The Gradius Experience...?

[Aquas]

I have to say that after my lengthy excursions with some of the gradius games, particularly Gradius III, the snes version of it, originally. But Gradius III (arc) and V on the PS2 recently. The Gradius games have a unique feel no other horizontal shmups have seem to been able to match to its pacing, attitude and flavor of difficulty.

I don't think I ever played the NES port of Gradius, if maybe once in my childhood. The closest I got was the Gradius minigame in one of the SNES Goemon games, I believe the first one. Even back then, recalling what that was like, I feel like I resonated with shooting sideways with my man Vic Viper.

Yeah, Super R-Type was cool I guess and had great upbeat tunes for SFC, but an ultra memorizer...

Having now almost able to reach the third loop in Gradius V, 1cc Gradius (arc) and getting to the fire stage in Gradius III (arc) I feel like these hours I've spent have been excellent journeys of improving skills or high scores and practicing quick boss kill techniques (Gradius IV has awesome bosses!)

I also enjoy the fact that Gradius games are notorious for multiple loops, as well. Also for asking you for your age or star sign, that's classic Gradius right there! Why don't more people play Gradius IV or talk about it? I think it's pretty badass overall, the boss rush is friggen epic and I have yet to pass it, and the Hi-Speed stage. Damn you hi-speed stage! I've been playing it with a ghetto arcade style setup with an HRAP on a table elevated by some books and such. Also been trying to play it without auto with only the three buttons, Powerup, Shot and Missle (1,2,3) and it's been pretty hard for me lol. Playing Gradius with a stick kinda weirds me out but I like it at the same time. o.O But I did beat the bubble core with it so I got something going for me there, huzzah! Damn bubbles!!! Daaaaammnn you!

Hey! Brush up on your skills.
You need some practice.
You're NOT a living legend, dick!
Game Over.

oh, yeah,

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

So I guess this is a Gradius appeciation topic or something... you guys have favorites of the series or related thoughts? Wanna share your experiences to your Gradius stardom(s) or anti-stardoms? Wanna diss R-Type for its sheer inferiority, yeah! Get that 'bit' shit outta here!

[kengou]

I recently got the Gradius III and IV collection for PS2, almost completing my overall collection. The only game I haven't played now is the original arcade version of Gradius. I'm a big fan of the series for sure. I found IV to be not my favorite however, it has some unfair/memorizer sections that I don't really care for. And we all know the absurd difficulty of III, although it is fun. I think Gaiden is my favorite of the series. It's really a perfect realization of the Gradius formula with excellent bosses and stage design as well as some cool weapons.

The only way I could think of to improve Gradius is if the next game has an actual scoring system of some sort.

Edit: I also don't like R-Tyle!

[Ghegs]

Why don't more people play Gradius IV or talk about it?

I think IV is the black sheep of the family (even counting V), or at least that's the impression I've got from reading some people's opinion on it. Personally I like it, the graphics are good (even though that's what most people criticize about it), the stages are nice...lava stage, mmm.

For the longest time I've been meaning to dedicate proper time to it so I could actually get past the bubble stage properly. Maybe this year.

[mirkvid]

I love Gradius. Lots of good times playing 3 on snes and the collections on saturn and psp. I even have a Vic Viper tatoo!









R-Type is fine.

[Ghegs]

I even have a Vic Viper tatoo!

Pics or it didn't happen.

[John845]

I just wish all the Gradius games wouldn't become impossibly difficult once you die and lose your options. I guess if you kept the same speed you had prior to dieing the Gradius games wouldn't be so difficult, but once you move at snail speed upon dieing it's just a headache. Gradius V is a little more forgiving in this, just a little. On Gradius V if you lose your options prior to the green liquid area though.. just forget it...

[Aquas]

Yes, but I find Gradius IV has a lot of recovery opportunities. Every game has a few places where you can recover or "revive" from at least, some less than others, for sure, like Gradius 3 (arc) becomes nearly impossible to recover past the 2nd stage pretty much. Gradius V remedied this, but Gaiden has tons of powerups.

[Bloodreign]

I enjoy my Gradius quite a bit thank you, even loving 4 and preaching about it for quite awhile in IRC. Here's what I have Gradius-wise.

1) Gradius NES
2) Life Force NES
3) Nemesis Game Boy
4) Gradius II: Interstellar Assauly GB
5) Gradius Galaxies GBA
6) Gradius Deluxe Pack PSX
7) Salamander Deluxe Pack PSX
8: Gradius 2 PCE CD
9) Salamander Portable PSP
10) Gradius Collection PSP
11) Gradius Deluxe Pack Saturn
12) Salamander Deluxe Pack Saturn
13) Gradius 3 and 4 PS 2
14) Gradius V PS 2
15) MSX Antiques Saturn- with MSX Gradius and Salamander games on it
16) Gradius Gaiden PSX
17) Gradius 3 SNES

Offtopic, Gradius spinoffs too:
1) Parodius Portable PSP
2) Parodius Deluxe Pack PSX
3) Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius PSX
4) Parodius Deluxe Pack Saturn
5) Jikkyou Oshaberi Parodius Saturn
6) Sexy Parodius Saturn

Yeah I appreciate the Gradius series more than the R-Type series, but all due respect to R-Type, I've a few of it's games as well, and they too are good.

[John845]

Oh I love Salamander 2.

[themachinist]

I even have a Vic Viper tatoo!

