So in my quest to play all the Gradius games I have finally made it to Gradius: the Interstellar Assault, or the version I played and named in Europe; Nemesis II: The Return of the Hero aka just Nemesis II in Japan. Not to be confused with Nemesis 2 for the MSX.
Right, usual confusing naming convention of Gradius I've covered in other series reviews out the way. How is the game? Well lets put it this way I never thought when I randomly started these after playing the first game on the Konami classics collection that by the 9th game I would be saying that the Gameboy game is so far the best in the series. Without meaning to attack the Gameboy I just haven't played anything outstanding on the system but this kinda surprised me. this might not be because this game is outstanding, in many ways it isn't but in comparison with it's bigger brothers it just accomplishes so much more in that it's actually interesting.
Let me explain, the other Gradius games feel like iterations at best, at worst like Fifa / Madden yearly number updates. Same levels, like almost identical volcano, easter Island statue, flame dragons. Same bosses. They are stale. Yet this little game has you chased by a giant battleship, fight through space, get tractor beamed into a giant ship, fight your way out, go through an asteroid field where mining ships push asteroids at you, descend through the atmosphere of a planet, fight into a base, then chase a ship through a ship graveyard. The set pieces are interesting, fresh and unique and managing to fit all of that onto a Gameboy cart is really impressive.
Despite that it still looks and plays like a Gradius game. The controls are tight and the ship the Vic Viper handles well so I always felt if I flew into an obstacle it was entirely my fault. Some enemies are pretty identifiable like one of the boss ships that is in every Gradius title (though it has volcanoes on the side of it to make it more interesting and reference the other games). The power up system is the same where you collect items that move you selection along a track to select the power up to use (speed up, lasers, missiles, orbitals etc.)
All the Gradius staples are there only it's actually fresh to play in ways it's bigger visually more impressive older brothers just aren't. It's also way easier and I'm terrible at shoot 'em ups which probably helps....
Right, usual confusing naming convention of Gradius I've covered in other series reviews out the way. How is the game? Well lets put it this way I never thought when I randomly started these after playing the first game on the Konami classics collection that by the 9th game I would be saying that the Gameboy game is so far the best in the series. Without meaning to attack the Gameboy I just haven't played anything outstanding on the system but this kinda surprised me. this might not be because this game is outstanding, in many ways it isn't but in comparison with it's bigger brothers it just accomplishes so much more in that it's actually interesting.
Let me explain, the other Gradius games feel like iterations at best, at worst like Fifa / Madden yearly number updates. Same levels, like almost identical volcano, easter Island statue, flame dragons. Same bosses. They are stale. Yet this little game has you chased by a giant battleship, fight through space, get tractor beamed into a giant ship, fight your way out, go through an asteroid field where mining ships push asteroids at you, descend through the atmosphere of a planet, fight into a base, then chase a ship through a ship graveyard. The set pieces are interesting, fresh and unique and managing to fit all of that onto a Gameboy cart is really impressive.
Despite that it still looks and plays like a Gradius game. The controls are tight and the ship the Vic Viper handles well so I always felt if I flew into an obstacle it was entirely my fault. Some enemies are pretty identifiable like one of the boss ships that is in every Gradius title (though it has volcanoes on the side of it to make it more interesting and reference the other games). The power up system is the same where you collect items that move you selection along a track to select the power up to use (speed up, lasers, missiles, orbitals etc.)
All the Gradius staples are there only it's actually fresh to play in ways it's bigger visually more impressive older brothers just aren't. It's also way easier and I'm terrible at shoot 'em ups which probably helps....