Gradius

Developer: Konami    Publisher: Konami    Release: 12/86    Genre: Shooter

I am pretty sure Gradius was one of my first shooters outside of the Atari 2600. That statement applies to a legion of gamers as well. There were plenty of multiplayer shmups on the Atari 2600 like Combat but none that resembled Konami’s classic. Whether intentional or not on some subconscious level I compare almost every title in the genre to Gradius. Honestly that is a little unfair. There are so many innovative features in this one simple game that you wonder how any other title can compare. Gradius is a classic and the NES port is a good representation of the original arcade game.

Gradius as a series is easily one of the most influential in the genre. The only other series that might come close would be R-Type and I would place that at a distant second. It is hard to find many games in the genre that do not borrow from it in some way. Although its lead to a legion of derivative games those titles were average or better for copying Gradius’ mechanics anyway. This first installment is solid but a bit bare bones. It is hard to go back to due to how far the genre has come but it is still fun.

The unique power-up system is what helped the game rocket to fame. Rather than a series of static weapons the item grid offers a range of weapons once you have the appropriate number of capsules. The list wasn’t new but it all came down to how it was presented. First speed, then missiles, the useless double shot, the powerful laser, options, and a shield. The options might be the most copied game mechanic in history and it’s easy to see why. A phantom object that mimicks your actions is beyond cool and it would be foolish not to copy it. The NES version only allows two to the arcade’s four but that does not diminish their impact in any capacity.

The weapon system was innovative not just in its setup but also how it changes your approach to the game. The list of weapons is not anything new as plenty of titles had speed, missiles, and lasers. But you were at the mercy of their placement in each level. With this system you can prioritize which weapons you want first which leads to a unique experience for everyone. Going for options before gaining the laser leaves you potentially weak and was dangerous. Meanwhile a slow ramp up was the optimal approach. The beauty is any style was viable as long as you had the skill to back it up.

Gradius is composed of seven levels although the game’s first half is not very varied. The outer space and rock theme shifts only slightly initially and even repeats; the fourth stage is merely the first flipped upside down. The Moai stage introduced the Easter Island statues to many and are almost as iconic as the series weapon system. Later things become more varied as you approach the Bacterion Empire’s base and the levels become organic. The presentation is the weakest link despite being solid.

One area that tends to avoid any recognition is the pacing. Each level in Gradius follows a similar track. You have the initial space segment leading to the next thematic level. There are numerous waves of enemies to gain power-ups if necessary. Next is the actual stage itself with whatever level specific enemies and obstacles to hinder your progress. Then finally comes the boss. This is the game’s weakest element as the Big Core, regardless of being iconic, is the only boss until the end. No matter how fast it gets it is still incredibly repetitive.

This is a game of highs and lows when it comes to difficulty. At full power you can easily blow through most levels in under two or three minutes. Yet this is tempered by the fact that all it takes is one stray bullet to end your run. Death sends you to a checkpoint, a feature that Gradius pioneered. It also means you have no weapons and must mount a comeback against near impossible odds. The later stages like the Moai level pepper the screen with fire causing slowdown and flicker leading to cheap deaths. Overall Gradius is pretty tough but is also where a generation of gamers cut their teeth. The skills we developed tackling this beast would carry over to nearly every game in the genre.

In Closing

There are very few games as influential as Gradius in their respective genre. Even after all these years it remains a solid game and one that is immediately accessible which is rare. While there are plenty of games I would recommend first that is not a mark against Gradius. It simply has way too much competition.