Gradius V

[SoulBlazer]

Picked up this game today along with Fable. And ended up playing this one first. :D

I know we have a lot of shooter fans on here. Comments?

It's only $30, people! Get it! :P

[Dire 51]

:bawling: :bawling: :bawling:

This is THE ONE GAME I was looking forward to this year, and I have no way to play it - or buy it - whatsoever... and I probably never will be able to do either. :bawling:

[Ed Oscuro]

Never say never again, Dire ;)

Read the BenT article myself. I'll be sure to pick it up sometime; I never was the fan of oldschool Gradius gameplay but that review gives me the strong impression it might not be an issue anymore.

Maybe Irem got out of the business because they'd snatched a peek at what Konami was brewing up? LOL

[Dire 51]

Okay, so maybe there is a possibility of it happening... but not one that I can see from where I am now. :(

[Ed Oscuro]

Hell, I don't even have a PS2. Got three games (including FFXI, just recently), but no system to run 'em on LOL

[SoulBlazer]

Actually, I've always loved the old school Gradius play, better then anything else out there. And this does a nice blend of old and new.

Someone else has to have this. :)

[Dire 51]

Hell, I don't even have a PS2. Got three games (including FFXI, just recently), but no system to run 'em on LOL

Long story Ed, but I seriously doubt I'll be getting ahold of this game, period.

SoulBlazer - they're out there, and they'll be here. I'm positive of that.

[ubersaurus]

I'm planning on getting it this weekend. I'm not a big fan of the gradius engine, but V did a really good job of it.

[Iron Draggon]

Hey, it could be worse. I don't have any Gradius games yet, and only played Gradius III once on the SNES. So I still need all the PS2 Gradius games, and a PS2 to play them on. Ditto for R-Type, don't own any, and never played any.

[Crush Crawfish]

I got it today!!! It totally rocks! Has anyone else tried 2 player co-op mode? I tried it with my brother and It was pretty fun. The only problem is that the 2 ships look exactly the same, except that P1 has a blue exhaust flame while P2 has a red one. Needless to say, i kept getting confused. Great, great stuuf though. I'd love to see a parodius made like this. On a side note, Is today the first time that two games made by treasure have been released on the same day?

[lendelin]

I'm waiting for Gradius V for a long time, I always liked the Gradius series much better than the R-Type series. I liked R-Type Final, and I will eat up the new Gradius.....still...I think I'll wait until it drops to $20. :)

[Graham Mitchell]

I got it today!!! It totally rocks! Has anyone else tried 2 player co-op mode? I tried it with my brother and It was pretty fun. The only problem is that the 2 ships look exactly the same, except that P1 has a blue exhaust flame while P2 has a red one. Needless to say, i kept getting confused. Great, great stuuf though. I'd love to see a parodius made like this. On a side note, Is today the first time that two games made by treasure have been released on the same day?

2-player co-op sounds badass. (Life Force/Salamander, anyone?)I want thins game but I am so poor I don't think I'll be able to make it happen. Gradius NEVER disappoints. A new R-type always takes some getting used to because they're so bitch hard. Gut Gradius is always smooth.

[Bronty-2]

Actually, I've always loved the old school Gradius play, better then anything else out there. And this does a nice blend of old and new.

Someone else has to have this. :)

I buy extremely few current generation games, but now that you've told me this is out I am buying it this weekend along with metal slug. Can't friggin' wait :D

[Bronty-2]

Hey, it could be worse. I don't have any Gradius games yet, and only played Gradius III once on the SNES. So I still need all the PS2 Gradius games, and a PS2 to play them on. Ditto for R-Type, don't own any, and never played any.


:eek 2: :eek 2: :eek 2: :eek 2: @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@ :eek 2: :eek 2: :eek 2: @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@

Send me your address and I'll send you a copy of something in the series. This cannot be allowed to continue. :angry:

[Ed Oscuro]

Let's see...the only Gradius games in my house are a copy of Gradius II Gofer no Yabou and Salamander, the x68K Konami and crummy SPS releases, respectively. LOL

Damn...I've almost got more R-Type games than Gradius games.

