Wikipedia: History of Gradius

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When gameplay? begins, the Vic Viper can only move and fire a relatively weak gun directly to the left. This level of capability is generally insufficient for fighting enemies, but the Vic Viper can gain greater capabilities by collecting and using [power up]? items. The power up system in Gradius is one of its unique points; while most arcade action games utilize distinct power up items that each correspond to a specific effect on the player character, Gradius has a single power up item. The effect of this power up item is to advance the currently selected item in a power up menu that appears at the bottom of the screen. When the desired power up is highlighted, the player can obtain it by pressing the power up button, returning the menu to its initial state in which no power up is highlighted. In the original Gradius, this menu looks somewhat like the following:

When gameplay? begins, the Vic Viper can only move and fire a relatively weak gun directly to the right. This level of capability is generally insufficient for fighting enemies, but the Vic Viper can gain greater capabilities by collecting and using [power up]? items. The power up system in Gradius is one of its unique points; while most arcade action games utilize distinct power up items that each correspond to a specific effect on the player character, Gradius has a single power up item. The effect of this power up item is to advance the currently selected item in a power up menu that appears at the bottom of the screen. When the desired power up is highlighted, the player can obtain it by pressing the power up button, returning the menu to its initial state in which no power up is highlighted. In the original Gradius, this menu looks somewhat like the following:

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MISSILE: This power up adds a secondary projectile weapon. Arcade versions of Gradius games usually have a seperate button for firing this projectile, while home console and computer versions usually use the same button for both this and the primary projectile weapon. In the original Gradius, the weapon is a missile that fires downward and to the right, travelling along the ground. Most Gradius "missile" weapons are a variation on this concept.

MISSILE: This power up adds a secondary projectile weapon. Arcade versions of Gradius games usually have a separate button for firing this projectile, while home console and computer versions usually use the same button for both this and the primary projectile weapon. In the original Gradius, the weapon is a missile that fires downward and to the right, travelling along the ground. Most Gradius "missile" weapons are a variation on this concept.

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There have been four games that are direct members of the Gradius series. These are (note that the known platform listings are probably incomplete):

There have been nine games that are direct members of the Gradius series. These are (note that the known platform listings are probably incomplete):

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Gradius (1985) - Originally released as an [arcade game]?, and later ported to other platforms. It is known to exist on the following platforms: Nintendo Famicom, Nintendo Entertainment System, MSX?, [NEC PC Engine], SEGA Saturn (packaged with Gradius 2 as Gradius Deluxe Pack), Sony PlayStation (packaged with Gradius 2 as Gradius Deluxe Pack). In some areas, Gradius was released under the name Nemesis. In Japan, a special version of the game exists for the Famicom. It was given away as a prize by ArchiMENdes?, a ramen noodle company. The Vic Viper would power up using cups of ramen noodles rather than the usual pods. The cart itself is quite rare, and considered a collector's item.

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Gradius II: Gofer No Yabou (1988) - Originally released as an arcade game, and later ported to other platforms. It is known to exist on the following platforms: Nintendo Famicom, Sega Saturn (packaged with Gradius as Gradius Deluxe Pack), Sony Playstation (packaged with Gradius as Gradius Deluxe Pack). In some areas, Gradius II was released under the name Vulcan Venture.

Gradius 2 (1987) - The first sequel to be produced exclusively for the MSX, and the first Gradius to have a graphic intro detailing the plot. Also, it had the unique feature of aquiring weapons from a defeated boss. It was later given a facelift and released on the [Sharp X68000] computer as Nemesis '90. It is known to exist on the following platforms: MSX, Sharp X68000. Called Nemesis 2 in Europe.

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Gradius II: Gofer No Yabou (1988) - Originally released as an arcade game, and later ported to other platforms. This version is completely different from the MSX Gradius 2 mentioned above. It is known to exist on the following platforms: Nintendo Famicom, MSX, NEC PC Engine, Sega Saturn (packaged with Gradius as Gradius Deluxe Pack), Sony Playstation (packaged with Gradius as Gradius Deluxe Pack). In some areas, Gradius II was released under the name Vulcan Venture. The MSX game has extra options, like the ability to choose between ships. It's known as G II: Ambition of Gofer in Japan, and Nemesis 3: Eve of Destruction in Europe.

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Gradius IV: Fukkatsu (1998) - Originally released as an arcade game, and later ported to Sony Playstation 2 (packaged with Gradius III).

Gradius III (1989) - Originally released as an arcade game, and later ported to other platforms. It is known to exist on the following platforms: Nintendo [Super Famicom]?, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sony [Playstation 2]? (packaged with Gradius IV). The SNES/SFC version is not a very accurate port; levels, enemies, and weapons were altered; in a sense, it's almost a remix of the arcade game.

Nemesis (1989) - The first Gradius for a portable system, in this case Nintendo's Game Boy. The name Nemesis was kept for the game's worldwide release. It combined elements from Gradius and Gradius II, as well as some all-new features. It is known to exist on the following platforms: Nintendo Game Boy.

Gradius: The Interstellar Assault (1992) - Another Gradius game exclusively for the Game Boy. It was one of the biggest Game Boy carts in existence at the time (2 meg!), and was completely different from the rest of the series - most of them used music, enemies, bosses and even levels from previous games in the series, but this one didn't. It is known to exist on the following platforms: Nintendo Game Boy.

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Parodius: (see MAME) In Japanese, an excellent parody of Gradius.

Gradius Gaiden (1997) - The first Gradius produced exclusively for a home console, and widely considered one of the best games in the series; however, it was never released outside of Japan. This was also the only other Gradius game (the first being the MSX G II: Ambition Of Gofer) where you could select which ship you wanted to use, including the LordBritish? Space Destroyer from Salamander. It is known to exist on the following platforms: Sony PlayStation. There are two variations - the original release, and as part of the "Sony PlayStation The Best" line, which is the Japanese equivalent of America's Sony PlayStation Greatest Hits.

Gradius IV: Fukkatsu (1998) - Originally released as an arcade game, and later ported to Sony Playstation 2 (packaged with Gradius III).

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Gradius Galaxies (2001) - The first Gradius to be created by a development team other than Konami's own internal teams (by Mobile 21 Studios, to be exact). It is known to exist on the following platforms: [Game Boy Advance].

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Gradius is related to the Konami series Parodius?, a parody of Gradius that features cute or humorous enemies and environments as well as non-Gradius Konami characters. Another related series is Salamander?, which is considered a side story of Gradius. Also, a three-dimensional? arcade game based on Gradius, [Solar Assault]? (or alternately Solar Assault Gradius) exists, and there is also an arcade racing game that uses the ships from Gradius, known simply as Vic Viper (Japanese release only).

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