I Still can't get enough of the 1st level of Gradius V.

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 9:55 pm

I absolutely love it!

No matter how many times I play it, it never seems to get old for me. I think it's a beautiful intro to the game, wicked music that gives it that urgent feel, and I've always especially liked the bit where you briefly see Earth and space, through the holes in the station, just looks beautiful.

And who could forget that cool announcers voice and speech at the very beginning, for me the level just wouldn't have the same appeal without him.

Has everyone else gotten used to it, or does it still make you smile?

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:32 pm

...There are holes in the station???

OK, so the first level is already that intense for me to not notice the stuff in the background...

Gradius games give me a lot of trouble, but I've been playing through with 4 options all this time...

MovingTarget · Post by **MovingTarget** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:40 pm

I like it too, its a great game. Just a bit hard though hehe

Stormowl · Post by **Stormowl** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:49 pm

i still can't get over the whole game. one of the crowning achievments of the genre and proof that 2D gameplay is in no way outdated.

al138 · Post by **al138** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 11:59 pm

I pretty much love the whole game, too. Although I must admit that the second stage is favorite...that is until I get to the boss! I still can't one life the boss to this day. I always end up loosing a ship. Oh well, that's Gradius...

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:15 am

I recently bought this one for my 8 year-old nephew. I really hope he decides to set aside Ratchet and Clank long enough to realize what a masterpiece this is.

BTW, I haven't really played it enough to notice how much rank plays a role. Is it best to snag as many power-ups as possible, if what you're after is survival?

Nemo · Post by **Nemo** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:09 am

Did you mean Gradius Gaiden?? If so, I would agree, beautiful landscape and soundtrack. Probably the best 1st level ever in a shooter.

MSZ · Post by **MSZ** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:13 am

Nemo wrote:Did you mean Gradius Gaiden??

Gradius V

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:16 am

Level 3 is my favorite on G5. It has a sense of urgency to it...I love tunes like that.

Nemo · Post by **Nemo** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:17 am

MSZ wrote:
Nemo wrote:Did you mean Gradius Gaiden??
Gradius V

Yeah, it must be a typo, huh?

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 2:35 am

Nemo wrote:
MSZ wrote:
Nemo wrote:Did you mean Gradius Gaiden??
Gradius V
Yeah, it must be a typo, huh?

I'm thinking it's a typo too.

miroku · Post by **miroku** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:38 am

I think Gradius V is my favorite shmup ever. I will 1cc it someday!!! I must!

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 3:57 am

BTW, I haven't really played it enough to notice how much rank plays a role. Is it best to snag as many power-ups as possible, if what you're after is survival?

I think there's a surge after the last power-up is grabbed, so this can be avoided by not selecting the missiles.

Did you mean Gradius Gaiden?? If so, I would agree, beautiful landscape and soundtrack. Probably the best 1st level ever in a shooter.

seriously. I think a great level would consist of something more than "neat blocks of ice" or whatever.

UnscathedFlyingObject · Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:07 am

I still think the first level of Gradius Gaiden is better.

But I'm biased. Kill me.

WarpZone · Post by **WarpZone** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:13 am

I think Gradius V has the best first stage in the series rather easily. It's not just impressive aesthetically (as has been pointed out), but from a gameplay standpoint too. The intro can be played over and over, trying to maximize power-ups/points with different setups.

The main part of the stage is also fun for beginners and advanced players, as any first level should be. This is mainly achieved because the big orbs are a passive enemy. They're exciting and intimidating to a beginner, yet they can be dodged around or defeated rather easily, leading to an immediate sense of achievement. Yet, advanced players can try to defeat as many as possible while skillfully milking the generators.

The boss is also superb, being possible to defeat quickly, yet demonstrates the implications of whatever option type you chose.

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:18 am

A buddy of mine (who goes by MaximX) and I have been working on a dual SLC of the first loop of Gradius V (afterwards we plan on tackling Gradius Gaiden). Thus far we have been able to both make it to the stage 5 boss without a single death between us (it's very easy to accidentally get crossed up or cross up your teammate during the stage 5 boss bullet storm). I have captured the video of the first four levels in team play. If any of you guys are interested in seeing the vids, let me know and I'll throw them on-line somewhere.

Both of us use Type 2.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:21 am

The best first stage is is Gofer, everyone knows that. 'cause no other stage has Burning Heat.

Tomtom · Post by **Tomtom** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:39 am

Turrican wrote:The best first stage is is Gofer, everyone knows that. 'cause no other stage has Burning Heat.

Word.

Also because I haven't played Gradius V.

Post by **Ghegs** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:59 am

Nei First wrote:...I've always especially liked the bit where you briefly see Earth and space, through the holes in the station, just looks beautiful.

It's not Earth, it's the planet Gradius.

Kiken wrote:A buddy of mine (who goes by MaximX) and I have been working on a dual SLC of the first loop of Gradius V (afterwards we plan on tackling Gradius Gaiden). Thus far we have been able to both make it to the stage 5 boss without a single death between us (it's very easy to accidentally get crossed up or cross up your teammate during the stage 5 boss bullet storm). I have captured the video of the first four levels in team play. If any of you guys are interested in seeing the vids, let me know and I'll throw them on-line somewhere.

Both of us use Type 2.