[Iron Draggon]

Hey, it could be worse. I don't have any Gradius games yet, and only played Gradius III once on the SNES. So I still need all the PS2 Gradius games, and a PS2 to play them on. Ditto for R-Type, don't own any, and never played any.


:eek 2: :eek 2: :eek 2: :eek 2: @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@ :eek 2: :eek 2: :eek 2: @_@ @_@ @_@ @_@

Send me your address and I'll send you a copy of something in the series. This cannot be allowed to continue. :angry:

LOL I know, it's terrible, isn't it? But at least I do own a copy of Axelay...

Now if only Konami would give us the sequel to it that they hinted at in the ending...

:angry: I refuse to buy anymore Konami shmups until they give us a sequel to Axelay...

Say it with me now, I refuse to buy anymore Konami shmups until they give us a sequel to Axelay...

[Daniel Thomas]

Maybe you should write Treasure about that Axelay sequel, since supposedly a number of their designers worked on that game.

And didn't Treasure make Gradius V? What did they do differently for this game? It isn't just another me-too sequel with prettier graphics, is it? That's the thing that burned me off of Gradius, in favor of Gaiares and Thunderforce and Toaplan's shooters.

[classicb]

Great game. This game is hard but not as hard as Ikaruga. The two player mode helps allot and makes it even more fun. Finally a game my girlfriend will play with me that's not Pokemon Puzzle League. Two player mode really is a lot of fun plus it helps you from having to start at the begining of the level every time you die. If I had to rank it against my other current favorite shooters it would be number one.

1.Gradius V
2.R-Type Final
4.Ikaruga (looks the best out of all 3 but also the hardest)


What did they do differently for this game? It isn't just another me-too sequel with prettier graphics, is it?

It's still the same Gradius but that's fine by me.

[pookninja]

damn,it is out already?i gotta get it.i love gradius and lifeforce.i have gradius gaiden for ps1(jap import),and i still have the nes original and lifeforce.i will be picking this one up.

[Jive3D]

I've been playing Gradius V alot recently. It's totally awesome. It really is the exact same Gradius, but the graphics are excellent (expecially the backrounds), the Music is exactly what I wanted from a Gradius game and the control is tight. They really didnt need to re-invent the wheel with this one. It's awesome.

2player coop mode is also pretty kick ass. I don't have a lot of 2p games and this is perfect for my roomate and I. We have also been battling for Highscore playing 1player (normal difficulty) mode and seeing how far we can get on one continue. (I practice on hard mode when he isn't around :evil: )

Also, for those that just got the game - the more Play hours you rack up, the more Continues they give you.

I LOVE THIS GAME...

Anyone interested in making a "this is my hiscore on one continue in Gradius V" thread? - This game really needs online ranking - or does it?

[Ed Oscuro]

Maybe you should write Treasure about that Axelay sequel, since supposedly a number of their designers worked on that game.
While you're at it, a sequel to A-Jax, please :)


And didn't Treasure make Gradius V? What did they do differently for this game? It isn't just another me-too sequel with prettier graphics, is it?
Yes, different it is (http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/gradius-v/547712p1.html), no! :)

[Flack]

I enjoyed Gradius III/IV very much on the PS2, and am looking forward to V. I'll have to pick it up after OKGE funds level out. :)

[davidleeroth]

Anyone interested in making a "this is my hiscore on one continue in Gradius V" thread? - This game really needs online ranking - or does it?

There was online ranking for the Japanese version, the winner got 69,999,900 in the score attack mode. Unsuprisingly I didn't fit in the top 1000. The stuff that was up for grabs are shown here:

http://www.konamityo.com/gra5/ranking/item/item.html

Does the game give you a password in the score attack mode? I'd love to see the ranking in US and Europe, too.

[midgey]

I'll be getting this after I get through Phantom Brave and school dies down.

I absolutely loved original Gradius, in fact, I've been playing it alot lately. The best thing about it I think is the difficulty. The perfect balance of hard, but still giving you the hope of one-lifeing it. Thats the problem with most modern games...they don't invoke the desire for mastery like the classic ones. (Contra, Battletoads, Gradius, Ninja Gaiden, etc.) So if the fifth installment is as similar as the first, I'll love it.

