RQ: Gradius III & IV (PS2) - Konami Code Power-ups

[dannnnn]

I'm using the stage select on Gradius III and want to use the power up cheat, but I've tried the Konami code with tons of different button combinations I came across on Google and nothing's worked. Do I need to unlock something first? I'm playing the Japanese version in case that makes a difference.

[Ruldra]

Full power + Double weapon: UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, SQUARE, TRIANGLE
Full Power + Laser weapon: UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, X, CIRCLE

Also, there's a limited number of times you can input the code. Only once when you start the game, and one more for every stage beaten.

[dannnnn]

Yeah I tried those and neither worked for me, I've no idea why. The limited usage thing only applies to a single run doesn't it? Therefore it shouldn't affect stage select mode if I exit to the main menu and restart after death, correct? Regardless, it should work at least once, so I don't know what I'm doing wrong


Failing this there's always MAME save states, thanks for your help anyway.

[alamone]

The code only works on difficulties lower than the standard difficulty, AFAIK.
Otherwise you have to beat at least one level before you're allowed to use it.

[Seahawk]

What alamone said. It depends on the difficulty.

On Easiest and Very Easy, you get unlimited uses I think. But you can only play these two difficulties on the first loop.
On Easy, you get 1 free use + 1 use per stage you clear.
On Normal + Hard, you get 1 use per stage you clear.
On Very Hard you can't use it.

[dannnnn]

Cheers for the info.

It's a shame you don't get one free use on normal difficulty as this renders stage select almost useless unless you're practicing recoveries. Having said that, easy difficulty is still playable for practice since it doesn't seem that much easier (stage 3 still gets full of bullets if you don't know what you're doing like me ). Ah well it'll have to do.