Gradius II on the Virtual Console

[indutrial]

I was wondering if anyone's played this enough to see if they included the extra stage that was designed for the PC-Engine CD version of the game... Has anyone looked into this?

[BrianC]

I'm guessing it's still there since the version on the VC is the PCE version.

[Bloodreign]

Some prints didn't have the extra stage from what I've seen on Youtube videos, as well as some of the comments from the video uploaders. But I'm sure the extra stage is in this release.

[evil_ash_xero]

What was the extra stage? I have the VC version, and have played through the whole thing, but I don't know what the extra stage is.

[Zeether]

It's a sand stage like stage 1 of III. There's also a secret path in the stage that gives you 7(?) extra lives.

[originalz]

Yeah, the stage is in the VC version. I didn't even know there were versions of the game without the stage, that makes absolutely no sense.

[Klatrymadon]

Aye, it's extremely odd if there are PCE discs that don't have this stage. It was probably chucked in at the last minute, of course, but that wouldn't explain why subsequent printing runs used a version that didn't have it.

Listening to "Deprived Sanctity", now. Great tune.

[saucykobold]

The extra stage wasn't cut out of some versions of the game. Rather, you can bypass it by using the "arcade mode" cheat (hold up and buttons I and II until you get to the title screen).