Gradius [Model KM91001]

Gradius © 1991 Konami Industry Company, Limited.

Gradius is a horizontal shooter and the PC Engine conversion of Konami's popular arcade game originally released in 1985; "Gradius [Model GX400]". The players takes control of a prototype space fighter called the Vic Viper (aka Vulcan in America) and fights his way through eight deadly and long stages that include countless enemy defenses, giant Moai heads, huge end of level bosses and their weak cores. Some enemies drop Power-Pods when defeated - the most common are red and they increase the choice of weapons available during the game. These power-ups are visible at the bottom of the screen on a power meter and it is up to the player to decide of the weapon that fits the situation the most. This feature is at the core of the gameplay - cruel choices, should the player go for a new floating option or wait a bit more and grab a protective shield ?... The most basic weapons are ground missiles and double shots but they are soon followed by flying options that mimic the current active weapon and by deadly laser beams. Interestingly, this conversion features an extra level and several bonus stages not seen in the arcade game without forgetting a two 'non-simultaneous' player mode.