It's Gradius again, it's cool! Smoother than SNES III, even if that game has more visually-distinct stage design.
So instead lemme talk about Gradius Syndrome! Gradius Syndrome is so fucking lame.
I don't mind beating a game in 1 life, but Gradius is too long and too memo-heavy to justify it. I get that it got popular with the hardcore JP scene and it prides itself on that, but also, it's fucking lame. Things like the speed section with its collapsing doors feel outright malicious.
Of course I didn't play this on 1 life - I savestated it. And I will say, Gradius is at least one of the few shmups that I think retains its game essence even when save-scumming it. The high-functional focus, careful positioning of options, and surprises build a game where making a savestate is a bit of a risk. Besides the beginning of each level, it can be hard to find an opportunity for a 100% safe save location. Takes some timing. You could say these praises about any other shmup I guess, but, Gradius just feels right to save-scum through. It's Neat.
So instead lemme talk about Gradius Syndrome! Gradius Syndrome is so fucking lame.
I don't mind beating a game in 1 life, but Gradius is too long and too memo-heavy to justify it. I get that it got popular with the hardcore JP scene and it prides itself on that, but also, it's fucking lame. Things like the speed section with its collapsing doors feel outright malicious.
Of course I didn't play this on 1 life - I savestated it. And I will say, Gradius is at least one of the few shmups that I think retains its game essence even when save-scumming it. The high-functional focus, careful positioning of options, and surprises build a game where making a savestate is a bit of a risk. Besides the beginning of each level, it can be hard to find an opportunity for a 100% safe save location. Takes some timing. You could say these praises about any other shmup I guess, but, Gradius just feels right to save-scum through. It's Neat.