gradius galaxies for GBA

Pshooter · Post by **Pshooter** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:38 pm

this has received pretty good reviews, what do you guys think of this game? is it the best shmup on the GBA ?

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:08 pm

Pshooter wrote:this has received pretty good reviews, what do you guys think of this game?

Fantastic game. If you enjoyed any other radius game, you'll LOVE this one.

is it the best shmup on the GBA ?

Without a doubt!*

*haven't played Steel Empire yet though.

Sly Cherry Chunks · Post by **Sly Cherry Chunks** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:30 pm

I agree that it's up there with the best of the Gradius series but it's tricky to do all those 1-pixel movements you'll need with the crappy gba pad - unless you have no speed ups. My no.1 way of dying is crashing into the scenery whilst I am trying to scoop powerups up off the floor.

Luckily it doesn't ruin the game.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:45 pm

Sly Cherry Chunks wrote:I agree that it's up there with the best of the Gradius series but it's tricky to do all those 1-pixel movements you'll need with the crappy gba pad - unless you have no speed ups. My no.1 way of dying is crashing into the scenery whilst I am trying to scoop powerups up off the floor.

Luckily it doesn't ruin the game.

Actually, it's tricky to get used to the ship speed with 2 or more speed ups with any pad. The GBA SP and regular GBA pads (not sure about micro since I haven't tried it) do single pixel movements and diagonal movements just fine. The game itself rocks, though.

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:59 pm

If I remember right, this game has some pretty good music tracks too. In particular the weapon select music, stage 2's music, and the music from that stage with the blood cells, were my favourite.

Yeah, the game itself is good.

Klatrymadon · Post by **Klatrymadon** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:13 pm

Aye, I loved a lot of the music too. It's dead easy for a Gradius game, I have to say...

UnscathedFlyingObject · Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:19 pm

The speed up system is messed up in this one

. One is too slow; two is too fast. I like how it works in Gradius Gaiden (one is fast enough to move around and do precise movement) and Gradius V (small speed increments.) It's "good" in my book but not great.

Xexyz · Post by **Xexyz** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:51 pm

I really do like this game, but as others have mentioned, the speed up system is screwey. I can usually handle the 2 speed ups for most of the game but some areas it's just too much (stage 8's nasty wall generator boss and the indestructable, rotating disc dodging come to mind). Because of this, it's almost impossible to 1LC a loop.

Galaxius · Post by **Galaxius** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:26 pm

Great game, full of elements from older gradius titles, yet having plenty of originality.

While it is rather easy compared to other Gradius games, the fact that there are no extends makes it harder to reach later loops. And I think the ship is fully controllable with two speed ups. Plus, it's very possible to one-life.

Also, it has a bunch of 5,000 point secret locations, something I appreciate, since I've always liked secrets.

Add in, four different ships, (including the infamous Green Vic Viper), great music and graphics, and you have a very entertaining game.

PFG 9000 · Post by **PFG 9000** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:21 pm

UnscathedFlyingObject wrote:The speed up system is messed up in this one . One is too slow; two is too fast.

This is the same problem I have with it, though it feels better on the original GBA than on the DS, and far better on the GBA than on an emulator. It took some time for the music to grow on me, but now I enjoy it all. There are some very cool levels and gimmicks, like the waterfalls that push you down in the fourth level and the smackity wall tentacle thingers in the cell level. Lots of classic Gradius themes too. If you're a below-average shmupper like me, you'll get a bit frustrated when you die on a boss and find no powerups before you're facing him again...for all three boss forms. Luckily those bosses are still very beatable without speedups.

And it's cool that Konami lets you use the classic Konami code to powerup your ship instantly...only to have it self destruct a moment later. But you can still do it with a different code, IIRC.

The game is well worth the purchase if you're into hori's, and a must-buy for Gradius fans.

SFKhoa · Post by **SFKhoa** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:24 pm

It's the only shmup that's worth it on the GBA, don't know about all the rest though. And yeah, the speed up system is messed, with 1 being too slow and 2 too fast... the perfect speed could've been in between right there!

Zach Keene · Post by **Zach Keene** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 12:02 am

Just thought I'd point out that if anyone's looking to buy a copy of this, they might want to wait for the upcoming re-release of Gradius Generation (the Japanese version), since it contains the challenge modes that aren't available in the other versions.

Xexyz · Post by **Xexyz** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 3:16 am

Wait, there are secret 5,000 point locations in this one? I've yet to run into any, can you give me an example or 2?

crithit5000 · Post by **crithit5000** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 4:42 am

Xexyz wrote:Wait, there are secret 5,000 point locations in this one? I've yet to run into any, can you give me an example or 2?

Merry Christmas.

Anyways, I love Gradius Galaxies/Generation/Advance, and more people need to contribute to the high score table I'm running here.

SAM · Post by **SAM** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 9:48 am

Yes, it is good, along with Steel Empire and KiKi KaiKai.

