Is Vic Viper Sharing a Grave With Mega Man?

[XoPachi]

You know, Konami really doesn't pay too much attention to Gradius anymore...outside of the safe zone Yugioh card released recently.
I'm fine with Metal Gear taking over as the flagship of Konami, but why just neglect Gradius? Yeah, there's some stuff that's been released here and there since Gradius V, but nothing really special.
A rehash of a GB title, two extremely easy, very slow, spinoffs trying to rope in the otaku crowd with animu kawaiiness, and a slot machine (though granted, it's the most elaborate goddamn slot machine I've ever seen). Then Gradius Arc, which if I recall was NOT received well. But nothing big as far as something like Gradius goes.

It's pretty much a fact that these games aren't and most likely won't be popular again, but something official every now and again would be nice. Other companies WAY smaller than Konami still risk home platform releases with these games. I'd take a 3DS game or Hell, an iPhone game. Cave does fine and I see them in the "what's hot" on the app store a lot (though it's fucking Deathsmiles everytime >.>). But Konami doesn't even acknowledge Gradius. I'm serious, their Facebook page doesn't even list it as something they've created and to think they shoved little things from the franchise in most of what they've created from the transportation in Wai Wai World to 2 entire Yuigoh decks.

I guess Contra goes right up there also.

I'd love to get another Gradius. I bet Wayforward would do an AMAZING job! :0

Also
http://i.imgur.com/0DiMOyb.jpg

[AntiFritz]

Shmups don't make big companies money any more.

[Pretas]

Gradius Rebirth isn't a rehash of the Game Boy titles. It's a "best of" throwback to the classic games that uses various elements from Gradius I-III, Salamander 1, and the MSX Nemesis games. Similar to what Gradius IV did, but it recycles in fresher and more creative ways.

I felt it was rather good, though it could have used a higher difficulty level, more weapon types and an additional stage or two. It's probably as nice a send-off to the series as we're going to get, and definitely the strongest of the three Rebirths.

This also begs the question, just what else could they do with the series after the perfection of Gradius V? Other than turning it into a grindy, casual bishoujo game (Otomedius), of course. I'd be more interested in a Xexex 2, Trigon 2 or Twinbee reboot, even though the chance of any of those happening is even closer to nil.

We did get that Twinbee DLC stage in the second Otomedius, at least. Konami clearly hasn't forgotten about these games, but with the marginalization of the genre, they don't have the financial incentive to greenlight new projects for them anymore. They might as well be "The Metal Gear Company" now.

[Mortificator]

The OP is right, Gradius ReBirth is a remake of the first Game Boy game in the series. ReBirth director Masato Misaki apparently says that in the OST's liner notes, though I haven't seen them with my own eyes. Regardless, ReBirth's five stages are based on the five stages of the Game Boy game, and so are three of its five bosses. There are plenty of things added or altered, but that's what it means to be a remake and not a port.

[MathU]

Konami should get M2 to do a feature-length Gradius VI. Gradius Rebirth was great but short and they clearly understand the formula. They've proven themselves more then Wayforward in any event, and Contra Rebirth is better than Contra 4 as well.

They need to get M2 to do SOMETHING else for them at least. All three of their Rebirth games were great and very faithful to their franchises.