Gradius is a shoot 'em up series I've been working through the last year or so. Playing through the Gradius titles especially, this close together, just feels like constant de ja vu. I believe a lot of people would describe the repeating levels and enemies as 'series staples' but I just see it as a lack of innovation. Gradius IV came out almost 15 years after the original 1985 release yet it feels almost like the same game.
Don't get me wrong, the visuals are certainly improved. Gradius IV uses some nice 3D models with decent looking effects for the time. It has a bit of a 'my first 3D' game look to it that a lot of titles did in that era but it looks good. The level and ship design though may as well have not evolved in that same time. There is an Easter Island statue section, a volcano level, a fire dragon level, some repeating bosses etc. Whilst there are slight changes (the volcano section now moves up and down) there is nothing exciting here, I've seen it all before.
The game plays well enough, I played it on the PSP Gradius collection. I certainly found it more accessible than Gradius III which was obnoxiously hard. That is until I got to another 'series staple'. In Gradius you sometimes get these forced speed sections where the screen speeds up horizontally forcing you to weave through obstacles to get past like your ship is speeding through. This section broke me. A wrong choice? Straight into a dead end you can't avoid. Dead. Stay at the back of the screen to see what's coming? Enemy comes from behind. Dead. Door closes on you and don't get there early enough or shoot it enough? Dead. It's just awful. I don't have the patience or time to memorise and practice this halfway through the game. I'd rather play games that are fun.
Worst cover art of the series too disapointingly. Two stars for being better than Gradius III, I still don't like it though.
Don't get me wrong, the visuals are certainly improved. Gradius IV uses some nice 3D models with decent looking effects for the time. It has a bit of a 'my first 3D' game look to it that a lot of titles did in that era but it looks good. The level and ship design though may as well have not evolved in that same time. There is an Easter Island statue section, a volcano level, a fire dragon level, some repeating bosses etc. Whilst there are slight changes (the volcano section now moves up and down) there is nothing exciting here, I've seen it all before.
The game plays well enough, I played it on the PSP Gradius collection. I certainly found it more accessible than Gradius III which was obnoxiously hard. That is until I got to another 'series staple'. In Gradius you sometimes get these forced speed sections where the screen speeds up horizontally forcing you to weave through obstacles to get past like your ship is speeding through. This section broke me. A wrong choice? Straight into a dead end you can't avoid. Dead. Stay at the back of the screen to see what's coming? Enemy comes from behind. Dead. Door closes on you and don't get there early enough or shoot it enough? Dead. It's just awful. I don't have the patience or time to memorise and practice this halfway through the game. I'd rather play games that are fun.
Worst cover art of the series too disapointingly. Two stars for being better than Gradius III, I still don't like it though.
2 Comments
@Angel_Arle - I hate them, they are just brutal and unfair based entirely on memorisation. Aero Blasters implemented a similar level but way better balanced.
Angel_Arle
1 year ago