Together Retro: Gradius III / Parodius

[t0yrobo]

Man, I still don't like Gradius III. But the arcade version is much better with autofire.

[Xeogred]

Don't want to get too off topic here, but has anyone here beaten Gradius V? It's one of those shmups I own that I've been trying to conquer since forever. I always get to the green goo stage and it's game over.

III (SNES), IV, and Gaiden I can clear fairly easily though.

[Breetai]

Don't want to get too off topic here, but has anyone here beaten Gradius V?

Yes. I've beaten all of them, except, ironically, the arcade version of Gradius III. That will change very soon... I just couldn't be bothered before! V goes have some really hairy spots in it.

III (SNES), IV, and Gaiden I can clear fairly easily though.

Mmmmm... Gradius Gaiden... The only flaws in it are that it wasn't made for the Saturn and brought overseas at all. It's probably the best Gradius game, although V is also a candidate.

[Xeogred]

I can definitely say Gaiden has some of the best music in the series for sure.

I just remembered V has that Asteroid stage as well... which is not fun either:
(just wait until the boss, now that's pretty bullet hellish for Gradius!)

And well here's that "green goo stage" I'm talking about if you guys haven't seen it, just look at how ridiculous this is. Is this even possible to get through without full powerups? Sheesh, this guy barely got past it:

[CFFJR]

Well I had my usual shmup experience. I played for about a half an hour then got pissed and shut off the game.

Oy.

I'll try again later.

[Xeogred]

Well I had my usual shmup experience. I played for about a half an hour then got pissed and shut off the game.

Oy.

I'll try again later.

I recommended you Thunder Force III in the Summer Game Challenge thread. I think it's easily one of the more beatable shmups, haha. Thunder Force IV will not hold your hand at all though.

[CFFJR]

Thunder Force IV will not hold your hand at all though.

Ha, yeah I noticed. That game has shamelessly brutalized me in record time.

[Xeogred]

It took me like a week to conquer, but damn it was worth it and so satisfying!

[benderx]

I've got Gradius 1 and Life Force. The graphics are pretty good and hold well further into the game. The fire in space is amazing.

[Breetai]

Well, I got as far as stage 7 on Arcade/PS2 Gradius III, which is the flame stage similar to the flame stage in Life Force/Salamander that benderx was talking about.

I can get to stage 5 without dying. Stage 5 is totally doable without dying, but will definitely take more practice. Stage 6 is as well, as long as you are powered up (as with any level!!!).

I've got Gradius 1 and Life Force. The graphics are pretty good and hold well further into the game. The fire in space is amazing.

NES Life Force or Life Force on the PC Engine, Saturn or PS1?

And well here's that "green goo stage" I'm talking about if you guys haven't seen it, just look at how ridiculous this is. Is this even possible to get through without full powerups?

Without being very powered up? VERY unlikely.