So is Gradius V made by Konami or Treasure? And what was the other Treasure game that came out recently? Don't tell me Metal Slug Advance or Guardian Heroes Advance came out today.

[blissfulnoise]

Don't tell me Metal Slug Advance or Guardian Heroes Advance came out today.

GHA came out yesterday. And it rocks the house, don't let anyone tell you otherwise :)

I got Gradius V at the same time, but i've been playing GHA non-stop. Gradius V goes in this weekend, I'll be taking GGX2#Reload online this weekend too.

Prepare for Butta Ninja Madness!!! (Chipp in his butter yellow color scheme)

[midgey]

I'm an idiot, for a brief second, I thought Metal Slug was a treasure game. So ignore that in my previous statement.

Also, I checked out the prizes for the Japanese score attack, and hot damn is that a cool shirt with the Vic Viper. Any way to get those in the states?

Bliss: Any idea how the multiplayer works on GHA? I know there's only 3 characters on this one, but if you could play 3 player co-op, that'd be a step above the 2 player on Saturn

[Iron Draggon]

OK, for those of us in dire need, could someone please post a timeline of all the Gradius games there are and what systems they appeared on? Domestic & imports, please. I found a website that lists them all, but it only lists the dates for Japanese releases, as it said that American releases were "irrelevant". I'm afraid I have to disagree with that. I should be able to get a copy of the American version for a hell of alot cheaper than the import version, if an American version exists, so I need to know which games were also released stateside. And is there any difference at all between Gradius, Lifeforce, and Salamander, other than the name? I'm confused about that.

If you don't mind, a timeline of all the R-Type games while you're at it would be really nice too. I understand that R-Type Final includes 100 different ships! My eyes just about bugged right out of their sockets when I read that! I know that alot of them are just the same ship with different weapon configurations, but still, 100 different ships! That game must kick some major ass! I'm beginning to think that I really am depraved now. I never really liked the look of the ships in R-Type, but as much of a shmup junkie as I am, if there's a game with 100 different ships, I must own it! I'd be playing the rest of my life until I finally unlocked them all, just to be able to use them!

[midgey]

I'm no expert on this, but I'm pretty sure that Salamander is a shortened version of the Japanese name for Lifeforce.

The difference between Gradius and Lifeforce is a bit. The crucial difference to me is that Lifeforce has a 2 player co-op mode. Also...the weapon "double" on Gradius is replace with "wave" on lifeforce. Lastly, lifeforce has both horizontal and vertical oriented levels.

[blissfulnoise]

Salamander is actually what that game is called. It was Life Force in the states. It's actually a difference series than Gradius is, though the play mechanics are quite the same. Best version IMO is on the PC Engine.

http://www.gamestone.co.uk/gradius/history_salamander.html

And Advance Guardian Heroes has 2 player co-op over link cable (2 carts needed) and 4 player arena mode.

Apparently there are 20 playables in the game but I haven't unlocked anything in story mode yet though I've beaten it once through on normal (87% completion). Thus, I still have only the starting 4 (or is it 5?) characters that are essentually pallet swaps of each other (though there are 5 costumes for each character) + a few different moves.

I don't want to spoil anything, but fans of the original are going to be in for a treat as they play through. I only hope I can unlock more characters to use in story mode.

[blissfulnoise]

OK, for those of us in dire need, could someone please post a timeline of all the Gradius games there are and what systems they appeared on?

http://www.gamestone.co.uk/gradius/history_gradius.html

google + "history gradius" = 3rd link 8-)

The translations to English from the original Japanese on the site are priceless!


As for the ion laser it meaning that the winder catches you note. We would like to push down safely, if is, to call that the laser is avoided in the picture left edge, because the winder does not catch the time where the laser comes to the left edge. The person who does not adhere is wise in acquisition of the excessive special weapon.

[Jive3D]

And is there any difference at all between Gradius, Lifeforce, and Salamander, other than the name? I'm confused about that.

The other one was Nemesis, right? I have that for Gameboy! I should play it on my GB player tonight!

I'll have to pick up the US version fo Gradius V, I've been playing the import, wanna know if theres any major differences.

