Gradius II PCE CD - Bonus Level

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:48 pm

wondering if anyone knows of screens of the "bonus" desert level in the pce version. checked out gamestone, our own review, and the gradiusbase review doesn't have the usual level breakdown.

thanks

elbarto · Post by **elbarto** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:08 pm

I'll fire up Magic Engine and grab some pics later on tonight

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 6:29 pm

I can't wait for them to release a Mac OS X version of Magic Engine that runs cds... Keep up with the good work!!

elbarto · Post by **elbarto** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:09 pm

Entering the stage..

Lots of crumbling architecture, columns fall from the celing when you get too close

or defy gravity, as seen here:

the later gargoyles spring into action (crap pic, sorry)

This next part is a bit tricky with no power-ups

the spinning heads from MSX Gradius2 make an appearance

Boss time (enters from rear of screen, a la Crystal Core)

once you destroy the first two cores (and tentacles), it gets pissy and starts firing missiles as well

There you go

PFG 9000 · Post by **PFG 9000** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:47 pm

Must. Play. This game.

Thanks for the pics!

Bloodreign · Post by **Bloodreign** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:55 pm

Here's a few I took awhile back for Galaxius of this forum, just at another forum. Now there are plenty of pics of this extra level.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:25 pm

Cool! the winged statue / ancient ruins theme is returning from Nemesis II gameboy.

You know I sorta used to envy the desert setting to Gradius III. I'm glad that Gofer got its desert too! ^_^

So... Is anyone selling a copy of this?

P.S. why don't you email pics at Gradius Homeworld, I'm sure james would appreciate.

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 10:12 am

Cool. But how do you access it?

Post by **Ghegs** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 1:34 pm

BenT wrote:Cool. But how do you access it?

Get far enough.

It's just a normal level along with the rest, but it's exclusive to the PCE port. Just like in the PCE port of the first Gradius there's a level that's exclusive to the port.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 1:51 pm

Ghegs wrote:Get far enough. It's just a normal level along with the rest, but it's exclusive to the PCE port. Just like in the PCE port of the first Gradius there's a level that's exclusive to the port.

Between which stages it occurs? (you lucky, you

)

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 2:46 pm

shit, i bought gradius deluxe on saturn not too long ago, and i figured i was pretty much done with it, but the Bones level on Gradius and this Ruins level sure are looking mighty cool. many thanks to elbarto and bloodreign, i reall appreciate the help.

on second thought though: i will be mighty happy to have more cool stuff for my duo though.

Post by **Ghegs** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 3:38 pm

Turrican wrote:
Ghegs wrote:Get far enough. It's just a normal level along with the rest, but it's exclusive to the PCE port. Just like in the PCE port of the first Gradius there's a level that's exclusive to the port.
Between which stages it occurs? (you lucky, you )

I really can't remember, elbarto probably has the answer ready. Last time I played few months ago I got past the Speed Zone (total ninja luck there) but couldn't defeat the Wall Boss. After that I sort of forgot about the game, for some reason. The CD is still in my Duo, perhaps I should get back to it...

cap'n: It's a pretty cheap purchase and if you're lucky the included sticker sheet will still be there. Go for it.

elbarto · Post by **elbarto** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 6:08 pm

It becomes stage 6, fitting between the Moai stage and the (bloody annoying) High Speed stage.

Ghegs wrote:..and if you're lucky the included sticker sheet will still be there. Go for it.

No sticker sheet for me, though it was pretty cheap. I did get the stickers with my PCE Detana!! Twinbee though.

I second the "go for it", for what it's worth.

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 9:31 pm

Ghegs wrote:Get far enough. It's just a normal level along with the rest, but it's exclusive to the PCE port. Just like in the PCE port of the first Gradius there's a level that's exclusive to the port.

Aha. Neat. No dangers of that, then. I suck at Gradiuses. Gradii? Gradiuii?

Bloodreign · Post by **Bloodreign** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 3:43 am

captain ahar wrote:shit, i bought gradius deluxe on saturn not too long ago, and i figured i was pretty much done with it, but the Bones level on Gradius and this Ruins level sure are looking mighty cool. many thanks to elbarto and bloodreign, i reall appreciate the help.

on second thought though: i will be mighty happy to have more cool stuff for my duo though.

No problem man, felt like I needed to contribute something to the boards, and this just happened to be a perfect opportunity to do it with.

professor ganson · Post by **professor ganson** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 2:06 am

So it looks like Gradius II on the PCE has a real advantage over the Deluxe Pack. Good to know, though I suppose I am unlikely to get far enough to enjoy that nice extra level.

Dylan1CC · Post by **Dylan1CC** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:18 pm

I never heard of this before, very cool, looks more interesting than Gradius 3's desert IMHO. Thanks for the pics, bloodreign. Now I actually have a reason to get the PCE CD rev (since I already have the Sat DX pack)

sven666 · Post by **sven666** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:43 pm

now that were sorta on the topic, what are the differences betwwen gradius 2 and vulcan venture?, i understand theyre pretty much the same game?

elbarto · Post by **elbarto** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 10:11 pm

sven666 wrote:what are the differences betwwen gradius 2 and vulcan venture?

The extend settings are different and you have the usual speech changes for ripple/pulse laser and option/multiple, but other than that I don't remember any other changes.

Bloodreign · Post by **Bloodreign** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 1:21 am

Vulcan Venture also lets you continue from the stage you died on, Gradius II is a one shot deal (if that's the extend settings sorry for saying them again

) .

Gradius II is a 1CCer's game come true,I've actually gotten to the Moai stage on 1 credit, but my venture usually ends there, but it also depends on the system, PCE I got to the bonus stage, PSX the crystal stage, X68K Moai stage boss. For some odd reason I die in different spots on different systems.

Also thanks to elbarto for his screenshots.

elbarto · Post by **elbarto** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 10:05 am

Bloodreign wrote:Vulcan Venture also lets you continue from the stage you died on, Gradius II is a one shot deal (if that's the extend settings sorry for saying them again )

I hadn't noticed about not being able to continue in GII, good spot!
By "extend settings" I was referring to the values at which extra lives are awarded, sorry for any confusion.

Bloodreign wrote:Also thanks to elbarto for his screenshots.

No problem, glad I could contribute to the thread

shmups.system11.org

Gradius II PCE CD - Bonus Level

Gradius II PCE CD - Bonus Level

not the best pics ever, but..