Is Gradius V too hard for a young kid?

[jpolz]

Check this out....

Every year around the holidays our company sponsors a family and provides presents and necessities that they would otherwise go without.

So one of the children is a 10 year old boy who's description says he "likes playstation 2 games"

My first thought was to spread some SHMUP love for the holidays and pick up Gradius V.

My concern is that Gradius might be too frustrating for a child that young.

Thoughts?

[professor ganson]

I sent Gradius V to my nephew, who is just a bit younger than that. Curiously, he never reported back to tell me what he thought. Probably a bad sign.

One small problem with giving Gradius V, I found. It's actually hard to find a sealed copy at the local game stores. They usually have one new copy left which is on display and so already opened. With a little work, though, you could probably find a sealed copy.

This Christmas I would like to give everyone copies of Gradius V-- I'm sure that would go over really well.

[SteevTee]

I've been playing shooters for about 17 years, I'm now 27 and am not as good as I used to be... this kid should be fine with it.

Perhaps he may need to start on an easier setting though.

[SFKhoa]

Definitely on an easier setting, but if he's up to the challenge, leave the difficulty alone and hopefully make him suffer

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Gradius V is too hard for me.

A kid is more likely to credit feed through the game once (or at least once free play is unlocked) and then think that's all there is to the game.

[Ganelon]

It all depends on the kid. If he can't stand Gradius V in terms of difficulty, I doubt he can stand any US PS2 shooter. I remember beating Rush'n Attack in 2 weeks when I was 10...

[ill6]

I think a kid would appreciate a different game; hmmm if hes 10 he probably wants God or War or GTA?

[Ganelon]

I'm sure his parents will be pleasantly surprised if you give him GTA:SA...

[Klatrymadon]

I'd suggest buying Gradius V for this child regardless of the difficulty. The younger gamers really do need to get a better feel for what gaming is about (or was about, to take a more cynical view).

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

Check this out....

Every year around the holidays our company sponsors a family and provides presents and necessities that they would otherwise go without.

So one of the children is a 10 year old boy who's description says he "likes playstation 2 games"

My first thought was to spread some SHMUP love for the holidays and pick up Gradius V.

My concern is that Gradius might be too frustrating for a child that young.

Thoughts?

"Likes Playstation 2 games"...
Ugh...what kid doesn't? I mean that description is VERY vague. I don't think the game is too hard for kids, but it is difficult period.
I would try and find out more info on what he likes. For example, if he likes movies like "Fast and the Furious", and plays with toy cars, I would buy him Gran Turismo 4 or Midnight Club Dub...whatever. A shmup might be too obscure for him, but then again, most kids will gladly play whatever they can get their hands on.

[jpolz]

A shmup might be too obscure for him, but then again, most kids will gladly play whatever they can get their hands on.

That's what I was thinking. A 10 year old proabably isn't gonna be too picky. I figure maybe I can expose him to a different genre of game and keep hime away from crap like Midnight Club, Socom, etc...

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

A shmup might be too obscure for him, but then again, most kids will gladly play whatever they can get their hands on.

That's what I was thinking. A 10 year old proabably isn't gonna be too picky. I figure maybe I can expose him to a different genre of game and keep hime away from crap like Midnight Club, Socom, etc...

Ugh, ok...
Actually, Midnight Club ain't crap though.

[PFG 9000]

I don't think the game is too difficult for kids that age, but I do think that kids that age don't want a game like Gradius. While there are always exceptions, I think many 10 year olds would boot up the game without having any idea who this "Gradius" guy is, and would play it for a few minutes, then cast it aside as outdated and therefore unplayable.

On the other hand, my little brother (13 years old) likes Gradius games, but he finds them extremely difficult. While all his friends are into modern games exclusively, he likes just about any game I recommend (most of which are oldschool), which I chalk up to the Big Brother/Little Brother phenomenon.

[Ghegs]

A shmup might be too obscure for him, but then again, most kids will gladly play whatever they can get their hands on.

That's what I was thinking. A 10 year old proabably isn't gonna be too picky. I figure maybe I can expose him to a different genre of game and keep hime away from crap like Midnight Club, Socom, etc...

Like Twitch said, other games than shmups CAN be good too, y'know.

That said, I think you've all been looking at this from a shmupper's view. The important question here is "Will the kid have fun playing it?". It's flashy and fast-paced and has lots of cool-looking weapons at the player's disposal. And it has spaceships. As far as I know, kids like all that (hey, I did). Whether he can 1CC it or not is irrelevant, if he likes the game enough he'll credit-feed through it again and again...just because it's fun to make things explode and be a hero.

