Gradius V Review and Awesome impression!

[Hardstepah]

quite frankly the game rocks. and so what if he posted his opinion of a great shmup? i dont see any of you mocking the people who wrote any reviews in the "xenocide files". i dont care how old gradius v is, it can never be praised enough. it sounded like he just recently had a chance to play the game for the first time, which i can attest to, gradius v leaving a REMARKABLE first impression. he has every right to get excited about a 4 year old game

[ST Dragon]

Am I the only one who thinks Gradius IV is way better and that gradius V is pretty boring

I also hate the way they make you wait for 50 seconds at the beginning of stage 2, way to break the pace...

Yeah, that cut-scene becomes annoying after watching it for the 20th time!
They could have at least added the ability to skip it by pressing "Start"

[skinny goon]

Am I the only one who thinks Gradius IV is way better and that gradius V is pretty boring

I also hate the way they make you wait for 50 seconds at the beginning of stage 2, way to break the pace...

Yeah, that cut-scene becomes annoying after watching it for the 20th time!
They could have at least added the ability to skip it by pressing "Start"

Actually, one of the only issues I ever had with the game were the lame voiceovers in said cutscene. At least in the US version, which is the one I own.

[Hardstepah]

Actually, one of the only issues I ever had with the game were the lame voiceovers in said cutscene. At least in the US version, which is the one I own.

i have the japanese version, sadly enough they are still there with the same cheesy voices.

"both ends must be destroyed, or theres no futur for either of us"

"i guess i've got no choice"

"lets roll"

[ST Dragon]

Exactly the same in the Euro Pal version which I own!

So, are there any differences between the 3 versions? (US, EU & JP)?
Other than the Euro PAL version allows you to select between 50/60HZ?

[Ghegs]

So, are there any differences between the 3 versions? (US, EU & JP)?
Other than the Euro PAL version allows you to select between 50/60HZ?

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=17679

[ST Dragon]

So, are there any differences between the 3 versions? (US, EU & JP)?
Other than the Euro PAL version allows you to select between 50/60HZ?

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=17679

Thanks!

[ST Dragon]

"Shmups Chat" abounds with reviews of any kind. Be them first impressions, hands-on, detailed afterthoughts and so on. There's no reason to be aggressive - he reviewed the game, but not in a form which he thought was penned enough to deserve a "publication" in the review section.

He wasn't impolite, in short. While you are annoying, as usual. All's right with the world.

I was not aggressive, but politely pointing out where it's better to put the final version. If one puts things in the proper place, it's easier to find them, much to the benefit of everyone. The sky hasn't fallen because of this (as I pointed out in the first post), but if one politely suggests something (while everyone else is unpolite...learn to read, for once) it shows a poor display of comprehension.

You know better than me, as ST Dragon knows, as everyone here pointed out, that his "review" wasn't nearly as fleshed out to be considered a "proper" one. That doesn't mean it's not final. He doesn't need to "finish" it, or maybe rewrite it from scratch, just to post it there.

You know, if this thread didn't have the word "review" in its title, but was titled something like:

"ZOMG!! GRADIUS V is really good!"

No one would've raised an eyebrow. In short, we're discussing for nothing.

The actual content of ST Dragon post is a ZOMG content, therefore more suited to be in shmups chat rather than in review section.

Thanks my Italian friend!
It's good to see that there are still some logical thinking gamers around!

[Turrican]

Thanks my Italian friend!
It's good to see that there are still some logical thinking gamers around!

Don't mention it - and don't be discouraged by naysayers, just spit your two cents about every games you feel to. Regardless of how long it has been on the market. Not everyone is so obsessive-compulsive to buy them as soon as they're out.

Even respectable members have filled the forum with spam topics these days. Compared to most of the junk out there, your genuine GV impression was welcome, even if the game wasn't exactly newly released.

[lawnspic]

One of Treasures finest IMO

[Randorama]

So, when you're posting your longer impression, ST Dragon? We are still without a GV review, that would be much appreciated.

You're still going to hell for your error, btw.



??!!??!!

(to be placed in random spots in the post).

[Dylan1CC]

I finally got Gradius V myself a few months ago. Welllll, thank goodness I haven't beaten the game yet thereby avoiding the "embarassment" of posting my own impression thread. Some of us just have a large backlog to get through ya know?

Anyways, agreed (so far) that this is a phenomenal update to the series. Love Type 4's vicious rotating lazers, will be hard to ween off it once I am good enough to make a loop. Very tight control, excellent bosses, and Sakamoto's soundtrack gives the visuals the epic accompaniment they deserve (although I really dislike some bits such as the Wario-esque "Wahhh!" voice the announcer makes when blowing up the red eye planets in stage 1 as an example)

I'm also fortunate in that my brother and my best friend both love shooters, we've had a blast with the 2P co-op despite the shared lives.

