Description
A streaming video player controls a trans-dimensional spaceship Vic Viper, and must battle waves of enemies across various different environments. Gradius is the 1st shoot 'em up to use the selection bar power-up system. Discharged under a title Nemesis within occasionally markets (notably a U.K.), a title Gradius can be an Engrish mistranslation of Gladius, Latin for "sword."

Features

Weapon system

While gameplay begins, the Vic Viper is comparatively slow & has sole the infirm gun. This level of capability is usually deficient for fighting enemies, however a Vic Viper may benefit greater capabilities by collecting & utilizing power up items.

Gradius was a foremost shoot 'em as much as have a 'choice bar' power-higher method, which has since been adopted by numbers of more scrolling shooters. When virtually all arcade action games use distinct power higher-things that to each one correspond to the specific burden on the player character, Gradius has a single power-higher item. a burden of this power-higher item is to advance a presently selected item inside a power higher menu that appears at the bottom of the screen. While a desired power higher is highlighted, a streaming video player could obtain it by pressing a power higher button, giving a menu to its initial state where there are no power higher is highlighted.

Power-ups

SPEED Higher: This power higher increases a speed of the Vic Viper's movement; unremarkably required at a beginning of a game or even once restarting an region fallowing a Vic Viper has been destroyed, because the initial speed of the Vic Viper is good deal as well slow to comfortably make sure your not enemy attacks. This power higher can be triggered multiple days to achieve greater speed, however there is the danger around increasing a speed bay, following around a want of exact control required to stay away from collision using terrain or even enemy characters. There are every now and again ways to counteract this. Within Gradius III, a streaming video player may choose "Speed Down" when their "!" power-higher. Around Gradius V, when 5 Speed Higher's, your family is given a guide of InitSpeed which comes back a speed to its original state.

MISSILE: This power higher adds the secondary projectile weapon. Arcade versions of Gradius games ordinarily have a separate button for firing this projectile, when residence console & computer versions normally utilize a equivalent button for each this & a primary projectile weapon. In a original Gradius, a weapon occurs as missile that fires downwards & to the correct, traveling downhill along the ground. Virtually all Gradius "missile" weapons come the variation on this conception.

DOUBLE: This power higher adds another projectile weapon monovular around power & firing rate to the standard gun. In the original Gradius, this 2nd gun fires at the 45 degree angle higher & to the best. Withwithin late Gradius games, it could fire in a different counsel based in the selection processed per streaming video player prior to the game starts. A Vic Viper just can not own Double & Optical maser at a equivalent period. In case Optical maser is chosen when Double is existence utilized, Double is misplaced.

Optical maser: This power higher changes the standard gun into a laser weapon that fires to the right. the optical maser weapon does substantially supplementary damage than a standard gun, & may be controlled to a certain extent when these are existence fired by moving the Vic Viper vertically; this may be utilized to quickly kill a class action of enemies. A Vic Viper just can't keep around Optical maser & Double at a equivalent period. Whenever Double is chosen when Optical maser is existence utilized, Optical maser is wasted.

Stock: Choices come glowing ovoid respire that mimic a movement & attacks of the Vic Viper, sequent around greatly increased attack capability. Moreover, Alternatives come invulnerable, making the children around addition utile in certain situations. Completely attack power ups possessed by Vic Viper come besides possessed by every Stock. Within virtually all Gradius games, as much as tetrad Choices may be found. Besides known as "Multiples" within a bit of games in the series.

? (SHIELD): This power higher adds the projectile-blocking shield to the front of the Vic Viper. the shield is destroyed when a certain total of absorbed projectiles. Around in the future Gradius games, these are likewise commonly labeled by owning an appropriate power higher label instead of the to a lesser degree informative wonder mark. Late iterations of "?" include Field of force (360° protection against Ternary hits), Reduce (shrinks a Vic Viper), & Restrict (irregular invulnerability).

