Gradius V is just beautiful

[Estebang]

It does look and sound nice. Definitely has that "epic" treasure feel. If only they would have implimented any kind of scoring system, I think it would have really helped the game.

It has rank. That's more than enough.

TrevHead, you should be able to get a used PS2 for around $50. Seeing as how you own a computer, that should be viable for even the most shoestring of budgets.

[dunpeal2064]

It does look and sound nice. Definitely has that "epic" treasure feel. If only they would have implimented any kind of scoring system, I think it would have really helped the game.

It has rank. That's more than enough.

TrevHead, you should be able to get a used PS2 for around $50. Seeing as how you own a computer, that should be viable for even the most shoestring of budgets.

Maybe for you, but the rank is not enough for me. I can hoard everything, kill everything, and still sleep my way to level 6, and I am not even good at shmups in general.

I'm glad that the rank makes the game feel complete to you, but it just feels like a shiny Gradius to me, and I'm not a huge Gradius fan

[Raytrace]

I've been playing Gradius II on x68k just now - is it considered better than the 'Gradius Deluxe Pack' Saturn version?

also is there a specific remake of the MSX version you're talking about?

Yeah, it's called Nemesis '90 Kai. Weird choice of name, huh?

The Deluxe Pack version of arcade Gradius II lets you use the Konami code and has options to eliminate slowdown and enable continues. Other than that, it should be identical to the arcade game. The PCE version has an added intro scene, a new stage with a new boss, and also adds the Konami code and continue option, but continuing in this port boots you back to the start of the stage. The graphics are bit worse than the arcade and some sections play out a little differently, so tactics that worked there may not work here. I haven't played the x68k version.

I'd probably say arcade Gradius II is better on the Deluxe Pack than the PCE, even though it has one stage less. But I'm not sure how much my opinion's worth, since I don't actually like arcade Gradius II.

ah yes cool I've just been playing Nemesis 90 Kai

yeh the Saturn Deluxe Pack one has the wider screen option too I think, yeah the graphics seem kinda brighter in the PCE version compared to Saturn.

thanks for the info

[Raytrace]

How does G5 emulate? I dont have a ps2 and cant see myself buying the system at the moment

it is emulating quite well for me with the odd slowdown during explosions but nothing too annoying - I'm using double internal resolution though - I'm pretty sure if I used native it would run proper fast

my system:

i7 2.6Ghz
6GB RAM (although kinda pointless cos Im using Win7 32)
Geforce GTX 260

[Estebang]

Maybe for you, but the rank is not enough for me. I can hoard everything, kill everything, and still sleep my way to level 6, and I am not even good at shmups in general.

I'm glad that the rank makes the game feel complete to you, but it just feels like a shiny Gradius to me, and I'm not a huge Gradius fan

Personally, I'm glad they didn't pander to modern tastes and tack on some Cave-esque scoring system. I think a considerable part of the appeal of Gradius is how little its fundamental design has changed since 1985. You can't deny that it would be a hell of a job to juggle a combo meter with a powerup bar, either.

Even still, V alters the formula far more than any Gradius before it: 360-degree aiming, option retaining with no checkpoints, Big Cores as normal enemies. However, it's all implemented so flawlessly and naturally that it doesn't feel at all removed from its roots, even with a more "realistic" and serious aesthetic.

But hey, you don't like Gradius anyway, so what's the point of complaining?

[dunpeal2064]

I didn't complain, I shared my thoughts on what I thought would have improved the game.

I also never mentioned Cave or chaining. I also never said I didn't like the Gradius series, just that I'm not a huge fan of it, mostly due to the similarities if them all.

So because of that, I shouldn't comment about the game at all?

Wanna put anymore twists on what II said to make a point, even though I was just stating an opinion that wasn't even directed at you originally?

[Estebang]

You complained that the game is easy and boring, and said it would be more interesting if it had an advanced scoring system. I respectfully disagree on both counts, so I'm trying to hold a reasonable debate over Gradius V's quality or lack thereof. Which you don't seem willing to participate in.

"Not liking" and "not being a huge fan of" are generally used as synonyms around these parts, I'm sorry if you intended otherwise. What I meant is that if you don't like the Gradius series you shouldn't have expected V to be some magical exception to your opinion. It's still very much a Gradius game.