Pics or it didn't happen.

[dpful]

I love Salamander 2 too. I love gradius IV-- graphics are excellent, Oprah music on the stage warmup's rules, extreme difficulty on bubble level (which I almost never pass) rules. When credit feeding, the power up recovery precedures for each stage's sections seem very well thought out and strategic.

Admittedly, the first stage is a little crappy but come on, liquid gold spheres? That's kind of cool, even if dated.

[orange]

I even have a Vic Viper tatoo!

if this is true then you're out of fucking control awesome

[Mortificator]

Nemesis 3 appreciation post.

[gs68]

Why don't more people play Gradius IV or talk about it?

because it's not guy-den

(p.s. I <3 Gradius Gaiden.)

[Frederik]

I never liked IV because it just feels weird and stiff, in sharp contrast to the very enjoyable Gaiden. There´s something about the whole presentation in IV that I can´t stand...

[Jockel]

I even have a Vic Viper tatoo!

Pics or it didn't happen.

[nimitz]

Gradius is awesome, and all the Konami Horis too.


People seem not to like Gradius IV because they don't know much about it, It's Gradius in it's purest form, and about as hard as Gradius 3 arcade (imo). But when you realize that most people never seen the Moai stage or anything after it you can understand why this game is underappreciated.

The best quality of Gradius IV is that it's 100% pure Gradius glory, but this exact same aspect is also it's downfall...(superficially that is)

[kengou]

IV feels more unfair than III, even though III is harder. To me the level design in IV feels more like R-Type or Thunderforce, there's parts you need to memorize to stay alive, and some bosses spew out really fast stuff that you need to memorize or safe-spot, that's kind of lame too. I find III almost more fun to play even though I can barely beat the bubble stage. It may be nasty but it's not unfair about it.

Gaiden however is just excellent and balanced in every way.

[bucklemyshoe]

I haven't tried any of the other installments besides 5. I didn't really like that one at all but this thread makes me wonder if I'm missing something? Am I? Where would be the best place to start at giving Gradius a second chance?

[kozo]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[bkk]

[God]

Where would be the best place to start at giving Gradius a second chance?

-The GBA Gradius game, whatever its called.
-Gradius 3 for the SNES (if and only if you dont mind slowdown)
-Salamander 2, for mame.

The Gradius Gaiden for PSX is probably the most highly praised gradius around here. But I can't recommend it because I havent played it yet.

[nimitz]

some bosses spew out really fast stuff that you need to memorize or safe-spot, that's kind of lame too

Which one?

[Aquas]

Well Gradius IV I think deserves more respect because visually it's stunning, and because "reviving" is a lot more do-able than in Gradius III (arc) and I mean a LOT more doable. Unlike Gradius III, the bubble boss doesn't become impossible when you're naked or can only gather one option from a checkpoint. And the rank seems to be just right for Gradius IV. There is some memorization but I think it has more to do with how to deal with the situation rather than just being somewhere at a specific time. I really liked this aspect of Gradius V, learning to deal with a situation then deciding I'm ready to move on in the game. Gradius IV has this kind of thing, too, I think, the Maoi stage is pretty brutal but the key thing to surviving it is surrounding your options around the Viper and being adept in picking spots to zip to and wait at. While the cell stage requires some key positioning as well, but nothing a couple force fields can't get you through. I like how the bosses during the boss rush can mostly be quick killed, but if you fail to quick kill them, the fight is prolonged by what it has in store, and there are certain stategies for each one.

Gradius Gaiden is cool and all but not a true Gradius game =) but I guess you could argue V isn't a true Gradius either because of Treasure. I think IV is not as unfair as III, the Hi-Speed stage is kind of rough in IV but there ain't no Cube Rush or ridiculous YOU MUST 1 LIFE THIS PART parts like the fire stage in GIII. GIV seems to care more for the player in recovering in a thought out way.

[mirkvid]

Well, its not done yet, but you can get the idea. I still have at least 2 more sittings to go. I also have an Ikaruga fighter on the shoulder of this arm.




Sorry about the quality. When its done I'll have my artist take some legit shots. You can check out her site at www.fallenleaftattoos.com (which I created for her!)

[John845]

[Kollision]

Gradius was one of the series I didn't really know until Gradius V for the PS2, which is absolutely amazing.

Having realized I was a shmup fan very late in my life, I decided to tackle all classic series from the start. That's why the first thing I did was beat Gradius for the NES, and then the PCE version. Right now I'm on the verge of beating Gradius II (PCE CD).
I have all the other games in console form, and they too "shall be crushed" in due time.

[Macaw]

Arcade version of Gradius 3 is legendary. So epic!

[Jockel]

Well, its not done yet, but you can get the idea. I still have at least 2 more sittings to go. I also have an Ikaruga fighter on the shoulder of this arm.




Sorry about the quality. When its done I'll have my artist take some legit shots. You can check out her site at www.fallenleaftattoos.com (which I created for her!)

HOLY FUCKING SHIT YOU ARE AWESOME.
The DOJ Ship is just brilliant.
I always wanted to get a shmup tattoo
and i'm still looking for a good motive.

[kengou]

some bosses spew out really fast stuff that you need to memorize or safe-spot, that's kind of lame too

Which one?

The lava boss is the one that most readily comes to mind. A few of the bosses during the boss-rush part of the game - stage 4 maybe? - aren't very fun for me either.