Damnit, a friend of mine (BiQ in the forums and IRC channel, in fact) and I have been planning this for ages, but we've been postponing it since we hadn't had a way of capturing the run. That's to change in the very near future, hopefully. Meh, now we need to find another project.

tviks · Post by **tviks** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 7:07 am

I haven't seriously played this game since the net ranking closed last year. Not because I'm at all bored with it, but because there really isn't anything to accomplish anymore. And it doesn't seem that anyone is willing to challenge my records.

Anyway, I too really enjoyed seeing planet Gradius in the background of the first level. I really loved how you start from an orbiting space station and slowly move on to final stage in deep space (and then time travel back). I'd like to see a similiar scene on Gradius VI too, imagine how good the planet would look on PS3.

Zweihander · Post by **Zweihander** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 7:19 am

WarpZone wrote:I think Gradius V has the best first stage in the series rather easily. It's not just impressive aesthetically (as has been pointed out), but from a gameplay standpoint too. The intro can be played over and over, trying to maximize power-ups/points with different setups.

Of course it's aesthetically beautiful, the game was developed by freakin' TREASURE.

sjewkestheloon · Post by **sjewkestheloon** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 8:10 am

i find it a fantastically presented game, and the actual mechanics seem really good, but it's so tough that i haven't yet got to a point where i can truely appreciate it. as i'm pretty bad at horis in general, i don't think i'll be making any significant progress in a long time...

the stage 2 bosses are just evil. i couldn't believe it when the bastard just kept coming back agin and agin to punish me more. i lose my final life on the wavey line incarnation (the dude that has 4 cores and shoots out the two prongs) but i will practise and persevere.

Guardians Knight · Post by **Guardians Knight** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 8:44 am

yeah stage 1 is awsome, altho i like the second stage boss best, altho its a total tw@

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:23 am

Ghegs wrote:
Nei First wrote:...I've always especially liked the bit where you briefly see Earth and space, through the holes in the station, just looks beautiful.
It's not Earth, it's the planet Gradius.

Doh! Oh well my bad. The look of it does remind me of earth a bit though.

Yeah I also agree the second and third stage is nice too. I believe the theme tune that plays for the first two bosses in stage 2 is a remix of a tune in salamander right? Does anyone know where the third boss theme tune comes from?

Oh and to the Gradius Gaiden lovers, I did mean Gradius V

But yeah Gradius Gaiden has a serious soundtrack. The first level music and the bonus stage tunes are brilliant. I'd say It's my second favourite Gradius game.

Klatrymadon · Post by **Klatrymadon** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:30 am

Yeah I also agree the second and third stage is nice too. I believe the theme tune that plays for the first two bosses in stage 2 is a remix of a tune in salamander right? Does anyone know where the third boss theme tune comes from?

Yeah, that one is in Gradius 2 and 3 as well (can't remember if it's in 4 or Gaiden). If you use NSF/SPC files, it's the 13th track (of 65) on the Gradius II NSF, and it's labelled as "Big Laser" on the Gradius III SPC.

The first level music and the bonus stage tunes are brilliant. I'd say It's my second favourite Gradius game.

Hehe, yeah. I can't enough of the camp pomposity of the "Cemetary" tune.

To all the people getting stuck on the 2nd level, just keep practicing, folks. It'll only be a few hours before you're able to get to level 4 without any trouble. That's where your true test begins.

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:42 am

Thanx for that info Bal-Sagoth. I've been recently curious where that tune comes from, gonna try and find those SPC files now.

I forgot about that cemetry level in Gradius Gaiden, what a neat idea that was. GG deserves an award of recognition for that level alone.

Any other shmups have levels like this?

theevilfunkster · Post by **theevilfunkster** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:19 am

Bal-Sagoth wrote:
Yeah I also agree the second and third stage is nice too. I believe the theme tune that plays for the first two bosses in stage 2 is a remix of a tune in salamander right? Does anyone know where the third boss theme tune comes from?
Yeah, that one is in Gradius 2 and 3 as well (can't remember if it's in 4 or Gaiden). If you use NSF/SPC files, it's the 13th track (of 65) on the Gradius II NSF, and it's labelled as "Big Laser" on the Gradius III SPC.

Are you saying I can rip the tracks off my Gradius V disk, or am I just being stupid?

Klatrymadon · Post by **Klatrymadon** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:45 am

I don't know, to be honest! I don't think you can, though. I was referring to NSF and SPC files that some other people have already kindly ripped from the NES/SNES cartridges for us all.

I uploaded the files here:

http://s64.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=195F ... B1WPR6X9VE

http://s64.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1P3J ... Q1MVAP5CGP

You'll need Winamp plugins to listen to them. I use "Nosefart" for the NSFs and "SNESamp" for the SPCs (and I'm sure plugins for other players are easy enough to find, if you don't use Winamp). Enjoy!

theevilfunkster · Post by **theevilfunkster** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:48 am

Oh well, I'll probably just have to buy the Gradius V soundtrack then.

Nei First · Post by **Nei First** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:00 pm

Those files you uploaded are much appreciated Bal-Sagoth, thanx!

shmups.system11.org

I Still can't get enough of the 1st level of Gradius V.

I Still can't get enough of the 1st level of Gradius V.

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Re: I Still can't get enough of the 1st level of Gradius V.

Re: I Still can't get enough of the 1st level of Gradius V.

Re: I Still can't get enough of the 1st level of Gradius V.