Of course, this doesn't detract from the game at all, but since when did a plot really affect a shooter anyway, aside from a few isolated cases? Don't get me wrong - I love the whole Gradius series, regardless of lack of an involved plot - but it's the truth.ĭuring the course of the game's nine levels, players were treated to some of the most spectacular visuals ever seen in an NES game, thanks to the custom chip Konami used in the game. Once again the Vic Viper is called forth into battle, blah, blah, blah, save Gradius from Bacterion. The story? The Bacterion Empire is up to their old tricks again, under the command of their new emperor, Gofer, the giant mumbling head. Unfortunately, once you pick your armament, you're forced to use it throughout the entire game, so you can't switch it when you continue or anything like that. The only power that didn't resurface in Gradius II was the original Shield, which was no big loss. This feature would also be used in most of the later Gradius games - nearly every one released since then has had this option. Most of the weapons seen in Gradius and Life Force returned, as well as the new additions Spread Bomb, Photon Torpedo, and Tailgun. In what was a first for the Gradius series, players could select their powerup configuration. We missed out on one of the best 8-bit games ever created - it's right up there with Castlevania III, Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti and Bionic Commando. Whatever the reason may be, it's a real shame we never got it. My guess is that Konami of America didn't want to spend the extra cash on the custom chips that gave the game it's incredible visuals, and that's why they passed on it. sometime in 1989 but was passed over by Konami of America for reasons still unknown to us. Gradius II was supposed to be released here in the U.S. The Life Force/ Salamander titles are included in its ranks as well. At least one game in the series has been released for nearly every major console since the mid-'80s (with the exception of the Sega Master System, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega Dreamcast and N64). Gradius II was the third in Konami's celebrated line of shooters that started with the original Gradius in 1985 and continues to this day - the most recent release as of this writing being Gradius Galaxies for the GameBoy Advance.
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