! (MEGA CRUSH): This powerup has appeared withinside many Gradius games, but only appears on the gauge in Gradius III. All told Gradius games, it comes in the form of the blueish version of the Power Capsule utilized to power higher Vic Viper. Upon picking higher one of these blue capsules, tons onscreen enemies come immediately destroyed. Around a few Gradius games, it likewise wipes entirely enemy projectiles or even "bullets" off a screen also. Around Gradius III, it appears when each a blue capsule, however can besides exist as utilized by highlight the ! slot on a Power Gauge, therein out break, a pickup only wiped out enemies, when the Power Gauge version besides ruined altogether enemy bullets & awarded points for enemies destroyed.

Personal console & personal versions of Gradius spawned a today-legendary Konami Code, considered by some to exist as one of a shaping elements of Gradius. a code (traditionally Higher, Higher, Down, Down, Left, Best, Left, Perfect, B, A; variants too survive), after entered patch a game is paused, grants the streaming video player virtually all of the available power ups. When this is au fond the cheat code, the streaming video player is lone allowed a limited total of utilizes, suggesting that this is intended exclusively as a limited adjustment of the difficulty. Inside virtually all suits, a set boundaries starts at one apply & even more, an extra utilize is granted for both completed level. An interesting exception to this rule is Gradius III for a SNES/SFC, in which typing the original NES version of the code destroys smart shoppers, like than powering we higher. Subbing L & R for Left & Correct might grant a proper burden, yet. When this occurs as easily-known feature among Gradius fans, numbers of cd game enthusiasts further closely associate a "Konami Code" with the NES version of Contra, a late Konami stake where a code may be entered at a title screen to grant a streaming video player Xxx survives.

Reoccuring Gameplay Elements
There come many gameplay elements that are green to nearly all the Gradius games. These include, however are non limited to:

Core War vessel: the 1st boss of the original Gradius featured the light point in the form of a blue core protected by many barriers. Since so, there stand been many different varieties of core combat ship that feature anywhere from either a single to 5 different cores that must become targeted sequentially to kill a boss.

Moai: For some reason these famed statues appeared when enemies in the foremost game. It're mounted in either side of a ground (which are then flat yours free!-swimming platforms) & fire the series of colorful rings at the Vic Viper. A decrepit point is at a mouth, once open. Because it face at an angle or even lie flat on a ground, the higher-facing Moai come better destroyed using missiles. Since thus it keep close at hand turn into so intertwined sustaining a series these are non rare for the children to cameo around more Konami games. There develop possibly been quartet games in which the Moai develop potentially been a playable character. the 1st existence within an action platform game by having Konami characters known as Wai Wai Globe & a platform/puzzle known as Moai-Kun, two for the Famicom. Late he appeared within the racing game highborn Konami Wai Wai Racing Advance (America title: Konami Krazy Racers) for the Game Boy Advance and in the fighting back DreamMix TV: Globe Fighters for the Gamecube and Playstation 2. It should exist as noted that Moai come strangely absentminded from either Gradius V. Real life Final Bosses: Unlike virtually all more shumps, besides when virtually all computer game generally, a final boss of virtually all Gradius games is amazingly easily given a difficulty of the last & last bosses. the final boss is normally brawitharound-rather in appearance & another time taunts a streaming video player in a brief "this is only the beginning"-nature and severity speech immediately prior to destruction. It may normally exist as vanquished by shooting it used to be that at a total of cores forgoing any revenge whatsoever from either the boss. Around Gradius III, a boss fires ternary energy attacks that move super slowly & may be easy avoided. This boss may be defeated forgoing shooting at it, when it may self-destruct when perennial attacks, although a streaming video player may opt to run sol. Multiple Loops: When a credits roll at a prevent of a game, a game restarts at a 1st stage using the Vic Viper stripped of everthing power-ups. This 2nd loop is very much further hard, witharound a feel that enemies fly sooner & fire other days at another time at the streaming video streaming video player, a select few stages & bosses come observably different in appearance & big enemies (victims that come defeated in extra than a single hit) spread a total of bullets altogether directions or even toward the player fallowing destruction. A final boss is nonetheless easily to conquer, however. This period continues, to each one loop sustaining later harder in a aspects enrolled above, until the streaming video player exhausts everthing of his reserve ships & chooses does'nt to prove my point.

