Konami combined intricate sprite work with polygonal elements to create a stylized look that is fantastic. The only bit of cheapness is that some bullets and tiny pieces of shrapnel blend into the background, causing cheap deaths. This is far from a bullet hell shooter but is just as intense at times. There are more bullets, more enemies and indestructible objects everywhere. You’ll need that power as the game throws more of everything at once. If you edit the weapon gauge smartly it isn’t even an issue. It also helps you get back up to speed after death pretty quickly.
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Power-up capsules are in greater supply enabling you to reach near full power in seconds. As much as I want to chalk it up to my not so insignificant shmup skills Konami have done an excellent job balancing the game. Gradius Gaiden manages the impossible in a shooter it is both challenging and still accessible at the same time. It’s hard enough dealing with the enemies but the level can break up and destroy you at any time! Add in more bosses than you can shake a stick at and this is practically a Gradius fan’s dream. This level is caught in the middle of an event horizon and is slowly being ripped apart. The crystal cage of stage three is very similar to Gradius II but here they also reflect your laser beams. The traditional Moai head level adds a few twists such as laser spitting heads! The organic fortress is a living organism that pulsates and changes shape as you progress. The level design spans both the new and old. But those three seconds of invincibility are a life saver, especially as often as you’ll be able to use it. I didn’t like Limit at first 3 seconds seemed too short. Limit grants complete invulnerability for a few seconds. It sounds useless in most situations but is actually incredibly effective due to the level design. Guard protects you from collisions on the top and bottom of your ship. The two new options are the most interesting. The standard frontal shield and the force field from Salamander return. The biggest addition is the choice between four different shields.
Most of your weapons can be powered up twice, giving a reason to collect additional power-up capsules. Editing the gauge eliminates that.Īside from the edit mode there are a few more changes. This isn’t an overly difficult game but death can be frustrating due to bad spacing of checkpoints. You can set it up so that options and shields come first and only cost one or two capsules! This allows you to come back from death easier and makes the game a lot more tolerable. The possibilities this creates are massive and a game changer. Gauge Edit allows you to rearrange the order of weapons on the power-up bar. While that level of customization isn’t completely present Gradius Gaiden does offer something just as cool. Gradius III was a fan’s dream with its extensive edit mode. Occasionally they are blocked by the environment but this is a minor trade-off for such devastating power. These shots create mini black holes that have a wide spread radius. The Falchion β is my personal favorite thanks to its gravity bullets.
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It can be hard to use effectively but is devastating in tight spaces. This laser sends out a wide arcing pulse. On top of its spread bombs and twin lasers it has the Round Laser. The Jade Knight has the most interesting weapon in the game. As well rounded as these two ships are they don’t compare to the new kids on the block. The usual 2nd player exclusive Lord British has the Salamander weapon set with a new piercing laser and two-way missiles. The Vic Viper returns unchanged and is well rounded. Much like Parodius Gradius Gaiden offers a selection of numerous ships with different weapon load outs. This was one of the first PS One games I ever imported and I don’t regret it for a second. Gradius Gaiden is a truly amazing game, one of my favorite shooters of all time and one of the PlayStation’s best games in my opinion. Never in a million years did I ever imagine Konami would leave a Gradius game in Japan yet that is precisely what happened. While a few brave companies like Working Designs kept the torch burning even longtime pioneers in the genre gave up on it. The slow, agonizing near death of the genre in the late 90s was painful to watch as we missed out on some truly brilliant games. I’m not much of a fan of mobile gaming but I do appreciate that it has given shooters a second life in the US. Developer: KCE Tokyo Publisher: Konami Released: AugGenre: Shooter
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