How Common are PS2 Gradius Games?

[Sam]

Bah I saw Gradius V and Gradius III+IV in some game stores when they first came out but had no money. Came back about two weeks later to pick them up and nowhere in the city has them at all. Been trying to get them on a New Zealand auction site as well as NZ game forums but no bites what so ever.

At this stage I can't buy off anyone overseas as I keep forgetting to apply for a credit card. What I'm wondering at this stage is the availability of these games overseas at the moment? Is it just New Zealand that recieved limited numbers (as per usual) or is it rare elsewhere?

Thanks in advance.

[PapaStu]

Since Gradius V is still pretty new its still out there (not in droves, but its still out there) while gradius III+IV is alot harder to find (since it was a launch title and a damn good one at that). Expect to pay for them, but not out the nose or anything.

[Sam]

The Gradius III/IV I saw was a platinum re-issue so at the time I thought it would be easy to get a hold of as where I would prefer the original I'm not too fussy about budget ranges. But yeah I can;t even find the re-issue anywhere at all.

[PapaStu]

I didnt even look to see where you were from. I'm not sure then how common or not they are for you. I was referenceing them here in the states. Sorry about that.

[Sam]

hehe nah they arn't common here at all - I'm interested how common they are in other posters countries.

[Bluteg]

I would say in the US that both Gradius games are R4-5s.

Gradius V isn't as hard to find NOW but I imagine in ten years it would be right at the same level as III+IV.

[Cthulhu]

Here in Japan they've both been re-released at least once - Gradius 3&4 twice and Gradius 5 once. If you can play Japanese games, looking into the JP versions might be worthwhile if you can't find a domestic release.

[Nature Boy]

I've been looking for Gradius 3/4 ever since getting 5 (since I loved 5 so much) and I haven't come across it yet. So it's not common, that's for sure.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I've only ever come across two copies. Bought one, saved the other for awhile, and traded it off for some games. Have yet to see any other copies.

[s1lence]

My gradius 3/4 copy makes my PS2 make funny noises. I would say it is way more rare then Gradius V. It wasnt a real popular launch game, because it didnt look like any thing new to the mass market.

[robotriot]

I've seen both Gradius games in the stores here, so I wouldn't say they are rare. III & IV will probably be rarer though ... although I have to admit I thought they sucked, despite being a major shmup fan ;) It was the crappy mixture of 3D and 2D probably.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

My gradius 3/4 copy makes my PS2 make funny noises.

I can't speak for everybody's PS2, but I think Gradius 3/4 sounds like that because it's a CD based title. I know because my copy sounds the same way.

[maxlords]

I'd say both are equally rare, it's just that the supplies of Gradius V have yet to have diminished. I'm already having trouble finding Gradius V, and just bought one off a fellow DPer. The quantites available seem to be about the same as Gradius III/IV after it's release, and people said at the time that that would never be hard to find.

[cbroddy]

Has anyone seen the Gradius V Directors Cut recently in stores? I have seen it once a while ago.

[Ed Oscuro]

A friend of mine (Bloodreign) from CV Dungeon Forums had to spend quite a while looking for III + IV. Yeah, it's none too common.

[Sam]

Has anyone seen the Gradius V Directors Cut recently in stores? I have seen it once a while ago.

Havn't heard about that, whats differant?

[TEXASGAMEPLAYER]

It's a DVD not a game, if I am not mistaken.

"Gradius V Breakdown Director's Cut"

[sharp]

I bought my ps2 just to play Gradius IV. I was surprised back ten they even released a special version for the Netherlands with a Dutch-only box. Currently the game is hard to find these days. What I heard from a tystore owner was they only had 2 copies ever, for game stores the number will be higher, but it will keep it a rare title. I think part III & IV will stay a bit rarer as they were sold in the begin of the PS2 and started as fullprice game. If I am right the euro version of Gradius V started as budget game anyway.

Anyway both games are great, the only Gradius I didn't like were the GB-versions, as the screen is too small.

[Nature Boy]

It's funny how a topic out of the blue like this fits into the randomness of life. I went to the mall today for the first time in awhile, as always keeping an eye open for Gradius 3&4. And wouldn't you know it, I found one!

Paid more than I would've liked, but I'm just happy to have it!

[SoulBlazer]

For what it's worth, I'm selling my Gradius III and IV on Amazon for $25 used.