Gradius - Revision history

Trap15: Fix the rest of the button stuff, correct header note about Nemesis

2025-10-26T03:23:52Z

Fix the rest of the button stuff, correct header note about Nemesis

Trap15: Fix button layout

2025-10-26T03:17:43Z

Fix button layout

Frostyryker at 19:42, 21 March 2024

2024-03-21T19:42:54Z

Frostyryker at 21:14, 4 January 2024

2024-01-04T21:14:39Z

Frostyryker at 21:12, 20 November 2023

2023-11-20T21:12:34Z

Frostyryker at 22:26, 28 July 2023

2023-07-28T22:26:45Z

Frostyryker at 22:25, 28 July 2023

2023-07-28T22:25:56Z

NullNotBub: Added some loop info

2022-11-23T04:05:28Z

Added some loop info

NullNotBub: Added version differences between Gradius and Nemesis, as well as another revision.

2022-11-22T05:44:55Z

Added version differences between Gradius and Nemesis, as well as another revision.

Atonic at 03:39, 6 October 2022

2022-10-06T03:39:49Z

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ''[[Gradius]]'' (グラディウス) is a horizontal-scrolling shoot-em-up developed by ''[[Konami]]'' in 1985, and is the first game in the Gradius series. It introduced a unique power-up system that allowed players to choose their upgrades, which would become a staple of the series.
-''Gradius'' was originally released in arcades in 1985, and has been ported to numerous consoles. Some early ports were localized under the title ''Nemesis''.
+''Gradius'' was originally released in arcades in 1985, and has been ported to numerous consoles. The export version of the game is titled ''Nemesis'' (see [[#Version Differences|Version Differences]] below for more information), and some ports use that name instead.
 {{VideoIndex}}
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 == Gameplay Overview ==
+''Gradius'' is a three-button shooter (two in some ports). There are seven stages in the game (although some ports feature an additional stage). with the game looping upon completing the final stage.
 === Controls ===
 * '''A''': Activates currently selected power-up.
 * '''B''': Fires the standard shot or laser.
 * '''C''': Fires missiles (once activated)
-Note: In some ports, '''Shot''' and '''Missile''' are combined into a single fire button.
+Note: In some ports, '''B''' and '''C''' are combined into a single fire button.
 === Weapons ===
 [[File:Gradius_PowerMeter.png|thumb|600px|right|The Power Meter used in Gradius.]]
-When you start the game or lose a life, your ship will only have a horizontal-firing shot. When you destroy certain enemies (indicated by being a different color) or enemy formations, they will drop Power Capsules. With every red Power Capsule collected, the highlighted power-up on the Power Meter at the bottom of the screen will change. When the power-up that you want is selected, press '''C''' to receive it. This will reset the process, and you will need to collect more Power Capsules to "purchase" additional power-ups. If the last choice is highlighted and another Power Capsule is collected, the choice will wrap around to the start of the Power Meter.
+When you start the game or lose a life, your ship will only have a horizontal-firing shot. When you destroy certain enemies (indicated by being a different color) or enemy formations, they will drop Power Capsules. With every red Power Capsule collected, the highlighted power-up on the Power Meter at the bottom of the screen will change. When the power-up that you want is selected, press '''A''' to receive it. This will reset the process, and you will need to collect more Power Capsules to "purchase" additional power-ups. If the last choice is highlighted and another Power Capsule is collected, the choice will wrap around to the start of the Power Meter.
 * '''Speed Up''': Increases the movement speed of your ship. Can be purchased up to 5 times.
-* '''Missile''': Activates usage of missiles. Press '''B''' to fire a missile diagonally down. If the missile reaches the ground, it will fly along it until hitting an enemy or obstacle. This is very useful for destroying ground-based enemies.
+* '''Missile''': Activates usage of missiles. Press '''C''' to fire a missile diagonally down. If the missile reaches the ground, it will fly along it until hitting an enemy or obstacle. This is very useful for destroying ground-based enemies.
 * '''Double''': Adds a second shot to your standard weapon that fires diagonally up. Cannot be used together with the '''Laser'''.
 * '''Laser''': Changes your standard shot into a strong laser that fires horizontally and moves up and down with your ship. Hold the button to increase the length of the beam. Cannot be used together with '''Double'''.
@@ Line 54: / Line 51: @@
 === Items ===
 There are two types of collectable Power Capsules in ''Gradius'' which appear upon defeating certain enemies or enemy formations.
@@ Line 67: / Line 63: @@
 === Rank ===
 The rank system in ''Gradius'' is based upon a formula that differs depending on which version of the game you are playing. In the western version, renamed ''Nemesis'', the difficulty dip switch settings have a far greater impact. Regardless of the version being played, the rank caps at 15.
@@ Line 99: / Line 94: @@
 ==Version Differences==
 Despite ''Nemesis'' being a much more difficult version of the game, it includes a few changes:

