- Gradius Gaiden
Infobox VG
title = Gradius Gaiden
developer = KCET
publisher =Konami
designer =
engine =
released = JPNAugust 28 ,1997
genre = Horizontalscrolling shooter
modes =Single player , Cooperative
ratings = CERO: All Ages
platforms =PlayStation
media = 1CD-ROM
requirements =
input = nihongo|"Gradius Gaiden"|グラディウス外伝|guradiusu gaiden|lit. "Gradius Legends" is horizontalscrolling shooter video game produced byKonami and released in Japan on August 28, 1997. It is the first "Gradius"-named title to incorporate 3D graphics.Gameplay
The core gameplay of "Gradius Gaiden" remains relatively unchanged. However, two new ships are made available whose weapon configurations are new to the series. Moreover, several changes were made on the weapons system. The chargeable E. Laser, the Reduce size shield, option types, are all items that have been removed in the transition from "
Gradius III " to this title. However, the player can select from several ships, each with a unique weapon configuration. In a slight carryover from "Salamander 2 ", Missile, Double and Laser weapons can be additionally powered up one level. These power-ups are permanent until the player is destroyed, even if he switches between the Double and Laser powerups. There are two new types of shield. One is called 'Guard', which attaches to the top and bottom of the craft and renders the player immune to physical obstacle collisions. The other is called 'Limit' and gives complete invulnerability and lasts for three seconds.The difficulty level can also be adjusted from 'easiest' up to 'hardest', for a total of seven difficulty levels. On the easier difficulties, the more troublesome boss attacks are removed and the number of enemies on-screen is reduced.
New ships
Jade Knight: Eponymously, every weapon this ship has is tinted green, including the options. Its missile, the spread bomb is a carry-over from "
Gradius II ". This ship has two different kinds of lasers available: round and pulse. The round laser, the most unusual weapon presented in this game, fires concentric rings of laser origination. The pulse laser is a two or three pronged burst laser, similar to the twin laser in previous titles.Falchion β: This ship's weapons are variations on well known themes. The Falchion has two way missile called a rolling missile, which tumbles to the ground where it splits and shoots both left and right. It also has a three-way limited range shot called Auto-Aiming, that fires a second shot within the angles of 0 to 180. Its laser weapon is the gravity bullet, which is a newcomer to the "
Gradius series " but is present in several earlier "Parodius " titles. It is based on the Spread Gun that is yielded byPentarou in "Parodius Da! －Shinwa kara Owarai e－ " and every title afterward.Also, it has been speculated that the ship is not new at all, but an upgrade of the Falsion from the 1987 Konami game of the same name. [http://www.gamestone.co.uk/gradiusold/cameo_airforce_delta.shtml]
Ports
"Gradius Gaiden" never initially saw availability outside of
Japan until the release of the PlayStation Portable compilation, "Gradius Collection", in2006 for North America andPAL region s.References
External links
* [http://www.gamestone.co.uk/gradius/games_games.php?system=PS&local=Japan&game=04&page=1 Gradius Gaiden at Gradius Home World]
* [http://www.geocities.com/almontang/PlanetGradius/gradiusgaiden.html Gradius Gaiden at Planet Gradius]
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