Oh and one thing that bothers me in 2player coop - at the end of the first level when that time/space rift happens and the other Vic Viper comes though, there is no 2nd player 2 vic viper... oh well.

[classicb]

for all you cheaters if the game gets too hard try a little up up down down... i'm sure you all know the rest of the code

[racecar]

treasure make great shooters!!!!! so i'll buy TWO when i get my paycheck.

[SoulBlazer]

There's a ton of Gradius games.

Gradius (NES)
Salamander/Life Force (NES)
Gradius II (PC/NES -- the NES version was NOT RELEASED in the States, but the PC version was!)
Gradius III (SNES)
Gradius IV (Arcade -- JAPAN ONLY/PS2)
Gradius V (PS2)

Gradius: Nemesis (GB)
Gradius Galaxies (GBA)

Did I leave anything out? Oh, there was a Gradius Gaiden game that was Japan only, but no clue what system.

[Sotenga]

Gotta do two things:

A. Snag Gradius V in the near future.

2. Get a boot disk for my copy of Gradius Gaiden.

Then I will have played every Gradius game in existence. :D

[classicb]

Did anyone get this game with the bonus disk? I didn't and wanted to know what I was missing out on.

[Jive3D]

There's a ton of Gradius games.

Gradius (NES)
Salamander/Life Force (NES)
Gradius II (PC/NES -- the NES version was NOT RELEASED in the States, but the PC version was!)
Gradius III (SNES)
Gradius IV (Arcade -- JAPAN ONLY/PS2)
Gradius V (PS2)

Gradius: Nemesis (GB)
Gradius Galaxies (GBA)

Did I leave anything out? Oh, there was a Gradius Gaiden game that was Japan only, but no clue what system.

There is another oldschool GB game called Gradius: Interstellar Assault in addition to Nemesis.

[SoulBlazer]

Okay, never saw that one. Came out after Nemesis? I recall Nemesis being around in the first year of the GB's life.

[Retsudo]

There's a ton of Gradius games.

Gradius (NES)
Salamander/Life Force (NES)
Gradius II (PC/NES -- the NES version was NOT RELEASED in the States, but the PC version was!)
Gradius III (SNES)
Gradius IV (Arcade -- JAPAN ONLY/PS2)
Gradius V (PS2)

Gradius: Nemesis (GB)
Gradius Galaxies (GBA)

Did I leave anything out? Oh, there was a Gradius Gaiden game that was Japan only, but no clue what system.


Gradius 3 and 4 for the American PS2.

[SoulBlazer]

Yes, that goes without saying. :) I mean, I mentioned 4 for PS2, so of course it has 3 as well.

The game is AWSOME, folks. I've only lasted to the end of Stage 2 on my three credits, but it's a pure fun fest. Great graphics, with roating effects and detailed enviroments. A very good tech/hard metal sound track. Easy controls -- just hold down X for auto fire and Circle for powering up. Four power up options available, as well as the number of ships and difficulty can be changed.

The boss at the end of Stage 1 is a good sample of how the game goes. It warps into the screen from the center and moves to the right before a computer voice prompts you to 'Destroy the Core!'. It's a huge inverted C, with guns all along the inside of it, and the core on the right protected by screens. After shooting at you for a while, two super guns shoot out above and below the core and keep firing. So you're forced inside of it, but the other guns stop firing. Then the sucker starts ROTATING on you. At the same time the guns open up again! So you're trying to spin with the boss while also avoiding guns. After a while it finally stops and you can slip back to the left again. When it finally goes, it GOES. I mean, a huge BOOM that is even a little better then the death explosions you see in Ikragua! Sheer fun.

And I don't even have anyone to try it aganist. :P

[Wonder_Hamster]

I wish the Gamecube didn't miss out on so many games. Frickin' Konami, I shouldn't have to get a PS2 just for your best stuff.

[SoulBlazer]

It gets better -- the back of the Gradius V manual advertises Suikoden 4. :D

[bargora]

I play Gradius and Gradius II on the JP Saturn "Gradius Deluxe Pack" disc. Must get V. Must get V.

[buttasuperb]

$22.99 at frys until Tuesday

I gotta stop buying games on release.

