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From the Supernova stage (stage 1) to Bacterion's Lair (stage 9), there is a constant barrage of enemy fire, solar flares (similar to Life Force's third stage), and my personal favorite stage (which ironically is also the stage I hate the most): a stage full of very tough to destroy floating purple crystals. 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.
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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.
#GRADIUS 2 NES LEVELS SERIES#
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). Interestingly, Life Force takes place in Gradius year 6842, two years after Gradius III.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.
#GRADIUS 2 NES LEVELS PORTABLE#
The power-up gauge is arranged differently for both players as well.īoth the original Japanese version and the enhanced Life Force release are included in the compilation Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus for the PlayStation and Saturn, as well as in Salamander Portable for the PlayStation Portable. Some music tracks have also been completely changed for this release. The power-up system was also modified, with the Japanese Life Force using the same power-up gauge as the original Gradius. All of the backgrounds and mechanical enemies are completely redrawn and given organic appearances. Konami later released an enhanced version of Salamander in Japan bearing the American title of Life Force, which further fleshes out the organic motif. The power-ups are also given different names too: Stages which featured star field backgrounds had them changed with the web background from Stage 1 to maintain consistency with the organic setting of the plot. Life Force changes the plot from Salamander by adding an opening text which establishes the game to be set inside a giant alien life-form infected by a strain of bacteria. In the meantime, planet Gradius will be absorbed too! People entrust their last hope into the super spatio-temporal fighter Vic Viper. The unknown super-organism "Life Force" suddenly appeared in space!! It's a gigantic creature which absorbs all substances and continues to grow without stopping. To the planet Gradius which regained peace, an unprecedented crisis has arrived. Two years have passed since the battle against the Bacterian star system.