Legacy
There keep around been nine games that come straight members of the Gradius series. Which come actually: (note that a known platform list are probably uncomplete):

Gradius
(1985) - Originally released as an arcade game, and late ported to more platforms. These are known to survive on the as a consequence platforms: Nintendo Famicom, Nintendo Entertainment System, MSX, NEC PC Engine, SEGA Saturn (packaged with Gradius Two when Gradius Deluxe Few), Sony PlayStation (packaged with Gradius Two when Gradius Deluxe Box). Around a few areas, Gradius was freed under a title Nemesis. Inside Japan, the favorite version of the game is for the Famicom. It was given away as a prize by ArchiMENdes, a ramen noodle company. A Vic Viper would power higher applying cups of ramen noodles like than a common pods. the cart itself is quite uncommon, & considered a collector's item.

Significant: "Gradius" (original arcade version) & "Vs. Gradius" (according to a Famicom/NES version) come ii separate arcade versions of a equivalent game, the difference existence that the Vs. version experienced deuce sets of controls, in which a original experienced of these placed shared out by deuce players successively.

Gradius 2 (MSX version)
(1987) - a number 1 sequel to exist as produced only for a MSX, & the foremost Gradius to have a graphic intro detailing the plot. Besides, it experienced the unique feature of getting weapons from either a foiled boss. It was late given the facelift & freed on the Sharp X68000 computer as Nemesis 'Ninety. These are known to survive on the charted platforms: MSX, Sharp X68000. Known as Nemesis Deuce within Europe.

Gradius II
(1988) - Fully titled グラディウスⅡ　～ＧＯＦＥＲの野望～ Gradius II: Gofer there is no Yabō ("Gradius II: The Ambition of Gofer"). Originally discharged as an arcade game, & in the future ported to more platforms. This version is all different from either a MSX Gradius Two mentioned above. These are known to survive on the resulting platforms: Nintendo Famicom, MSX, NEC PC Engine, Sega Saturn (packaged by having Gradius when Gradius Deluxe Package), Sony PlayStation (packaged by owning Gradius when Gradius Deluxe Case). Around Europe, Gradius II was freed under a title Vulcan Venture. A MSX version wwhen discharged as ゴーファーの野望 -EPISODE II- Gofer there are no Yabō: Episode Deuce to distinguish it from either a earliest Gradius sequel for the MSX & was retitled Nemesis Three: Eve of Destruction inside Europe. A MSX game has more choices, prefer a ability to see between ships. a communicable tune from either the foremost level in the game, highborn "Burning Heat", became popular as a remix in the Dance Dance Revolution series on a Playstation 2/Xbox/Arcade with a ever-changing background featuring 3D renderings of a Vic Viper flying in the area of, shooting enemies, likewise when the arches of fire that appear from either the meteors in the number 1 level.

This game was never freed in the United States in any form (Lifeforce, referred to as "Salamander" within Japan, wwhen marketed as a "sequel" to Gradius).

Gradius III
(1989) - Fully titled グラディウスIII -伝説から神話へ- Gradius III: Densetsu kara Shinwa e ("Gradius III: From Legend to Myth") around Japan. Originally discharged as an arcade game, & down the road ported to more platforms. These are known to survive on the as punishment platforms: Nintendo Super Famicom, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sony PlayStation 2 (packaged with Gradius IV). This game introduced a "edit mode" method of finding weapons, which allowed players to produce their have weapon array by finding power-ups from either the like limited pool of available weapon types (occasionally weapons inside the predetermined weapon types are non selectable in Edit Mode, although it includes weapons non in any presets). the SNES/SFC version is non a super precise port; levels, enemies, & weapons were altered. E.g., 2 entire stages were cut from either either the Very Nintendo version: the 3D stage which required avoiding hit cave bulwarks from a unique number 1-individual perspective behind the Vic Viper, & a crystal stage where the Vic Viper was challenged by crystal blocks off blocking off areas prefer a maze. Likewise, a choose of stages was changed. A last in the SNES version was according to an early stage in the arcade version. A original arcade version's ending got a independent boss around a mechanical setting, so running across a speed-quickening zone to escape a enemy base, in which the SNES version got the streaming video player only avoiding the final enemy's preposterously elementary & slow-moving attack system by having there is no challenge afterwards. Nevertheless, a SNES version introduced a Rotate & Formation Guide types, each of which were reused around Gradius V. A difficulty & major stamp maneuver were toned down to produce it gentler. In a way, it's nigh the remix of the arcade game. A original arcade version is available for PlayStation Two bundled sustaining Gradius IV (Gradius III & IV), although the port has some slight differences from the original. Preferences between SNES/SFC & arcade versions deviate among fans.