[dunpeal2064]

Ah well, I didn't quite mean an advanced scoring system, just something to make me play a little different each time.

And, I find from the stage 5 boss onward a nice challenge. I don't think the entire game is easy, its just the length + the fairly easy early levels makes me rarily play this game.

however, I do still like it! Its just not the kind of shmup I can play every day. Its more like... a good movie.

Sorry, didnt mean to come off like a dick

[NzzpNzzp]

Even still, V alters the formula far more than any Gradius before it: 360-degree aiming, option retaining with no checkpoints, Big Cores as normal enemies. However, it's all implemented so flawlessly and naturally that it doesn't feel at all removed from its roots, even with a more "realistic" and serious aesthetic.

It is pretty removed though. The entire style is different, it's all about dodging through bullets instead of going around them, and lengthy boss battles instead of them dying in a quarter of a minute. And being really slow.
Compare it to Gradius II or something, it feels totally different.

[Estebang]

That's a given, with such a huge time and technology gap between any two games. I feel it still contains the same fundamental elements as Gradius II; they are merely smoothed out, expanded upon, and dipped in a coat of cinematic and graphical varnish.

The early Gradii had lots of close-range dodging--what about slipping in between the Big Core's lasers to get an easier shot at its core? What about the insane asteroid swarms in Gradius III? And it's not like the infinitely vertical scrolling sections of the classic games weren't snoozefests either (why do IV and V both have to start with one?).

[NzzpNzzp]

V isn't an expansion, it's just a change. You need to do precision dodges in other Gradius games sometimes, but they're not the main element. Gradius V makes them the main focus, and even gives you a tiny tiny hitbox and an incredibly slow max speed to facilitate that. It's not like it was some time based evolution thing, either, since IV came out like a decade after II, and it still felt the same.
I'm not saying it's bad or anything, but the fundamentals are pretty noticeably different.

ps if you think that the moai levels from II on/the speed stages in any game are snoozefests then you are A CRAZY PERSON

[Estebang]

Thought I was being clear that V changed a whole lot of things? Anyway, I am a very crazy person. I was thinking of the flaming dragon/sun stages more than the Moais, though. The Gradius IV version of those is one of the lowest points of the numbered series.

I think we agree that Gradius V is excellent, so there's no point in arguing.

[NzzpNzzp]

But you think it doesn't feel removed from its roots/feel fundamentally different, and I do. That means we're meant to fight over who is correct.

But okay fine if you wanna be like that fine okay fine. Fine.

[Drum]

Ah well, I didn't quite mean an advanced scoring system, just something to make me play a little different each time.

Scoring tends to make people play the same each time :/ . Or do you mean a reason to play it through for survival and then again for score?

[WarpZone]

At the least I would have liked faster boss kills rewarded with more points (I believe icarus had some cool techniques on his youtube channel), but I think trying to beat the game with each option type offers plenty of replay interest equivalent to the scoring systems of other games.

But to those that find too much of the game easy/boring, have you tried Very Hard?

[Raytrace]

And it's not like the infinitely vertical scrolling sections of the classic games weren't snoozefests either (why do IV and V both have to start with one?).

are those the 'fire dragon'/firey planet sections in the earlier ones? is that what you mean (because you can go up and down)

[edit ]

I know see above that that is what you meant :p

[Raytrace]

At the least I would have liked faster boss kills rewarded with more points (I believe icarus had some cool techniques on his youtube channel), but I think trying to beat the game with each option type offers plenty of replay interest equivalent to the scoring systems of other games.

But to those that find too much of the game easy/boring, have you tried Very Hard?

the first boss can be done v quick with many options and laser - go straight to left middle of screen and blast the core, sometimes you can kill him before he even spins once

[stryc9]

Gradius V is a classic, and sits next to Sin and Punishment 2 as the pinnicle of Treasure-based audio-visual overloads. Highlights are many, but I knew this game meant business when the second stage boss revealed his 4 different forms and the music kept pace ,switching tracks between them as they died The music is some of the best in any shooter IMO

The gas level (although annoying), the asteroid stage and the boss there etc.

Just killer. OK so both GV and SaP2 are long hauls in terms of playtime, but I guess they are console titles in the end, not pure arcade games.

