenever I get to a certain point (like I said, about half way through) I'm sent back to the very beginning again.

Am I meant to build up to a certain score? Am I meant to do it in one go? Is there a fault with the disc or am I missing something basic and simple or what?


I really enjoy the game, but this is driving me up the wall!!!

Thanks to anyone who can advise me as to what's going on.

Rob

[mr_m0nks]

I've not played Gradius V myself but i know certain shmups limit the levels you can get to, depending on the difficulty level you select at the start of the game. not sure if GV goes this though

im sure some of the Gradius experts here will soon clear it up though

[Frederik]

Am I meant to do it in one go?

This, basically.

There is a certain number of lives to each credit, and you have a fixed number of credits. Can´t remember if the number of credits increase based on how many hours you play it, but the basic idea behind any shmup is that you´re indeed supposed to do it in one go. Using continues to play through the whole game while dying all the time is called "creditfeeding", and usually frowned upon. You didn´t clear a game in our terms if you didn´t do it on one credit. Occasionally, players will use continues to practice later, harder stages, but in general a full, proper playthrough is done with the preset number of lives.

However, Gradius V is a VERY long game with very tough spots. My advice would be to start playing the game on the easiest level and see how far you can go in one credit and don´t use continues anymore. This, of course, makes things a lot harder, but also more thrilling. If you are having troubles in later stages, use the stage select mode to practice these. You´ll soon notice an increase in appreciation for the game and discover a lot of techniques and details.... Well, either that, or you´ll start hating it

But "doing things in one go" is basically the backbone of this genre. These are very practice-heavy games, but I can hardly think of a genre where finally getting past obstacles that seemed unsurmountable before feels so satisfying. Like in real life, actually Most shmups are designed that you´ll have to practice the game for weeks and months until you can clear it in one go, but the "1 life clear" (1cc) isn´t where all the fun is, it´s just the goal while you´re playing an intense game over and over. This makes is very different from most "see everything and then discard" genres nowadays. Shmups are very similar to puzzle games in this regard - playing a game over and over again, feeling good as you make visible progress.

Also, welcome

[orange]

just return the game before you get to level 6

[Ruldra]

Whenever I get to a certain point (like I said, about half way through) I'm sent back to the very beginning again.

Are you sure you're not clearing the loop? There are 8 stages in this game. After that, you're sent back to stage 1, but it'll be a little bit harder.

Either way, I suggest you credit-feed to the end, so you unlock Weapon Edit and all stages in practice mode. Then, pick the weapons you like the most and set a number of credits to beat the first loop (like, use only 10 credits), and try to reduce that number until you can do it in one credit. You should use practice mode often too, as there are many parts that require practice.

So, practice, practice, practice, and don't give up.

just return the game before you get to level 6

Oh come on, stage 6 isn't that hard.

[Frederik]

If you´re COMPLETELY new to shumps, though (and it sounds a lot like it), try some excellent freewaregames, like rRootage. Gradius V can be a pain in the rear even for veteran players, and while it has great audio and visuals I find it too epic for its own good.

The mentioned rRootage has single selectable stages ranging from very easy to very hard, and is a very good introduction to the vertical manic shmup genre. Also has a Mac port if you´re using one btw.

[spadgy]

Am I meant to do it in one go?

This, basically.

Exactly. What you'll learn is that on this forum there are some very good players, and some less brilliant ones (like me), and all will have different opinions on how hard a game is. A game that might take me a year to 1CC (one-credit-clear) for example, might take another player 6 weeks.

Rest assured Gradius V is very tough (by my standards), but stick with it, and you'll get there on one credit!

This thread shows you how tough it is, and Sly Cherry Chunks is a decent enough player. I've still never got the Gradius V 1CC.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Are you sure he doesnt mean the last level where you are sent back to level 2? I'm sure you unlock freeplay after only a few hours anyway.

[mjclark]

Hmmm, I think redrob67 is talking about something different here...
...I had a similar thing the first time I played 2-player Gradius V.Everytime we got to the end of Stage 1 we just got sent back to the start and couldn't progress to Stage 2.I never managed to figure out why.On single player it plays through the stages just fine

[orange]

lies

[dmzach]

Gradius V is a really long game, each loop is about 1 hour long. ( I don't know if it loops after the 2nd one, its too long to play a single game for 2 hours, plus it's really difficult

You could try some of the earilyer Gradius games but they all pretty difficult. Especially #3 which is really unforgiving.

[Zweihander]

Gradius V is a really long game, each loop is about 1 hour long. ( I don't know if it loops after the 2nd one, its too long to play a single game for 2 hours, plus it's really difficult

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynoe1qbJ5uM (Loop 256, stage

Invincible Manic Shooting Brigade MANGO SENTINEL

CURLEH MOUSTACHE

[dmzach]

Jesus chorist, loop 256? does the difficulty ever drop off at some point?


what makes that even more insane, is that they woudl have to play for 10 days playing time to get that many loops.

[Dremark]

Invincible Manic Shooting Brigade MANGO SENTINEL

CURLEH MOUSTACHE

MAKE IT RAIN!

[Aquas]

Invincible Manic Shooting Brigade MANGO SENTINEL

CURLEH MOUSTACHE

MAKE IT RAIN!

Haagan daz haagan daz mother fucker.

Yeah, the difficulty stops increasing at the 10th loop. If you're persistent enough, Gradius V is probably the most rewarding shmup you'll ever play... it has been for me (I've reached 2-7) There are always new hurdles to beat after you've conquered one part or another. Remember, the hit box is the cockpit of the Vic Viper, and it's pretty small.

