Gradius Gaiden
| Gradius Gaiden | |
|---|---|
Japanese PlayStation box art
|
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| Developer(s) | Konami |
| Publisher(s) | Konami |
| Director(s) | Teisaku Seki |
| Producer(s) | Kazumi Kitaue |
| Composer(s) | Norikazu Miura |
| Series | Gradius |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation, PlayStation Portable (as part of Gradius Collection) |
| Release |
PlayStation
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| Genre(s) | Scrolling shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Aggregate score | |
|---|---|
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 79% |
| Review score | |
| Publication | Score |
| GameSpot | 7.9/10 |
Gradius Gaiden (グラディウス外伝? Gradiusu Gaiden) is a 1997 horizontal scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation console. The game was released exclusively in Japan on August 28, 1997 and was later re-released on November 20, 2003 as part of the PSone Books collection. Gradius Gaiden didn't see availability outside Japan until the release of Gradius Collection on the PlayStation Portable, which was released worldwide in 2006. Gradius Gaiden is the first game in the Gradius series to incorporate 3D graphics.
The core gameplay of Gradius Gaiden remains relatively unchanged. However, two new ships are made available whose weapon configurations are new to the series. Moreover, several changes were made on the weapons system. The chargeable E. Laser, the Reduce size shield, option types, are all items that have been removed in the transition from Gradius III: From Legend to Myth to this title. The player can select from four ships instead of a broad range of several weapon configurations like from Gradius III. Missile, Double, and Laser weapons can be additionally powered up one level, a feature from the MSX Gradius games (the powerup bar even resembles the one from the MSX games). These power-ups are permanent until the player is destroyed, even if he switches between the Double and Laser powerups. There are two new types of shield: 'Guard', which attaches to the top and bottom of the craft and renders the player immune to physical obstacle collisions; and 'Limit', which gives complete invulnerability and lasts for three seconds.
The difficulty level can also be adjusted from 'easiest' up to 'hardest', for a total of nine difficulty levels including the boss rush. On the easier difficulties, the more troublesome boss attacks are removed and the number of enemies on-screen is reduced. At the near end of the eighth stage starting from the second loop of the game play, a Core Warship is added.
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