And that's what counts, right? The concepts of 1CC and getting the highest score aren't important here. If he does take an interest in those things, good for him.

Still, it's a good idea to find out just what kind of games the kid likes. Playing NHL and imagining he's Wayne Gretzky might be his favourite thing in the world for all you know.

[Guardians Knight]

it is a bloody hard game, but hey i put Raiden 3 on practice mode and my 4 and 5 year old nephew and niece loved it and havent stopped buggin me to let them play on it so it goes to show kids'll play anything. i'd say do it

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

Possibly my best advice yet...

The kids in the US, right?
Ok, get him/his parents a "gift card" from Wal-Mart...let the kid pick out whatever game suits his fancy.

He'll probably just pick out San Andrea's anyway.
(Hey, I like it...its just not for kids though)

[landshark]

Shmups are a niche category. Unless you are sure he is going to like it, I would get him something else. (no I don't think it is too hard)

You wouldn't want to get another sweater from grandma would you? Then get the kid something you are sure he'll like.

[JBC]

I say go for it. My first shmup was Lifeforce when i was like 6 so... i'm still playing them today! Maybe you'll show him the way...

[Galaxius]

Most children like to play 3D platformers, from what I've seen. And they get frustrated and lose interest in a game that is too hard.

My son, who just turned 6 this weekend, loves Gradius, and shooters in general, his favorite being Gradius Gaiden. He can make it through the speed zone in Gradius 2, as well as the speed zone in Gaiden, and generally plays very well. But he has been playing these types of games for some time.

But he still has a hard time with Gradius V, since there are so many small movements to be made, and so many bullets to keep track of.

[BUHA]

I have the feeling that a kid that age would credit feed all the way through and never play it again.

It was different when I was growing up. But now all these games are meant to be beaten and beaten pretty quickly. Not like in the NES days. So I bet the kid has been conditioned to beating games and never playing them again.

I'd say let the kid get what he wants. But not GTA.

[Ex_Mosquito]

I wouldnt, essentially its an arcade game which is gonna take time and dedication to get any results on. He will more likely enjoy a 3d run-about or a driving game. Saying that who knows, he may be the next SYO etc..

[Zaarock]

Hmh.. i just ordered this im 14 and i think i might handle the game ( i like shmups but kinda suck at them, oh well practise makes perfect.. )

edit: oh dear i lost interest in gta: sa because of a race thingy well i can always play gradius and wait till i get free play. hey look you just got the view of a kid!

[WarpZone]

I'd say it's better to go on the safe side with something like Katamari Damacy.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Remember,

a kid is a kid is a kid is a kid...

Get him a platformer or something like that, but try to pick up something he won't like just because of the license slapped on it. You don't want to teach him how to be a superficial person.

[WarCheese]

[quote="Sly Cherry Chunks"]Gradius V is too hard for [i]me.[/i]

A kid is more likely to credit feed through the game once (or at least once free play is unlocked) and then think that's all there is to the game.[/quote]

Hello fellow shmuppers:

I agree with Sly there. I think most 10 year olds would have difficulty staying with a shmup for long. It depends on the kid, of course. You might want to go with more conventional game choices just to be safe. I would hate to see a classic gathering dust.

Cheers.

WarCheese

[Bloodreign]

Hey Gradius helps hand/eye coordination, you never know though the kid could be a future shmupper, you could get him a Capcom Classics Collection, or a Taito Legends, but he'd probably write the game off as old because of the graphics.

Heck Gradius got me playing some of the old Mega Man games (PS 2 Mega Man Anniversary Collection that is) better due to dodging all those bullets from Gradius V.

[iatneH]

....presents and necessities that they would otherwise go without.

So one of the children is a 10 year old boy who's description says he "likes playstation 2 games"

Holy crap. So even needy families these days have Playstation2's?

Just get him into a good series of books, I say...

[superhitachi4]

Kids should play challenging games. Games are way too much like movies these days, so it's great that you're giving Gradius V as a gift. I grew up with NES, so I definitely welcomed games with a little challenge back then. (way younger than 10 by the way hehe) edit: Of course, it may be too challenging for many kids. Everyone's different really.

[sffan]

Gradius V would be a fine choice for 2 reasons:

1. He probably doesn't have it already.

2. It's cheap, so if he doesn't play it much you don't have to feel bad that you wasted a lot of cash.

[Soulo]

I think Gradius V for a 10 year old is too hard.
But then I really don't think kids nowadays will enjoy a good shmup anyways, times change.