One of the defining characteristics of the Gradius series is the use of a "power meter." The power meter is powered by a power-up item, whose purpose, when collected, is to move a highlight to the next power-up on the power meter. When a power-up that the player wants becomes highlighted, he or she may activate it, also causing the highlight to reset. Gradius, our mother planet. Bacterian, a cluster of stars located in subspace, has invaded this dazzling planet and exposed it to a series of vicious battles. Threatened with extinction in the face of such an onslaught, the planet Gradius decides to deploy its final hope: the super-dimensional fighter Vic Viper. Its destination is the enemy fortress of Xaerous. The only way to put an end to this conflict is to plunge deep into the enemy's stronghold and destroy the core that lies at its center. Prepare to launch! And so, Vic Viper takes off into the vast blackness of space.
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Character
Plot-driven, grave, earnest and classical in form.
- character-ledplot-driven
- gravecomic
- earnestironic
- classical in formformally daring
- intimateepic
Who loves it, who doesn't
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Where do you stand?
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“Is this Konami's best work?”
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“Is it the best shooter game of its decade?”
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“Is the difficulty the point?”
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A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
Reviews
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About the game
- Platforms
- Arcade, Sharp X68000
- Developer
- Konami
- Publisher
- Konami
- Released
- May 29, 1985
- Modes
- Single player, Multiplayer
- Perspective
- Side view
IGDB rating 7.2/10 from 49 ratings.
Screenshots
Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
Raiden 199088% alikeBoth plot-driven, grave, earnest.
Gradius IV: Revival 199988% alikeBoth plot-driven, grave, classical in form.
Vulcan Venture 198888% alikeBoth plot-driven, grave, earnest.
RayStorm 199688% alikeBoth plot-driven, grave, earnest.
Raiden II 199387% alikeBoth plot-driven, grave, classical in form.
Super R-Type 199185% alikeBoth plot-driven, grave, earnest.
Salamander 198683% alikeBoth plot-driven, grave, earnest.
Zanac 198683% alikeBoth plot-driven, grave, earnest.
UFO 197066% alikeTelevision · Both grave, epic, classical in form.
Midway 201965% alikeFilm · Both grave, earnest, classical in form.
Often played with
Similar games per IGDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
