Game Sack

[ApolloBoy]

I played Gradius last night on the NES

The ship feels like it's swimming in goo.

That's what speedup powerups are for.

[j_factor]

Yeah, but Sonic Wings Special has stages from the other games as well.

I know that, but the other two are exclusive to Neo Geo. Plus, while I haven't played 2 and 3 extensively, I imagine the gameplay wears thin over the course of three games. Special takes a trilogy of decent shooters and condenses them into one great shooter.

More importantly, Sonic Wings Special is available on the almighty Sega Saturn, and is therefore how God intends you to experience it.

[Baloo]

I played Gradius 3 last night on the Retro Duo

Didn't get far

Haha, I just got that in Secret Santa and I've been playing it a ton, it's so hard! Once you die once after getting a slew of power-ups it's just about all over. I can't get past the 3rd level myself, it's pretty hard. I love the custom options you can use for the ship though, very useful. But one slip-up and it's all over. Gotta love Gradius though, fantastic Shmup series.

Yeah, don't play the NES version. This is how you play Gradius:





This is essentially a souped-up version of Aero Fighters:



Mark my fucking words, people: Less Nintendo, more SEGA. This is the formula for better gaming.

I LOVE Gradius Twin Pack on Saturn! I don't have either of the NES games and after a friend of mine showed me Gradius III one time at my monthly video game gathering, he sold my his copy of Gradius Twin Pack he was getting rid of, it is just FANTASTIC! Gradius II, I don't know why they didn't release that here, the music is excellent and it's graphically very impressive!

As for Sonic Wings Special, I have never heard of this! My local bowling alley has Aero Fighters and I love it, I really want to pick this up for my Saturn now...how much does it run for usually J_Factor?

[j_factor]

I've seen it go for around $30.

[M4R14NO94]

Yeah, don't play the NES version. This is how you play Gradius:

Or if you don't want to import anything...

[gamevet]

Or if you don't want to import anything...

You beat me to it. The PSP has tons of little gems like this collection. I picked mine up for $20.

I'd rep you if I could, but I gotta spread the love first.

[Barone]

I know that, but the other two are exclusive to Neo Geo. Plus, while I haven't played 2 and 3 extensively, I imagine the gameplay wears thin over the course of three games. Special takes a trilogy of decent shooters and condenses them into one great shooter.

More importantly, Sonic Wings Special is available on the almighty Sega Saturn, and is therefore how God intends you to experience it.

Haha, I just got that in Secret Santa and I've been playing it a ton, it's so hard! Once you die once after getting a slew of power-ups it's just about all over. I can't get past the 3rd level myself, it's pretty hard. I love the custom options you can use for the ship though, very useful. But one slip-up and it's all over. Gotta love Gradius though, fantastic Shmup series.



I LOVE Gradius Twin Pack on Saturn! I don't have either of the NES games and after a friend of mine showed me Gradius III one time at my monthly video game gathering, he sold my his copy of Gradius Twin Pack he was getting rid of, it is just FANTASTIC! Gradius II, I don't know why they didn't release that here, the music is excellent and it's graphically very impressive!

As for Sonic Wings Special, I have never heard of this! My local bowling alley has Aero Fighters and I love it, I really want to pick this up for my Saturn now...how much does it run for usually J_Factor?

I just want to say that such games are also available for PS1. Of course, I understand the love for Saturn in this board and that some shooters have some additional slowdowns on PS1 but sometimes seems that the PS1 is completely ignored, like if some games were Saturn exclusives when, in fact, they are not...
By the way, Gradius Gaiden is an awesome shooter for PS1 and not available for the Sega Saturn.
R-Types is another major shooter title only available for the PS1 (of course, I'm talking about the 32-bit generation).

Finally, Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus is worth getting and it's avaible for both systems.

[KnightWarrior]

I wonder why Gradius II wasn't released here

Was it because of it being too hard for us Americans, it's like the hole Mario 2 JPN thing

[ApolloBoy]

Actually I think the reason why the Famicom version of Gradius II was never released outside Japan was because it used the VRC IV mapper, which Nintendo didn't want to spring for I suppose. Gradius II did get quietly released in European arcades as Vulcan Venture but that's about it.

[KnightWarrior]

What does the VRC 4 do anyways??

I seen repros of Gradius II for the NES...

[zetastrike]

I'm pretty sure the PS1 version of the Gradius Twin pack sucks because Gradius 2 runs way too slow on it. I've seen comparisons with the Saturn version. It's worse than PAL vs NTSC.

[ApolloBoy]

What does the VRC 4 do anyways??

I seen repros of Gradius II for the NES...

The VRC IV is a mapper chip that expands on the NES's graphic capabilities much like the MMC3 used in SMB 3 and the like. Those repros you saw just have a Gradius II board connected to a Famicom converter like in some early NES games.

[KnightWarrior]

There a guy here that sold a Gradius II Repro, I think it was for $50..

Or maybe $30..I don't know,

[Kollision]

I'm pretty sure the PS1 version of the Gradius Twin pack sucks because Gradius 2 runs way too slow on it. I've seen comparisons with the Saturn version. It's worse than PAL vs NTSC.

That's strange, the last time I played it it ran just fine.
Were you playing on a PS2 by any chance? There are some Japanese PS1 games that slow down massively, even in unmodded consoles of the same region.

I do know for a fact that one of the levels in Gradius Gaiden is extremely bugged when played on a PS2, can't remember which one.

[M4R14NO94]

You beat me to it. The PSP has tons of little gems like this collection. I picked mine up for $20.

I'd rep you if I could, but I gotta spread the love first.

That's okay, man.

And yes, the PSP does have some awesome gems. Ironically enough I've never actually played Gradius Collection. I once intended to get that one but forgot.