Gradius V (2004) Online

Planet Gradius is in danger again, so the Vic Viper T-301 is on next mission to destroy the menace from the bacterias of venom.

With all features that the Gradius Series includes, supreme new installments debuts in Gradius V. Major debut: the all-new multiples control which includes: Freeze / Direction / Spacing and Rotate. All of this controls giving the game a deeper game play and makes it worth playing it again cause all controls have specific strategy. Example: with FREEZE you reach the cores easier, with ROTATE you have an extra shield for enemies (but not for shoots).

The Graphics are supreme and if you played it in 60HZ you will get a extra graphic effect when Stage-Bosses explode (awesome!!!).

The Sound effects are great as well, you feel the bounce in your speakers every time. However, the explosions of the little formations in the beginning of a stage are a little weak, but you can live with it!

And The Game Stage Design? Well I enjoyed every Stage, well-designed areas of asteroids, huge spaceships, you feel in place that you are in a deep galaxy. And I want more, more and more.

So I involve my Buddy and hours of hours passed until we reach the final confrontation.

Some critic have every game I played, so GRADIUS V have one critic:

Some situations are unfair and you must have luck to pass the situation.

But to say finally:

GRADIUS V is the perfect Game for 2 players who wish to became heroes! And heroes are needed in this game....

Graphic: 9 Sound: 10 Gameplay: 9 Rating (Imbd): 10

Whilst the original Gradius was indeed the first of its kind, 2004 saw the return of two of the original arcade shoot em ups. The first being the enjoyable R-Type Final and the second being this one, Gradius V. After the lacklustre Gradius IV, it would be easy to dismiss Gradius V as yet another attempt to bleed an already dead franchise dry. This is hardly just another sequel, this is a remake and a remix employing classic elements of the Gradius and (YES) Salamader / Lifeforce games with whole new ones. But even after the stunning intro movie, the weapon selection screen makes this fourth sequel look very primitive, especially compared to R-Type Final which features hundreds of weapons and ships. But then the game begins and you realise who really is the new champion of shrumps.

Gradius V's game-play is so incredibly polished that it shows how daft some of those other impossible Japanese shooters really are. What seems difficult the first time will become increasingly easier as you learn attack patterns, guardians and collect those vital power-ups just like you did way back when. When you get it wrong you'll want to kick yourself but find that you only want to come back for more until you can do it but realise that you only have one credit left. But don't worry, the next time you play you'll have one more! Still, even when your credit count doubles, this ain't no walk in the park, even with a buddy at your side. Yep, it's traditional Gradius style game-play alright but developers Treasure have added that extra amount of intelligence that comes with every single so called "mindless arcade style game" that they release. Nobody does it better.

Then there's the pumping soundtrack which gives an epic like quality and features melodies the likes of which haven't been heard in a video game for years. I also noticed that the music drifts into familiar territory on more than one occasion... Old school fans will know exactly what I'm talking about here! Graphically, I think Retro Gamer magazine said it best; "Gradius V is easily the best looking 2D shoot-em up ever created". To even label it as just 2D is an insult. George Lucas would love to create visuals as good as this. The amount of colour and detail this one oozes is something to be, ahem, treasured. Speaking of which...

Thank you Konami for hiring Treasure for this outstanding sequel. Treasure, the masters behind other great shooters, Ikargu and Radiant Silvergun (still seen as the greatest shoot em up of all time in many hardcore fan's eyes) have not only brought Gradius back from the dead and to its former glory but they've created what I feel is the most complete arcade shrump experience at home so far. At its best, I was convinced I was reliving the glory days of coin ops all over again and in this era, that is truly a rare experience. Yes, I'm a retro fan but I play new games too and in 2004, I found no other game more satisfying than this.

You'll probably be able to find Gradius V in a bargain bin right now. Ignore the mainstream and pick it up. If you were there in the 80s, you'll understand. If you weren't, time to play something different.

10/10