I'm still early into the game, my only gripe is no space dragons? No moai = good but no dragons feels kind of vanilla.

[Aquas]

(although I really dislike some bits such as the Wario-esque "Wahhh!" voice the announcer makes when blowing up the red eye planets in stage 1 as an example)

Haha, I love that part. "Waahh!" lol, so funny. Shit, it should be a ytmnd.

[Dylan1CC]

^^^^^

Funny, yes. But there is something really jarring about having your aural senses rocked by Sakamoto awesomeness when all of a sudden out of the blue comes the voice of Mario's evil doppleganger. :p Shoulda used creature screeches. Oh well.

[landshark]

The voices didn't bother me at all, I thought they were just fine. But the fact that you can't bypass the cut scene was a huge mistake to me. During the Gradius V competition, I always loathed having to wait for that damned thing to pass.

[Carmen]

"i have the japanese version, sadly enough they are still there with the same cheesy voices."

The pilot's voice actually reminds me of Keuna Reeves at some points, esp , just before the St 2 Boss Rush... that said, I never minded the voice, just hated having to watch it every damn time!

Gradius V is totally awesome. I absolutely love this game.

[spadgy]

I'd offer too do a full review if ST doesn't have the time, as I make a living out of writing reviews, and I'm sure I could do one for free.

However, I like that little cut-scene, so maybe I shouldn't!

And just to reiterate, I think it was great ST put this thread up in the first place....

[ST Dragon]

I'd offer too do a full review if ST doesn't have the time, as I make a living out of writing reviews, and I'm sure I could do one for free.

However, I like that little cut-scene, so maybe I shouldn't!

And just to reiterate, I think it was great ST put this thread up in the first place....

I sure have loads of time to kill!
I'll complete the game by this weekend, check the rest of the reviews as guide / comparison for the basic layout and create a full / final review

This will be my very 1st game review; I'll sure try to do my best!

Any suggestions for the basic shmups reviews layout are sure welcomed!

[BIL]

I'm still early into the game, my only gripe is no space dragons? No moai = good but no dragons feels kind of vanilla.

Although it's strictly a stylistic thing, that's one criticism I have of Gradius V. Its mechanical settings and enemies look great, but it's virtually all it has (besides one huge exception to both). I would've liked to have seen a more natural desert, jungle, ice or fire area portrayed with such high-quality graphics.

[ST Dragon]

You're still going to hell for your error, btw.

Yes!!!
I'm going to burn in the fiery pits of Hell and be tormented there for all of eternity!!!

Same goes for anybody who enjoys gay porn and Hentai with semi naked little chicks!

[WarpZone]

although I really dislike some bits such as the Wario-esque "Wahhh!" voice the announcer makes when blowing up the red eye planets in stage 1 as an example

I thought it was incredibly strange as well. It turns out it's a bit of a joke: that's the exact noise the red core makes at the end of the arcade Salamander.

[BIL]

Oh, cool. I thought it might be something to do with that (given the series' history of loud-mouthed bosses), but didn't know that little "exclamation" was a specific reference.

[Dylan1CC]

Bill: Shame, I would've been happy with just one dragon. Heck, even Radiant has a dragon boss of sorts.

Agreed on the game feeling cold and inorganic, the Salamander brains in stage 2 were a nice change.

although I really dislike some bits such as the Wario-esque "Wahhh!" voice the announcer makes when blowing up the red eye planets in stage 1 as an example

I thought it was incredibly strange as well. It turns out it's a bit of a joke: that's the exact noise the red core makes at the end of the arcade Salamander.

Ah, ok that's cool, makes sense now. Still haven't beaten arcade Salamander. Working on it now via the PSP collection. That and GV will keep me occupied this month while I wait for my Shooting Historica set from ncsx.

[ST Dragon]

Shooting Historica

Please excuse my ignorance...
But, what's that exactly?

[Dylan1CC]

Shooting Historica

Please excuse my ignorance...
But, what's that exactly?

clicky:

www.ncsx.com/2007/121007/shooting_game_historica

There is a pre-order link in the middle somewhere for the 2nd run set. Also a thread here in the forum where someone posted pics of their completed models.

[ST Dragon]

Very cool indeed, but where are the Thunder Force ships?!

Also are these models made of plastic or die-cast metal like the Bandai & Yamato Macross Mechs?

Also there is no reference to the exact dimensions of these ships.
If The Thunder Force ships ever get released I'll be sure to get them!

[spadgy]

Really cheap plastic and maybe like 7cm long. I've got one in my hand and I'm still not convinced by what a centimetre is in my head.

Awesome though...

[Augemitbutter]

great review. i keep coming back to this one, but gaiden is still my favorite gradius to date.

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Yamato Macross Mechs?

A Vic Viper toy with that level of detail and articulation would be heavenly