[Ed Oscuro]

I wish the Gamecube didn't miss out on so many games. Frickin' Konami, I shouldn't have to get a PS2 just for your best stuff.
Yeah... :/

As for Gradius Games, Konami of Europe claims that Scramble is a Gradius game (I've brought this up before!)

[bargora]

I wish the Gamecube didn't miss out on so many games. Frickin' Konami, I shouldn't have to get a PS2 just for your best stuff.
Yeah... :/

As for Gradius Games, Konami of Europe claims that Scramble is a Gradius game (I've brought this up before!)
The intro to Gradius Galaxies would seem to point that way. Is that what you're referring to?

[Ed Oscuro]

I wouldn't know about the intro, but the manual lists it as the first entry in the series. It's Galaxies, though.

[classicb]

Some people call Halo crack for gammers well Gradius V is my gaming crack. All I need is Type 2 Weapon Array and level up to Lazers and I'm hooked for a few hours. I've logged over 9 hours of gameplay which is like 12 credits. I think I could probably play through it now but my girlfriend keeps playing with me (which is fine and a lot of fun) and she uses up all the credits. Still even with her using most of the credits we've played up to the last boss on stage 6 (I think it was the last boss) so almost all the way through. I think their are like 7 or 8 stages. Anyway I just wanted to put the ! on how great this game is and I think everyone should get it. outpost.com has it for 19.99 so now you have no choice.

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4193703

[pookninja]

i bought a copy of it today.this game is great.it plays just like the gradius games of old,with awesome 2d graphics and great sound.me and my wife played 2 player for a couple hours.i was disapointed that you only get 3 credits(continues)on two player.i figured you would get 6 continues(3 a peice)like when you play 1 player.oh well,i guess we better get some practice in if we are gonna beat the game..

[classicb]

i bought a copy of it today.this game is great.it plays just like the gradius games of old,with awesome 2d graphics and great sound.me and my wife played 2 player for a couple hours.i was disapointed that you only get 3 credits(continues)on two player.i figured you would get 6 continues(3 a peice)like when you play 1 player.oh well,i guess we better get some practice in if we are gonna beat the game..

not only do you share credits but you also share the muliples (orange balls) also if its a little tough at first you can increase the number of ships you get along with lowering the number of points to the next new ship. the game is hard but plenty fun. keep playing some of the later stages like 5 and 6 are worth the wait.

[Iron Draggon]

I play Gradius and Gradius II on the JP Saturn "Gradius Deluxe Pack" disc. Must get V. Must get V.

Is there a PS or PS2 version of that? It would be great if I could play 1-5 + Gaiden on the same system, and always have the same controller setup.

[Dire 51]

Is there a PS or PS2 version of that? It would be great if I could play 1-5 + Gaiden on the same system, and always have the same controller setup.

Yep, it was released for the Japanese PSX at the same time as it was released for the Saturn. If I were you, I'd look for the Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus disc too (if you don't already have it), because it's worth having and would be the perfect companion piece to your PSX/PS2 Gradius collection.

I'm nostalgic for Gradius now, so I'm going to post a list of all the Gradius games I owned. Humor me, wouldja?

Gradius (NES)
Gradius AC (ROM hack made into an Famicom cart)
Gradius II (Famicom)
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou (PC Engine CDROM2)
Gradius III (SF)
Gradius III (SNES)
Gradius Gaiden (PSX)
Gradius Deluxe Pack (PSX)
Gradius Deluxe Pack (Saturn)
Gradius III & IV: Myth of Resurrection (PS2)
Gradius III & IV (PS2)
Nemesis (GB)
Gradius: The Interstellar Assault (GB)
Gradius Galaxies (GBA)

Gradius related titles:

Salamander (Famicom)
Life Force (NES)
Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus (PSX)
Parodius Da! (Famicom)
Gokujyo Parodius-Da! Deluxe Pack (Saturn)
Sexy Parodius (Saturn)
Cosmic Wars (Famicom)
Konami Antiques MSX Collection Ultra Pack (Saturn)

*sigh* I miss my games. How I so wanted to add Gradius V to that list.

[SoulBlazer]

PLus they released Gradius 1 and 2 for the PC in a bundle pack. It was the only US released version of Gradius II.