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 === Controls ===
-* '''A''': Fires the standard shot or laser.
+* '''A''': Activates currently selected power-up.
-* '''B''': Fires missiles (once activated)
+* '''B''': Fires the standard shot or laser.
-* '''C''': Activates currently selected power-up.
+* '''C''': Fires missiles (once activated)
-Note: In most ports, '''A''' and '''B''' are combined into a single fire button.
+Note: In some ports, '''Shot''' and '''Missile''' are combined into a single fire button.
 === Weapons ===

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 | releasedate = May 29, 1985
 | previousgame = [[TwinBee]]
-| nextgame = [[Vs Gradius]]
+| nextgame = [[Finalizer]]
 }}

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 When you start the game or lose a life, your ship will only have a horizontal-firing shot. When you destroy certain enemies (indicated by being a different color) or enemy formations, they will drop Power Capsules. With every red Power Capsule collected, the highlighted power-up on the Power Meter at the bottom of the screen will change. When the power-up that you want is selected, press '''C''' to receive it. This will reset the process, and you will need to collect more Power Capsules to "purchase" additional power-ups. If the last choice is highlighted and another Power Capsule is collected, the choice will wrap around to the start of the Power Meter.
-* '''Speed Up''': Increases the movement speed of your ship. Can be purchased multiple times.
+* '''Speed Up''': Increases the movement speed of your ship. Can be purchased up to 5 times.
 * '''Missile''': Activates usage of missiles. Press '''B''' to fire a missile diagonally down. If the missile reaches the ground, it will fly along it until hitting an enemy or obstacle. This is very useful for destroying ground-based enemies.
 * '''Double''': Adds a second shot to your standard weapon that fires diagonally up. Cannot be used together with the '''Laser'''.
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 | <div style='text-align: center;'>[[File:Gradius_PowerRed.png]]<small><br>'''Red'''</div></small> || Collect these to advance the Power Meter.
 |-
-| <div style='text-align: center;'>[[File:Gradius_PowerBlue.png]]<small><br>'''Blue'''</div></small> || Destroys or damages all enemies on-screen when collected. Appears after a certain number of Red Capsules have appeared.
+| <div style='text-align: center;'>[[File:Gradius_PowerBlue.png]]<small><br>'''Blue'''</div></small> || Destroys or damages all enemies on-screen when collected. Appears after every 15 Red Capsules.
 |}

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:12, 20 November 2023
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	''Gradius'' was originally released in arcades in 1985, and has been ported to numerous consoles. Some early ports were localized under the title ''Nemesis''.		''Gradius'' was originally released in arcades in 1985, and has been ported to numerous consoles. Some early ports were localized under the title ''Nemesis''.
		+
		+	{{VideoIndex}}

	__TOC__		__TOC__

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 | program = Hiroyasu Machiguchi <ref> [https://shmuplations.com/gradius/ Shmuplations Translated “Game Hihyou Interview – September 1999” - 1996/1999] Developer Interviews Article </ref> </br> S.Umezaki (Uncredited) <ref> [https://shmuplations.com/imadethat/ Shmuplations “I made that!” – Shigeharu Umezaki - 1991] Developer Interviews Article </ref>
 | art = S.Muraki (Uncredited) <ref> [https://shmuplations.com/imadethat/ Shmuplations “I made that!” – Setsu Muraki - 1991] Developer Interviews Article </ref>
-| releasedate = 1985
+| releasedate = May 29, 1985
 | previousgame = [[TwinBee]]
 | nextgame = [[Vs Gradius]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:05, 23 November 2022
Line 89:		Line 89:
	* The final difficulty variable is 0/2/4/6 in ''Gradius'', and 0/4/8/10 in ''Nemesis''.		* The final difficulty variable is 0/2/4/6 in ''Gradius'', and 0/4/8/10 in ''Nemesis''.

		+	===Loops===
		+	''Gradius'' loops infinitely. Upon a completion of a loop, the player is stripped of all their power-ups, specific enemies begin to move faster, and now have a 50% chance to fire a suicide bullet when destroyed. On loop 3, the chance of a suicide bullet increases to 100%.
	== Story ==		== Story ==

@@ Line 92: / Line 92: @@
 On the far side of the galaxy exists the planet Gradius, a lush, Earth-like world that has lived in peace for many years. That peace came to a sudden end when Planet Gradius was attacked by the Bacterian Empire, a race of amoeba-like beings from a star cluster located in Sub-Space. Facing a hopeless battle against the Bacterians, Planet Gradius launches their last hope of survival, the hyper-space fighter Vic Viper. Its mission: to end the war by piercing through the Bacterian forces and destroying the core of their flagship, the space fortress Xaerous.
 == References & Contributors ==
@@ Line 98: / Line 111: @@
 * [https://gradius.fandom.com/ Gradius Wiki]
 * [https://tcrf.net/Nemesis_(Arcade) The Cutting Room Floor: Nemesis (Arcade)]
 <small>
 [[Category:Horizontal orientation]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:39, 6 October 2022
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	* [https://tcrf.net/Nemesis_(Arcade) The Cutting Room Floor: Nemesis (Arcade)]		* [https://tcrf.net/Nemesis_(Arcade) The Cutting Room Floor: Nemesis (Arcade)]
	<small>		<small>
		+
		+	[[Category:Horizontal orientation]]