Oh God!! Finally beat Gradius (only 19 years)

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

MAME

Finally cleared the first loop on 1 credit. Ive been practising for ages and playing the game for 19 years. Never thought I'd do this. Yet to do it in one life - danger spots on stage 4 and made a stupid mistake at the laser wall on the last stage. Rank makes sure that 1 life clearing this is a BITCH. Recovering actually seems easier than in later games.

Did R-Type III aswell this week but that seemed easy in comparison (US version is easier than JPN)

<----Making the most of not being allowed to work in this country.

[Ed Oscuro]

Go get 'em, Bubbles!

Oh yeah, it's gonna be a while before you can work here...child labor laws and all that... >_>

[Bloodreign]

Though it hasn't taken me 19 years, beating the game hasn't happened for me yet, I nearly looped the damned thing. I was at the brain, a bullet followed me into the brain's chamber, and on my last life, sniped me from behind. Needless to say I can consistently get to stage 7 now on a credit, but I'll be damned if I can get there with enough options (3 to keep the rank down a bit) and a double, an absolute requirement as laser have to be manipulated to get the gun turrets in parts of stage 7.

Between Gradius 1 and 2 I have been getting fairly good at both games, even got to the boss rush of 2, but the last stage in both games seem like night and day, 2 throws lots of military hardware at you, Gradius 1 throws tons of bullets at you. But sadly to this day I can't seem to get nearly as far as I did in Gradius 1 's seventh stage, something always picks me off near the beginning, and after that you're pretty much a sitting duck with the rest of your lives.

Also congratulations on the 1CC.

[Aquas]

Playing Gradius (arc) on the PSP was a real enjoyment for me. The game is so classic that all my shmupping skills I think helped clear the game a lot faster than I expected (and previous gradius experience for that matter), probably 10 or more credits untill getting it. Dying at the last stage isnt the end of the world, you can pea-shoot your way to the brain with a couple speed ups and there's some good positioning tricks at that last stage too.

I feel the same way though about Gradius 3, I probably won't beat that for years. *though I've given a lot of practice* You won't be surprised that my greatest hump in Gradius 3 is the cube rush.

Anyhow congrats, you finally did it! Now do the loop(s)!

[bcass]

Apart from the first Gameboy iteration, arcade Gradius and Gradius II are the only ones worth completing IMO. It was only those games that had a fair, yet challenging difficulty curve. I remember I completed Gradius II first. It was the first arcade game I ever completed, and it took me almost a year (playing once or twice a week after school). I played it in a software store in the late 80s. I remember a guy used to come into the shop and his girlfriend would do the missiles for him!

[yojo!]

Bcass, have you tried Gradius IV ?. I think it's huge improvement over Gradius III in term of fairness for the difficulty curve.

[nimitz]

Bcass, have you tried Gradius IV ?. I think it's huge improvement over Gradius III in term of fairness for the difficulty curve.

tviks says that Gradius 4 is harder to clear than the 3rd and I would tend to agree...

In Gradius 3 the slowdowns make a bit more bearable (even though its almost impossible), but in Gradius 4 there is no slowdown whatsoever to save you.

[captpain]

JUST had a similar experience, less than 10 minutes ago.

I've been playing DDP forever, but I just managed to 1cc it. Terrible score (31 million ) but hell, I'll take it. My first Cave 1cc.

[bcass]

Bcass, have you tried Gradius IV ?. I think it's huge improvement over Gradius III in term of fairness for the difficulty curve.

Yes, I have the Gradius III & IV pack for the PS2 but I never really took to it due to some unpleasant difficulty spikes that ruin the balance of the game.

[kozo]

his girlfriend would do the missiles for him!

Ooooh...missiles, huh?

Yes, I have the Gradius III & IV pack for the PS2 but I never really took to it due to some unpleasant difficulty spikes that ruin the balance of the game.

Agreed, though I think I need to give Grad 4 another fair shot.

[orange]

1cc'ing gradius 1 ac was a great feeling for me, i had picked it up and played it pretty hardcore, i actually 1cc'ed it in less than a week :3

i had 1-lifed up to the last room before the brain and died with like a million lives left

i thought that shit was GAME OVER

it took 2 or 3 lives and i made it in there and showed that brain who the boss was

seriously beating gradius was one of the most awesome/memorable things i've ever done

[Master O]

MAME

Finally cleared the first loop on 1 credit. Ive been practising for ages and playing the game for 19 years. Never thought I'd do this. Yet to do it in one life - danger spots on stage 4 and made a stupid mistake at the laser wall on the last stage. Rank makes sure that 1 life clearing this is a BITCH. Recovering actually seems easier than in later games.

If you're a real masochist, play Gradius 3 (Japan) in M.A.M.E.

That ought to take the remaining years of your life to beat!