RQ: Gradius 1 Stage 3 Moai Strategy

[ACSeraph]

In all my years of playing it, I've never once cleared stage 3 of Gradius. Can someone please help me?

[The Pope]

You can kill them when their mouths are open, but it's a lot easier with a double, missiles, or an option to line up the shot. They close their mouths if you line their ship up to them. Also, use the options to protect your behind.

[beatsgo]

A common tactic in the moai stage is to use the moai heads that are not shooting at you as a barrier. Better way to approach "hiding" is finding "dry" spots, spaces where moai heads do not fire at you. Take advantage of these areas and you should be able to avoid most rings. Another one is to move back and forth so the rings are horded to a direction which will create a decent pattern to navigate through.

[guigui]

I found it easier not to try to kill the most heads possible. Also, dont use that damned vertical scrolling. Just go forward, kill what comes, protect with options and wait for it to end.

[GohanX]

Also remember that the laser is nearly useless in the stages. Better to stick with the double shot and let your options rain vengeance in all directions. I can get through the stage, but for the most part that's the one part of the game where if I die I don't even try to resume, I just reset or cut it off.

[dieKatze88]

Contrary to everyone in this thread, I found it easiest to use Laser to destroy the heads and their projectiles with massive efficiency. Then its just a matter of finding the route through the stage you are the least uncomfortable with and sticking to it.

Laser also makes the subboss pretty much cakewalk, as the laser will hit several of those things and lag the game out, giving you tons of time to:
Breathe
Grab a drink
Read a book
Do the dishes
Laundry: wash, dry and fold
Shop online for a Gradius II PCB
Perform the second job required to pay for such a PCB
etc.

[mathman]

I second dieKatze88. Laser is clearly better than double (stronger + wider range). Here's what I do:

3x speed, options spaced vertically, far left of the screen, spare shield, minimal movement

[Master O]

Contrary to everyone in this thread, I found it easiest to use Laser to destroy the heads and their projectiles with massive efficiency. Then its just a matter of finding the route through the stage you are the least uncomfortable with and sticking to it.

Laser also makes the subboss pretty much cakewalk, as the laser will hit several of those things and lag the game out, giving you tons of time to:
Breathe
Grab a drink
Read a book
Do the dishes
Laundry: wash, dry and fold
Shop online for a Gradius II PCB
Perform the second job required to pay for such a PCB
etc.

*imagines dieKatze88 wearing Neo's clothes from the Matrix while slowly dodging all the bullets*

I agree with using laser on the Moai. Double seems too slow for me, at least.