UnscathedFlyingObject wrote:The speed up system is messed up in this one . One is too slow; two is too fast. I like how it works in Gradius Gaiden (one is fast enough to move around and do precise movement) and Gradius V (small speed increments.) It's "good" in my book but not great.

I feel that too, but yet I am using a Seimitsu LS-32 when playing Gradius Gaiden or Gradius V. If I am using the GBA pad instead, if might be the same.

How about gut the GBA's PCB and connect a Seimitsu LS-32 to it and see if there is any improvment?

Just kidding, try using a Sanwa/Seimiutsu when playing it with GameBoy Player on GameCube.

Bloodreign · Post by **Bloodreign** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 12:41 pm

Great little shooter Galaxies is, even if it is a bit hard to spot bullets on the small screen, definitely worthy of having in your collection. Still reminds me of my best Ebay victory, 10 bucks with box, manual, and cart, it was in great condition.

It was too bad though that the U.S. version was missing the two bonus stages.

Gydocker45 · Post by **Gydocker45** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 5:26 pm

Bloodreign wrote:It was too bad though that the U.S. version was missing the two bonus stages.

Really? I've never heard talk of these 2 bonus stages (until today). Hopefully Konami will re-release this as a budget title in Japan, because I feel a little let down that my US release is not the complete game.

Zach Keene · Post by **Zach Keene** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 5:49 pm

Gydocker45 wrote:Hopefully Konami will re-release this as a budget title in Japan, because I feel a little let down that my US release is not the complete game.

*cough*

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:35 pm

Excellent and very long Gradius sequel with brilliant levels, great bosses, an excellent weapon system and beautiful visuals. Get it! Though yeah, you might wanna wait for the re-release.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:23 pm

Dylan1CC wrote:Excellent and very long Gradius sequel with brilliant levels, great bosses, an excellent weapon system and beautiful visuals. Get it! Though yeah, you might wanna wait for the re-release.

This is why reviews like IGN's review that calls it short makes me cringe. IGN also said the game is nothing but dodging and shooting. Makes me wonder what Craig was on at the time since he's supposedly a classic gamer.

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 11:29 pm

BrianC wrote:
Dylan1CC wrote:Excellent and very long Gradius sequel with brilliant levels, great bosses, an excellent weapon system and beautiful visuals. Get it! Though yeah, you might wanna wait for the re-release.
This is why reviews like IGN's review that calls it short makes me cringe. IGN also said the game is nothing but dodging and shooting. Makes me wonder what Craig was on at the time since he's supposedly a classic gamer.

That sucks 'cuz I really like Craig, my fave IGN editor hands down. I wonder if he'd score it any differently after giving Yoshi TnG a glowing review?

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 3:18 am

Zach Keene wrote:
Gydocker45 wrote:Hopefully Konami will re-release this as a budget title in Japan, because I feel a little let down that my US release is not the complete game.
*cough*

Thanks for that link, Zach!

I still haven't gotten this game for my GBA, so I will definately wait for this version!

IMO, everyone who owns a GBA should get Invader. It's tough, but it's a fantastic Euro-shmup! It never came out anywhere else, so you'll have to get it on Ebay, or some other such site, but it's well worth it! It hasn't gotten much attention at all; probably because of the totally un-imaginative title!

neojma · Post by **neojma** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 4:57 pm

BrianC wrote: This is why reviews like IGN's review that calls it short makes me cringe. IGN also said the game is nothing but dodging and shooting. Makes me wonder what Craig was on at the time since he's supposedly a classic gamer.

Dodging and shooting. Yep, that's about what I expect in a shmup. I don't particularly want to hop out of my ship and explore the galaxy in a free roaming ship-jacking urban adventure.

And I'll be the judge of "short". I don't want a three hour shmup, thank you. I'm plenty happy with 30-60 good minutes of a game I'll play again and again and again...

Galaxius · Post by **Galaxius** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:14 pm

Since everyone, including myself, has mentioned all the pros of the game, I'll throw in one of the few cons.

It does have a bit of slowdown when many bullets are on the screen.

But I don't see how the game is short. It has 8 levels, the last level has 10 sub-sections. It is long enough in my estimation.

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:31 am

Galaxius wrote:Since everyone, including myself, has mentioned all the pros of the game, I'll throw in one of the few cons.

It does have a bit of slowdown when many bullets are on the screen.

But I don't see how the game is short. It has 8 levels, the last level has 10 sub-sections. It is long enough in my estimation.

I think most people didn't mention the con becuase, while there is slowdown, none of it is major enough to hurt the game. Even when fully powered up, it never gets anywhere near the level of Gradius III.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:11 pm

very nice game, and very doable. with just a bit of work i think i could get a 1lc. oh and handling the gunwall with just a couple speeds makes me feel like a badass.

JBC · Post by **JBC** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:47 am

It is without a doubt THE shmup on GBA. Buy it. NOW.

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gradius galaxies for GBA

gradius galaxies for GBA

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