And there's some debate if Scramble can be considered a early Gradius game -- Gradius Galaxies lists it as one. :hmm:

[classicb]

Let's not forget the mini-game after the 2nd period in Blades of Steel (NES)

Did Konami put Gradius in any other games? I would think they did but I don't have that many Konami games to say.

[DDCecil]

Let's not forget the mini-game after the 2nd period in Blades of Steel (NES)

Did Konami put Gradius in any other games? I would think they did but I don't have that many Konami games to say.

On Legend of the Mystical Ninja you can play the first stage of Gradius at the amusement park stage (3).

[Iron Draggon]

*sigh* I miss my games. How I so wanted to add Gradius V to that list.

So what happened to them all? Sounds like you were totally up to speed!

I saw a real nice looking Gradius Deluxe Pack & Gradius Gaiden on ebay that was being offered by the same seller and everything, but they were $25 apiece BIN, and I just don't have $50 right now, so they both got away. :(

I guess I'll get them all eventually, but it seems to me if they have Gradius V & Gradius III + IV on PS2, then they should just re-release Gradius I + II & Gradius Gaiden on it also. Or better yet, let's send the series off with a real bang, and offer a limited edition complete box set for chrissakes! I'll buy it!

[Needle]

Gradius 5 is dominating my life since I got it on Wednesday. It's that good.

I can currently get to Stage 7 on Normal difficulty with one credit and default ship/extend settings. My high score for one credit is currently 1,565,630 and it seems to improve everytime I play.

It's definitely got that Treasure feel - hard as nails but surprisingly fair. The more you play, the better you get, that's the bottom line. Two days ago I thought stage 5 was impossible - literally, impossible. Now I can beat it pretty handily, even if I don't breathe during the entire two-minute ordeal :D

For those wondering, Gradius V DOES have Internet Rankings.

http://www.onlineregister.com/konami/gradiusV/

Apparently it's a contest that surprisingly ends on October 1st, two weeks after the rankings open! So for those of you out there who are shmups freaks and are holding off on the purchase, you may want to reconsider. I'm currently leading the Type 3 Score Attack by about 800,000 points, but I doubt that will last long. ;)

[Dire 51]

So what happened to them all? Sounds like you were totally up to speed!

I was, but I think you may not have been posting here yet when the big shakeup in my life happened and I had to sell my ENTIRE collection. That reminds me, I have to post something about this in OT soon, but I'm worried that there might be a few people that'll be angry with me once I do. However... I'm desperate. More later.


I saw a real nice looking Gradius Deluxe Pack & Gradius Gaiden on ebay that was being offered by the same seller and everything, but they were $25 apiece BIN, and I just don't have $50 right now, so they both got away. :(

I guess I'll get them all eventually, but it seems to me if they have Gradius V & Gradius III + IV on PS2, then they should just re-release Gradius I + II & Gradius Gaiden on it also. Or better yet, let's send the series off with a real bang, and offer a limited edition complete box set for chrissakes! I'll buy it!

I've been wanting a Gradius Ultra Pack for a few years now... I have a listing made up for it and everything, but I don't have it handy.

classicb - there are quite a few Gradius references in other Konami games, like Castlevania: SotN and the Waiwai World series, to name a couple.

[Iron Draggon]

OUCH. Sorry to hear that!

I like the sound of Gradius Ultra Pack though. Has a real nice ring to it. I hope Konami is listening! Do you think any game VIP's read all this stuff?

[Dire 51]

OUCH. Sorry to hear that!

So I'm sure you can imagine how I feel staring wistfully at the Gradius V packaging, knowing I can't get it. :(


I like the sound of Gradius Ultra Pack though. Has a real nice ring to it. I hope Konami is listening! Do you think any game VIP's read all this stuff?

Probably not, but you never know.

[classicb]

Gradius 5 is dominating my life since I got it on Wednesday. It's that good.

I can currently get to Stage 7 on Normal difficulty with one credit and default ship/extend settings. My high score for one credit is currently 1,565,630 and it seems to improve everytime I play.

