Gradius III & IV for PS2

[kainemaxwell]

What's everyone here think of Gradius III & IV for PS2?

[ROBOTRON]

I have it and love it....especially the snow stage in the PS2 version...too sweet! :D

[Kid Fenris]

I don't like it, but then, I never liked Gradius. I simply find the games tedious and blandly designed. Given the choice, I'd sooner play Parodius, which at least provides some laughs.

Still, Gradius 3 and 4 make a fine package for fans for the series, and it's nice to experience G3 without the slowdown from the SNES version.

[Captain Wrong]

The only thing I can add is, there just isn't any excuse for only having 2 games on the disc. Maybe I'm getting greedy, but really, there was pleanty of room to include Gradius 1 & 2, even if they were unlockable.

[kainemaxwell]

They really turned the difficulty levels up on Gradius III and IV, moreso comparing with the SNES G3 then the arcade versions.

And yes, I do belive adding gradius I, Gradius II and even Lifeforce would made this a true SHUMPS dream come true.

[Dire 51]

I guess this is where I should mention the idea I pitched to Konami before Gradius III & IV debuted... of course, they didn't USE the idea like they should have, or even really acknowledge it...

My idea: the Gradius Ultra Pack (keeping the concept of the Japanese Deluxe Packs, name-wise). It would have contained:

Gradius (arcade)
Gradius II: Gofer's Ambition (arcade)
Gradius III: The Outbreak (arcade)
Gradius IV: Resurrection (arcade)
Gradius Gaiden (PSX)
Salamander (arcade)
Salamander 2 (arcade)
Life Force (arcade)
Nemesis '90 (X68K)

Also, as extras:

Gradius II (Famicom)
Gradius III (SNES)
Salamander (Famicom)
Nemesis (GB)
Gradius: The Interstellar Assault (GB)

It also would have included sound tests for every game, all of the intro movies from the Gradius Deluxe Pack, Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus, Gradius Gaiden, Gradius III & IV, and even the exclusive opening from the PC Engine Gradius II (all of these would be in some kind of movie gallery), plus plenty of other extras and even some unlockable items. It would have been pretty much the ultimate Gradius collectors pack.

Considering KoA's opinion of Gradius, I guess you could say we were lucky they even released Gradius III & IV here in the U.S. I love the disc for what it is, and it's one of my favorite PS2 games.

Of course, I would much rather they used my idea, but... what can I say? ~shrug~

[Captain Wrong]

Considering KoA's opinion of Gradius, I guess you could say we were lucky they even released Gradius III & IV here in the U.S.

Very true.

I love your pack idea, but I doubt we'd ever see anything even remotely close to that. I'd love to see a company really go all out on a "rero comp" for once, but it seems like they will do just the mininum to get by. (Witness 2 games on a disc.)

[Dire 51]

I think the most I've ever seen on one disc (not including the Konami Antiques MSX Ultra Pack, Activision Classics and PSX Intellivision discs) is the PSX Konami Arcade Classics disc. Ten arcade games on one disc isn't bad for a commercially released disc.

[kainemaxwell]

Dire, that's the most complete compilation pack I've ever seen and it's very impressive too. That'd be a SHUMPS player dream come true if anyone had the insight to pull it off.

[ROBOTRON]

Indeed. 8-)

[Dire 51]

Thanks guys. Of course, if it was to be released now it would also have to include Gradius Galaxies and (because I forgot it the first time around) Solar Assault.

Dammit Konami! LISTEN TO ME!!!

[kainemaxwell]

Borrowing Gradius III & IV from a friend and loving it.