Gradius V - US/JPN Differences?
Gradius V - US/JPN Differences?
Sorry if this has already been done, but the search facility isn't the most useful of things... Anyway, my question - what are the differences between the original JPN release of Gradius V, and the subsequent US release? Did the US release come with the History of Gradius book?
The JPN version that i recieved had a "The History Of The Vic Viper" booklet.
Ikaruga review now up in PLASMA BLOSSOM
Actually, they're called "Multiples" in Salamander (I can scan in my PC-E HuCard manual if you'd care to see).cfalcon wrote:Crazier thing about that is that they've always been *called* options in the past. So it isn't a US / JPN thing, it's a "Guy in marketing has a bright idea even though he wasn't out of diapers when Gradius was out in the US with options" thing.
I agree, that really threw me.
But apart from Japanese subtitles during the cut-scenes and Japanese explanations of the various game modes, the games are identical.
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Indeed.Kiken wrote:Actually, they're called "Multiples" in Salamander (I can scan in my PC-E HuCard manual if you'd care to see).cfalcon wrote:Crazier thing about that is that they've always been *called* options in the past. So it isn't a US / JPN thing, it's a "Guy in marketing has a bright idea even though he wasn't out of diapers when Gradius was out in the US with options" thing.
I agree, that really threw me.
In Blazing Lazers (TG16), the options are called multiples too. Maybe they got the name from that.

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Whenever I play a Gradius title I sometimes think of actually combining power ups e.g Laser then when I have Double highlighted press double to enhance my laserKiken wrote:For some reason, I always expect the announcer in Gradius Gaiden to proclaim: "Option! Level 2" when I activate my second Option.


hence thinking of getting a double laser
I wonder If this could be incorperated in a future Gradius title?
I'm not sure how it would exactly work but It'll be rather cool.
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What I hate a lot more is the PS2 being unable to boot it up or have the music skip because the lens is having a hard time trying to read the disc. There's nothing more distracting than hearing the boss music skip during an intense moment in the fight, although the words "Now Loading" at the bottom-right of the screen when the game loads the next stage (which shouldn't happen for a healthy PS2) comes pretty close.MSZ wrote: All versions are in CD format.
Which I hate a lot, the soundtrack is heavily compressed. The OST obviously sounds trillion times better.
I wonder why so many developers/publishers still use CD's
+ Slightly cheaper
- Slow loading
- Skipping movies/sound
- Need heavy compression on video/audio
- Easier to pirate
- The CD logo scares some buyers away
- Causes the PS2 to make more noise, and wear out the drive faster
Using CD media instead of DVD just makes no sense to me
+ Slightly cheaper
- Slow loading
- Skipping movies/sound
- Need heavy compression on video/audio
- Easier to pirate
- The CD logo scares some buyers away
- Causes the PS2 to make more noise, and wear out the drive faster
Using CD media instead of DVD just makes no sense to me

The strange thing is, I was in Hong Kong during this game's Japanese release (so bootlegs are available within 1-2 days).
I got a bootleg copy on a very nice-looking pressed DVD, and the ripped ISO file is over one gigabyte. I wonder how that happened, since I'm certain the original Japanese version is on a CD, and I now have an original US version on a CD too.
My US version also continues to use the Japanese version save file with no problem also O__________________o;;;;;
I got a bootleg copy on a very nice-looking pressed DVD, and the ripped ISO file is over one gigabyte. I wonder how that happened, since I'm certain the original Japanese version is on a CD, and I now have an original US version on a CD too.
My US version also continues to use the Japanese version save file with no problem also O__________________o;;;;;
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Now that's even weirder, since orange lasers would completely weird me out, and I don't remember being weirded out at all by a funny looking laser... As I remember it, your lasers are blue in both US and JP versions.llaoyllakcuf wrote:kinda insignificant, but your laser is blue-colored in the Jpn. version,
same as the enemies.
US & PAL versions have orange/yellow ones.
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I can confirm that my US copy does not have the blue lasers.As I remember it, your lasers are blue in both US and JP versions.
but if you check out the videos here, the lasers are different in the PAL version!

(first all-clear replay doesn't have blue, and the rest do)
http://benjamin.bouloch.free.fr/ben-shinobi.htm
come to think of it, maybe its more red than orange..
Dialog translation
I own the JPN copy of Gradius V. Those of you who have the US copy, I'm curious to know what Bacterion says at the end.
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Hi Bcass. Didn't know you came here.
I picked up the PAL version the other day for £18 - having not played it for quite some time (and it has a 50/60 feature - nice!)
I frikkin love this thing.
The ship detail and graphic is amazing, and the music is just so cool at times and that boss rush at the end of L2 - sublime.
I really think its THE best hori shmup.
visuatrox wrote...
I picked up the PAL version the other day for £18 - having not played it for quite some time (and it has a 50/60 feature - nice!)
I frikkin love this thing.
The ship detail and graphic is amazing, and the music is just so cool at times and that boss rush at the end of L2 - sublime.
I really think its THE best hori shmup.
visuatrox wrote...
Not quite true in this case. The PS2 lasers are very fickle and it reads DVD's much better then yarred CD's. Much better. There is proberly only one brand that works at all (to my knowledge) and that Verbatim.- Easier to pirate
Re: Dialog translation
I'd like to know that too. And I have the US version. Maybe it's my speakers, but I've always had a tough time making out what it says.Gozer wrote:I own the JPN copy of Gradius V. Those of you who have the US copy, I'm curious to know what Bacterion says at the end.
It's something like "I am a small part of what is known as Venom..." and stuff about how eventually more of Venom will become sentient and hunt us down and how its hatred of us will never die... I forget the exact words. Someone transcribed the whole thing before, but I don't remember if that was before the last database death. 
Also, I didn't see this mentioned, but Options are Multiples in Gradius Galaxies, also, depending on which type you select .

Also, I didn't see this mentioned, but Options are Multiples in Gradius Galaxies, also, depending on which type you select .
"This is not an alien life form! He is an experimental government aircraft!"
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