[Zweihander]

CURLEH MOUSTACHE

MAKE IT RAIN!

Haagan daz haagan daz mother fucker.

MAG-FUCKING-NETO

And yeah, 5x5-pixel hitbox, IIRC. Tiny shit is tiny.

Gradius V is probably my favorite Gradius game, with Gaiden coming in at a very close 2nd. I favor G5 because it brings in two elements which Gradius has sorely been lacking while Life Force featured both: Instant respawn, and simultaneous co-op. You should me playing G5 with a friend of mine... after stage 3, it's all just a game of keeping the Options on-screen. "SHIT! SAVE THE OPTIONS! NO! FUCK!" Good times. On single-player, I can usually hold my own until the beginning of stage 5. Then everything goes to hell. :/

[Frederik]

Gaidens boss cemetary in stage 2 is the single best stage in any Gradius ever. I also love the tune in that level

[Ruldra]

what makes that even more insane, is that they woudl have to play for 10 days playing time to get that many loops.

tviks made it to loop 16. IIRC the run lasted for a week and he had to go to school and leave the PS2 on.

Epic.

[redrob67]

All

Thanks for the replies, but I'm not sure I'm any the wiser.

Just to clarify:

1) Although it's been a while (a good while, admittedly) since I've played any shmups, I'm not a complete novice. I vividly remember the feeling of joy that swept over me when I finally finished Gradius on the SNES back in about '86. Having said that, I know shit all about Gradius V.

2) With Gradius V, I'm definitely NOT near the end of the game. I can only get part of the way through the first stage of Level 2 where I'm shooting at the boss that tries to zap you with electricity, shoots red lasers and huge blue energy bursts. After defeating it the Auto Save screen appears, says it's saving and then suddenly I'm sent back to the 'Level Select' screen again (not the absolute beginning, as I mistakenly said). And round and round it goes.

3) I also understand that, in an ideal shmup world I should be able to finish the game in one go, but can this be a reason for the game itself to suddenly send me back after completing only the first stage of Level Two? Why do this on Level 2? Why not do the same thing in Level 1? If I've apparently completed the first stage of Level Two, why not let me proceed to the second stage? It's just incredibly odd and frustrating as there doesn't seem to be any reason for it, no big flashing sign saying, 'That was absolute garbage, now get back to the beginning of the level again, you useless prick!' A bit harsh maybe, but at least I'd know where I stood.

4) Could 'mjclark' be on the right track when they mentioned having a similar problem in 2 Player mode. As no-one else has mentioned, or remembers the 'being sent back bit' as being a feature of the game when they first started playing it, could I simply have a faulty disc?

Am I making sense with any of this?

Cheers!

Rob

P.S. Just had another go to see if I could spot any clues, but there didn't seem to be any (not to these rookie eyes anyway).

[orange]

MAKE IT RAIN!

Haagan daz haagan daz mother fucker.

MAG-FUCKING-NETO

And yeah, 5x5-pixel hitbox, IIRC. Tiny shit is tiny.

Gradius V is probably my favorite Gradius game, with Gaiden coming in at a very close 2nd. I favor G5 because it brings in two elements which Gradius has sorely been lacking while Life Force featured both: Instant respawn, and simultaneous co-op. You should me playing G5 with a friend of mine... after stage 3, it's all just a game of keeping the Options on-screen. "SHIT! SAVE THE OPTIONS! NO! FUCK!" Good times. On single-player, I can usually hold my own until the beginning of stage 5. Then everything goes to hell. :/

i agree with you on the 2 player part but the instant respawn part is pretty bad sometimes because with checkpoints you typically respawn at a part with a few powerups etc also you could get stuck with no speed powerups after you died

[Ed Oscuro]

Listen to the Gradius Announcers, they reveal wisdom.

[orange]

the announcer is one of the best parts of the gradius series

also the extend sound from gradius 3 ac is a+++

[Aquas]

2) With Gradius V, I'm definitely NOT near the end of the game. I can only get part of the way through the first stage of Level 2 where I'm shooting at the boss that tries to zap you with electricity, shoots red lasers and huge blue energy bursts. After defeating it the Auto Save screen appears, says it's saving and then suddenly I'm sent back to the 'Level Select' screen again (not the absolute beginning, as I mistakenly said). And round and round it goes.

Perhaps you're having disc read errors...?

[Zweihander]

After defeating it the Auto Save screen appears, says it's saving and then suddenly I'm sent back to the 'Level Select' screen again (not the absolute beginning, as I mistakenly said). And round and round it goes.

Oh. That's your problem. "Level select" is just practice mode. You have to start the game from the beginning if you want to get farther. Start a new game the normal way, not with the "level select" menu. Level Select is just good for honing certain techniques and practicing tough spots. If you start a stage on Level Select, it will only allow you to get as far as you've legitimately gotten in arcade mode.

Problem solved.

[spadgy]

That sounds like the problem. Which options do you take as you go through the menu screens at the start Rob? Oh - and welcome to the board!

And Sly Cherry - I hope me linking to your thread in my post above didn't offend. Just trying to show the persistence needed!

[Zweihander]

the instant respawn part is pretty bad sometimes because with checkpoints you typically respawn at a part with a few powerups etc also you could get stuck with no speed powerups after you died

Yeah, but if you die with Options, at least you still have those. Plus, I don't think I'll ever be able to one-life clear the game, which I'd need to do if I'm to get through stage 6's boss rush. Those guys are epic... and by epic, I mean nightmarish.