It's definitely got that Treasure feel - hard as nails but surprisingly fair. The more you play, the better you get, that's the bottom line. Two days ago I thought stage 5 was impossible - literally, impossible. Now I can beat it pretty handily, even if I don't breathe during the entire two-minute ordeal :D

For those wondering, Gradius V DOES have Internet Rankings.

http://www.onlineregister.com/konami/gradiusV/

Apparently it's a contest that surprisingly ends on October 1st, two weeks after the rankings open! So for those of you out there who are shmups freaks and are holding off on the purchase, you may want to reconsider. I'm currently leading the Type 3 Score Attack by about 800,000 points, but I doubt that will last long. ;)

yeah this is all I've been playing since Wednesday too. I didn't realize the internet thing ended so soon I 've just been trying to play through the game. Time to start playing some score attack. Your score should be safe from me since I only play Type 2. Although I think as more people start playing those scores are going to go way up. Type 1 seems to be leading the way.

[ubersaurus]

The game is definitely fun. It just seems more fair then previous Gradius games, which is good, because I've never liked how brutal gradius was if you died. Maybe it's the instant restart, I don't know, but it's just a well amde game. Time will tell if I play it as religiously I played R-type Final or Starfox 64, but, it's fun.

[SkiDragon]

The game is very good. The only thing that bugs me is how they seem to have renamed "options" to "multiples". I thought option was a wierd name...

[classicb]

The game is very good. The only thing that bugs me is how they seem to have renamed "options" to "multiples". I thought option was a wierd name...

I don't know I think multiples makes a lot more sense. Options makes no sense at all. I mean you do get multiple shots not options for more shots.

[ddockery]

JUst thought I'd mention Slalmander 2... I didn't notice it in anyone's list. It's emulated in MAME, and like the rest of the series a lot of fun to play.

[SoulBlazer]

That's cause I never heard of it. O_O

A sequel to Salamander/Life Force? Very strange.

[blissfulnoise]

That's cause I never heard of it. O_O

A sequel to Salamander/Life Force? Very strange.

It's on the Salamander Deluxe Pack for the PS and SS. Only place it was released other than the arcade.

[Iron Draggon]

So I'm sure you can imagine how I feel staring wistfully at the Gradius V packaging, knowing I can't get it. :(



For real! I thought that I had it bad, but that's cruel and unusual punishment!

I feel for ya, man.

[whoisKeel]

how is the difficulty compared to Gradius 2 for pce? I've tried that game, and it just throws my face down on broken glass, once filled with lemonade, and proceeds to step on my head multiple times. is the difficulty more like that, or more like ikaruga? does it have a continue-earning setup like ikaruga?

[ubersaurus]

Every hour of gameplay=one more credit.

It's a bit more manageable then older gradius games, since it lets you grab options after you die, and has that nice treasure thing about not completely assraping you if you die.

[RetroYoungen]

For some reason, I missed this thread back when it started.

At CGE I couldn't get enough of this game, then I bought it a few days ago, and it's all I've played (aside from Advance Guardian Heroes) since. Definately classic-shooting sweetness.

[Dire 51]

For real! I thought that I had it bad, but that's cruel and unusual punishment!

I feel for ya, man.

Thanks. Believe me, this really sucks...

ddockery - it's in mine, just as part of Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus.

SoulBlazer - here, check out this review (http://www.digitpress.com/reviews/salamanderdeluxe.htm) I wrote of Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus. First screenshot is the first boss of S2. I'd recommend tracking it down for either the Saturn or PSX.

On the whole options/multiples thing: the options were first called multiples in Salamander, so it's not unheard of.

[ubersaurus]

I feel emasculated that the level 2 boss is giving me such a hard time. Hitting those cores on the prongs is a major pain in the ass.

This gradius is easily all about the multiples. I'd go so far as to say that they are the major part of the gameplay in this gradius.

[SoulBlazer]

Yeah, I have'nt gotten through the Stage 2 bosses yet either. How many freakin ARE there?!? Seems every time I just scrape by a boss and blow it away, another bigger and badder one comes up to fight me. :roll:

But I have'nt had major time to spend on the game either.

[classicb]

wait till you guys get to stage six it does the same thing one right after the other.

as far as multiples (options) for me its all about the directional ones type 2