PS the fire dragon infinite scrolling stage in GV is not boring IMO - you can seek out the pink enemies and get extra power ups by taking a few more risks

[TrevHead (TVR)]

TrevHead, you should be able to get a used PS2 for around $50. Seeing as how you own a computer, that should be viable for even the most shoestring of budgets.

Its less about the money, but more about buying a console for just one or two games as I dont have a spare room to make into an game room / man cave. Ild much rather play an HD rerelease on XBLA / PSN over emulation. Hopefully Konami will allow Treasure remake it now that they have finished working on Guardian Heroes.

Ill put off playing the game for a while incase Treasure / Konami make an annoucement.

Edit does anyone have an idea how Treasure and Konami view the game? Did they think the game successfull when it first released on the PS2? Is there a sizable cult following and demand for an remake?

[Kollision]

Gradius V was the game that reintroduced me to shmups a few years back, and made me realize this was the only video game genre actually worth playing.
It’s an astonishing experience from start to finish – a masterpiece IMO.

[dunpeal2064]

Ah well, I didn't quite mean an advanced scoring system, just something to make me play a little different each time.

Scoring tends to make people play the same each time :/ . Or do you mean a reason to play it through for survival and then again for score?

Kinda more what I meant. I usually play a level for survival until I feel really confortable with it, and then I will try to score. Basically, I like to fine-tune scoring for early levels while still learning how to survive the later ones, so that I can enjoy the entire playthrough.

You are right though, once scoring is fine-tuned, you will play the same each time. That just usually takes me a little longer to achieve than mastering survival of early stages.

All in all, this is still quite a nice game, with such an epic feel. I think the only reason I wish it had a bit more, is that I already like it so much. But, I just can't play it nearly as often as something like Psikyo, which is short, difficult, and still has me working on my routes through each level (depending on where that level takes place)

[BIL]

But to those that find too much of the game easy/boring, have you tried Very Hard?

I cleared the highest difficulty setting years ago. Only noticed much of a difference around stage 7's intro which was already awesome on Normal (suicide bullets on max difficulty, iirc?). Still took way too long to get interesting (I put the "stops being dull" mark around stage 4, myself).

[burgerkingdiamond]

Dunpeal has a point. The game is too long and the first 4 stages (especially 1-3) are too easy. By the time I get to the real fun stuff I'm bored.

On the other hand, when I first started playing it, before I had learned the early stages inside and out, it was AMAZING. I really had a lot of fun with this game back in about 07'.

[Dylan1CC]

Absolutely amazing game, I just wish Treasure had added a few more organic bosses (like dragons) instead of just Core ships.

[mice]

Sextuple posts ftw!

[mirkvid]

Konami needs to release this and Contra: SS in HD together. That would be an action fans dream.

[Estebang]

Don't forget Neo Contra. Easily the best game of the series since Hard Corps. Shame everyone couldn't get over the fact that it wasn't a platformer.

[Ghegs]

Don't forget Neo Contra. Easily the best game of the series since Hard Corps. Shame everyone couldn't get over the fact that it wasn't a platformer.

Neo Contra's problem wasn't not being a platformer, it was being waaaaaay easier compared to Shattered Soldier, having unbalanced weapon sets and the spindodge that I'm convinced was put in only because the developers realized the camera angles occasionally make dodging things really awkward.

[Sumez]

Don't forget Neo Contra. Easily the best game of the series since Hard Corps. Shame everyone couldn't get over the fact that it wasn't a platformer.

I wasn't happy when I first saw it, but I loved the game once I played it (preordered from USA cause I couldn't wait for a EU releas).
It has some pacing problems, unlike SS which blows the hell out of your face from start to finish, but the gameplay is really solid IMO.

Neo Contra's problem wasn't not being a platformer, it was being waaaaaay easier compared to Shattered Soldier, (...)

No matter how crappy you are, you could easily learn the stages in SS through trial and error and complete them on 100% without taking a single hit. That takes much more skill in Neo Contra.

[Estebang]

The unlockable weapon sets in Neo Contra were clearly put in as a crutch for unskilled/lazy players to breeze through the game, with the exception of Katana Jaguar, who actually makes things harder. Furthermore, making it to the final stage requires a 100% hit rate on all stages (or close to it) and no deaths until the end.

I had no problems with the camera angles. Movement in the game does take some getting used to, but I see that as a legitimate component of the challenge.