Nemesis
(1989) - the number one Gradius for a personal body, therein instance Nintendo's Game Boy. A title Nemesis was saved for the stake's worldwide release. It combined elements from either Gradius & Gradius II, likewise when a select few 100%-future features. These are known to survive on the as a consequence platforms: Nintendo Game Son.

Gradius: The Interstellar Assault
(1992) - Another Gradius game alone for the Game Son. It was one of a large Game Son carts inside being at a period (Ii one thousand thousand!), & was all different from either either either the rest of a series - virtually all of a children utilized music, enemies, bosses & possibly levels from last games in the series, however this a single did does'nt, except for the boss music from the foremost Gradius game by having the addition of a little original a portion to the piece. These are referred to as Nemesis II: A Go to of the Hero inside Europe. These are known to survive on the below platforms: Nintendo Game Son.

Gradius 外伝
(1997) - Romanized as "Gradius Gaiden". a number one Gradius produced solely for a front yard console, & widely considered one of the better games in the series; still, it was never freed outside of Japan. This is besides a exclusively Gradius game (otherwise GOFER there is no Yabou Episode II on the MSX) in which smart shoppers might choose which ship smart shoppers obviously utilise. Gradius Gaiden includes a Lord British Space Destroyer from either either Salamander & deuce (relative) newcomers -- a Jade Knight & a Falchion ß (a variation of the ship from the NES bet on Falsion). These are known to survive on the charted platforms: Sony PlayStation. There are deuce variations - a original release, & when section of the "Sony PlayStation The Best" line (same to "PlayStation Greatest Hits" inside Northward United states of america or even "PlayStation Platinum" in PAL regions). There is no around-game differences between them versions stand been reported. This is likewise a number 1 Gradius game (non counting a Salamander series) which allows deuce players to play at the same time (we.e. allowing for 2 ships in screen). In addition, it featured a radical Gauge Edit feature, leaving players to rearrange a Weapon Gauge when it understand healthy.

Gradius IV -復活-
(1999) - Released around Japanese arcades when "Gradius IV Fukkatsu" (Fukkatsu existence Japanese for "resurrection", since it was a foremost arcade Gradius game within Decade years, charted Gradius III), Gradius IV was a foremost Gradius game ported to the PlayStation 2. IV lacked a Weapon Edit work of its predecessor, however it got a large array of implements of war than the original Gradius games. Weapons exclusive to this game involved the Vertical Mine missile (which detonates around a vertical line shortly when deployment) & the Armor Piercing optical maser (a shorter, additional right optical maser). Discharged on a PS2 as a compilation compact sustaining the arcade version of Gradius III ("Gradius III & IV").

Gradius Galaxies
(2001) - The 1st Gradius to become created by the development team differently Konami's have internal teams (by Mobile 21 Studios, to be precise). It is for the Game Boy Advance. These are referred to when Gradius Advance witharound Europe, & as Gradius Generation in Japan. A Japanese version, existence a endure to become freed, got two or three exclusive Challenge Modes added that a more versions did does'nt, & got even more, an extra invisible 5000 point bonus inside one of a levels.

Gradius V
(2004)

Gradius V was freed inside September 2004 for the PlayStation 2. Graphics come rendered fully 3D, although gameplay is still mostly Second; a few areas vary a position & perspective of a camera to emphasize the 3D environment.

It was a number 1 official Gradius sequel to exist as freed solely in the front yard console. Treasure Co. Ltd (developers of the classic games Gunstar Heroes, Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga, among others) assisted Konami in Gradius V development. Around Japanese 1st click limited edition, a game involved a book indicating inner project, a background, & the roadmap of Vic Viper series (i personally.e. Vic Viper is the title of the series, like than one ship).

The notable feature of Gradius V is the ability to pick out between different sort of Guide (known as Multiples in the Western release). There are foursome types:

Freeze - follows a Vic Viper & may be manufactured to 'freeze' in their todays configuration.

