Together Retro: Gradius III / Parodius

[Breetai]

I got to level three on PS2 (arcade) Gradius III on very easy with one life, struggled to get though stage 3. Lost a bunch of lives at the beginning of that stupid psuedo 3D stage 4, and then game over at stage 5. F-you Konami, for making Gradius III so stupidly hard!

I might just go back to SNES Gradius III, where at least it's possible to finish the stupid game!

[Xeogred]

I'll be getting my SNES copy in any time now. Just how different is it from the arcade? Should I bother to find a rom for MAME?

It's almost like comparing the original R-Type to Super R-Type. Some definite similarities, but some of the levels and layouts, bosses, etc are radically different they're literally two completely different games I'd say.

[Breetai]

I'll be getting my SNES copy in any time now. Just how different is it from the arcade? Should I bother to find a rom for MAME?

Racketboy spelled out the basic differences for you on the main Together Retro page. If you really want to try the arcade version, it's available on the PS2 for cheap.

It's substantially different.

The arcade Gradius III is stupidly difficult. There are some different stages, basically. I wouldn't say it is as different as R-Type/Super R-Type (which ARE different games), but more like arcade TMNT: Turtles in Time to SNES Turtles in time. Same basic game with a few different levels, some level layouts are different and the difficulty is much easier on the SNES.

Both have a lot of slowdown.

[NebachadnezzaR]

I'm having a hard time with Gradius III. First tried the PS2 version, but my console won't read cd's. Then tried the arcade on mame but it's just insanely hard, I can't even reach the end of the first stage (no joke), and it's not just the difficulty, the gameplay seems kinda slow, the ship doens't allow much manoeuvring. I'll probably just settle for the SNES, different as it may be.

At least I have Parodius on the Saturn, that one I can play

I love me some shmups, but only vertical ones, they put more emphasis on reflexes than memorising the stage's layout, which is much more to my liking. The only hori I truly enjoy is Sengoku Blade on the Saturn, but I understand that would be hard to have on a TG since it's a rare game. Well, gonna try to enjoy one of these two

[dsheinem]

the gameplay seems kinda slow, the ship doens't allow much manoeuvring.

Are you powering up speed a few times with the first power-ups? If you don't, it will seem quite slow throughout...

[Breetai]

I'm having a hard time with Gradius III. First tried the PS2 version, but my console won't read cd's. Then tried the arcade on mame but it's just insanely hard, I can't even reach the end of the first stage (no joke), and it's not just the difficulty, the gameplay seems kinda slow, the ship doens't allow much manoeuvring. I'll probably just settle for the SNES, different as it may be.

At least I have Parodius on the Saturn, that one I can play

I love me some shmups, but only vertical ones, they put more emphasis on reflexes than memorising the stage's layout, which is much more to my liking. The only hori I truly enjoy is Sengoku Blade on the Saturn, but I understand that would be hard to have on a TG since it's a rare game. Well, gonna try to enjoy one of these two

Here are five different Parodius games on the Saturn (over 4 discs). Make sure it's the right one!

You should at least be able to get to level 2 on the arcade version of Gradius III... if you take a speed or two, you'll find it's much easier to get around. I like to have at least two speed powerups under me.

[CFFJR]

I picked up the snes version of Gradius III a few weeks ago, but I held off on playing it until today. I'll be giving it a shot later today.

I suck horribly at shmups, so this should be interesting.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

Looks like this will be the first Together Retro I'll be participating in! Can't wait to start!!

Also, did you guys see this:
http://kotaku.com/5807439/the-very-spec ... can-shores

Otomedius Excellent. Looks to be a Parodius spinoff on 360?

[noiseredux]

OMG Gradius III is hard! I can't even beat the first level so far.

[Breetai]

ARG! Whose stupid idea at Konami was it to put those 3D levels in there. I actually one-lifed it to stage 4, only to die FOUR times in that 3D level.... Now I'm paused at the start of stage 5 with only missile power ups and a speed...

So, much, slowdown...

I'm playing on the easiest setting, no cheats.