I Still can't get enough of the 1st level of Gradius V.

[PFG 9000]

I love Gradius V, but my one gripe is that the game seems a bit unbalanced to me. The first four levels are fairly easy for me to clear in one life, but the fifth, sixth, and seventh levels are brutal. Obviously games should get harder as they go on, but I prefer a steady progression of difficulty.

I probably just need some practice.

I do prefer the first level of Gaiden, but that's mostly for the killer music. That whole game has an amazing soundtrack.

[Klatrymadon]

No problem, mate!

[captain ahar]

i like gaiden better all around, it just feels better. also its prettier, but i can hold that against poor old 3d.

gofer is probably my favorite in the series though, again there is something about it that bleeds awesome.

[sffan]

and I've always especially liked the bit where you briefly see Earth and space, through the holes in the station, just looks beautiful.

Have you noticed that some of the stars go in front of the earth?

[Nemo]

Did you mean Gradius Gaiden?? If so, I would agree, beautiful landscape and soundtrack. Probably the best 1st level ever in a shooter.

seriously. I think a great level would consist of something more than "neat blocks of ice" or whatever.

A beautiful snowfield with Aurora Borealis in the distance is more than blocks of ice.

[system11]

While some of the wow factor is gone, the first level does remind me of that 'now THIS is how a modern shmup should be done' feeling.

[Daigoro]

yes stage 1 is quite cool.

Are you saying I can rip the tracks off my Gradius V disk, or am I just being stupid?

you can. and you can rip the "voice" sayings.

use a program called PSsounds. there are a few others too. i forget the names off hand though. i can look em up if you need.

[Lyle]

What I like the most in level 1 is how the music intro strictly follows the course of the ship out of the space station. It seems the soundtrack and the setting were designed together in one single effort. Can you think of other examples of that sort in shmups ?

[theevilfunkster]

yes stage 1 is quite cool.

Are you saying I can rip the tracks off my Gradius V disk, or am I just being stupid?

you can. and you can rip the "voice" sayings.

use a program called PSsounds. there are a few others too. i forget the names off hand though. i can look em up if you need.

Yeah, if you could. I'm not having much luck with it at the moment. although I have managed to rip the intro from Gradius Gaiden.

Anyone know why the intro to Graius Deluxe Pack is on the Gaiden disk?

[Nei First]

What I like the most in level 1 is how the music intro strictly follows the course of the ship out of the space station. It seems the soundtrack and the setting were designed together in one single effort. Can you think of other examples of that sort in shmups ?

I know what you mean. Ikaruga does this as well. More notiecable in stages 1,2 and 5 and especially during the short cut scenes, the music changes to suit it accordingly.

That's all from the top of my head, If i think of any others I'll post 'em.

I think Layer section does this as well, but I can't remember it's been awhile since I played that.

[Minzoku]

Have you noticed that some of the stars go in front of the earth?

I've assumed that's "just some more space debris"

[Nei First]

and I've always especially liked the bit where you briefly see Earth and space, through the holes in the station, just looks beautiful.

Have you noticed that some of the stars go in front of the earth?

You know, I never thought much of them. Just thought they were... giant, orb, things floating in space. But yeah, yeah I get your point.

[futurespa]

I'm going back to 1985 when I first played Nemesis on the msx1, now I'm 20 years older and must say with all other releases (all shmups) Gradius V really hits the spot in bridging the time that has passed. It comes close to giving the same exitement that I had 20 years ago.

Unbelievable shooter, maybe the best horizontal ever created. Sadly Konami needed the help from Treasure to shine again. Nevertheless, it's legendary.

Thanks.

[Nei First]

I'm going back to 1985 when I first played Nemesis on the msx1, now I'm 20 years older and must say with all other releases (all shmups) Gradius V really hits the spot in bridging the time that has passed. It comes close to giving the same exitement that I had 20 years ago.

Unbelievable shooter, maybe the best horizontal ever created. Sadly Konami needed the help from Treasure to shine again. Nevertheless, it's legendary.

Thanks.

I think Konami could have still done a stellar job on their own. If they had instead decided to update Gradius Gaiden and bring it to the west, wouldn't that have done well too?

Oh well, we'll soon see with Gradius VI I guess...

[Sabreman]

Definitely one of the finest games I've ever played, and very high on my shmup favourites list. I was giddy with anticipation for it after Silvergun and Ikaruga and it honestly didn't disappoint in the slightest. One of the many reasons I like it is because I can get better at it - something that never happens with, say, Cave shmups. I can now usually get onto level four without losing a life, unless I do something silly with the level 3 boss.

I've always loved the way Treasure structure dramatic bits into their shmups. I get goosebumps every time Vic Viper appears on level two and that familiar theme comes in.

[WarpZone]

What I like the most in level 1 is how the music intro strictly follows the course of the ship out of the space station. It seems the soundtrack and the setting were designed together in one single effort. Can you think of other examples of that sort in shmups ?

This is actually true for a bunch of the levels, although it's obviously most noticable with the first. Sometimes, even after the music 'loops', it syncs with part of the level- such as when the brain appears in level 2.

[MovingTarget]

Stage 6, the music and stage go so well together. I love it.

[Klatrymadon]

Stage 6, the music and stage go so well together. I love it.

Yeah, that's my favourite stage, too. The way it all culminates in a boss rush of immense nostalgia (and difficulty )... lovely stuff.

I was a bit disappointed with the soundtrack in one respect, though. It felt like it was really going somewhere, and level 8 was looking to be the big climax, but of course the plot dictated that it was only to be a re-run of level 2, and it turned out to be that musically, too. I love the level and its theme to bits, but it was a small let-down nontheless. I suppose level 7's length and challenge makes up for it, though.

[Nei First]

Goes for me too, I wasn't expecting the music to be repeated either. That was only a brief dissapointment for me though, when dealing with quality addictive games like Gradius V, dissapointments like that, always are brief.