Directional - follows a Vic Viper & may be mass produced to fire in any counsel.

Spacing - keeps position above or even even following a Vic Viper & may be pushed away or pulled toward a ship.

Rotate - follows a Vic Viper & may be processed to orbit a ship.

Gradius V likewise features a cooccurring cooperative 2 streaming video player mode, a 2nd game in the series to clean thus (for counting the Salamander/Life Inflict games).

Gradius VI
a newly Gradius game was announced at the 2005 Tokyo Game Show [http://ps3.ign.com/articles/651/651381p1.html] for the Playstation 3.

Spin-offs of the Gradius series

Parodius

A Parodius series, started around 1990, besides mass produced by Konami, is similar to Gradius, however by having supplementary cartoony settings. A title occurs as portmanteau of "parody" and "Gradius". Early games focused principally in parodying Gradius games, however extra recent games own make fun at more Konami franchises, including Castlevania and Goemon.

Salamander (沙羅曼蛇)

Salamander (1986) is set in the equivalent universe when Gradius. the game is noteworthy for a total of reasons. Virtually all conspicuously, a game switches between horizontal & vertical stages, one of a number one games of its variety. Likewise, Salamander was one of a number 1 shooters to include coincidental 2 streaming video player games.

A foremost streaming video player ship is Gradius's possess Vic Viper ship, when a 2nd ship is the Lord British space destroyer.

Unlike Gradius, Salamander utilizes the extrthe conventional arm, by using enemies allowing a wide-kind of distinct power-ups. A NES version of Salamander, called Life Force in North Usa (& marketed therein area when a "sequel" to a number 1 Gradius), & the MSX port, utilized a further traditional power-higher bar used in the Gradius series. There too lives an arcade game known as Vital force that is monovular to Salamander freed within Japanese arcades the equivalent season, except that a Gradius-style power-higher bar is utilized instead of conventional power-higher things. An Our contries release was besides manufactured, however it retained a original power-higher body of Salamander.

Salamander 2 (沙羅曼蛇2)

Salamander Two (1996) is the watch-higher for Salamander. Got many interesting features, like a Stock Shot, a ability to launch a Alternatives when hype up projectiles. Fallowing firing, an Stock would revert to a little, less right unit known as an Guide Seed, which revolves around a ship firing the default shot. Implements of war includes Twin Optical maser, Ripple Laser, & standard Laser. like its predecessor, Salamander Two utilizes a power-higher patterns, rather than the Life Meter. Upon getting another power-higher of the equivalent nature and severity, your computers weapons come twice when right for the short duration (~10 seconds). A game features variations of classic Salamander bosses, like a Gorem, Teto-Ran II, & CenterCore II. Salamander Two's final boss, referred to as "Giga," is one of a super couple of final bosses of Gradius-depending games to actually provide challenge, in comparison a real life-to-kill "joke" final bosses of virtually all Gradius games.

Solar Assault

Likewise by Konami, Solar Assault is an arcade 3D rail shooter in the lines of Star Fox or Panzer Dragoon, with Gradius's settings. When most common, Vic Viper makes an appearance on this text. This game was super obscure & was never ported to any rules.

Zone of the Enders: the 2nd Runner

One of a mecha seen in the game is called Vic Viper, or even V2, & occurs as transmutable mecha whose fighter mode resembles a ship from either Gradius. A V2's fighter mode likewise utilizes numbers of of the series' signature weapons, like Choices, shields, & ripple optical maser. These are piloted per hero of the former Zone of the Enders game, Leo Stenbuck.

Hidden in the game is as well one-stage minigame called 'Zoradius', which plays similar to Gradius, but by using a watch from either behind the V2.

Gracillus IV
A game-creation software package Klik & Play included a number of "example" games, one of which was Gracillus IV. the streaming video player controlled a ship which can be upgraded using the equivalent power-higher formulwhen as Gradius.

Other games to use the selection bar

Apidya (Blue Byte) Cobra Triangle (Rareware) Contra Force (Konami) Project-X (Team 17) Slap Fight (Toaplan) Sidearms (Capcom) Contra Force (Konami)