Gradius II
Encyclopedia
is a horizontally-scrolling shooter originally released for the arcades
in Japan
in . It is the sequel to original Gradius
and was succeeded by Gradius III
. Ports of Gradius II were released for the Family Computer
, PC-Engine Super CD-ROM², and X68000 in Japan. The original arcade version is also included in the Gradius Deluxe Pack compilation for the PlayStation
and Sega Saturn
and in Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable
. The Famicom and PC Engine versions were re-released for the Wii
Virtual Console
in .
No version of Gradius II was released in North America
until its inclusion in the Gradius Collection in . The Virtual Console re-release of the Famicom and PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² ports were released internationally as well. In Europe
, Gradius II was released for the arcades under the title of Vulcan Venture.
Another first in the series was the inclusion of the "boss rush" (also known as "boss parade" or "boss alley"), levels designed entirely with only boss
confrontations.
in 1988. It was never released outside of Japan. The game also features a mapper chip which enhanced some of the game's graphics and sounds.
A PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² port was later released 1992. The graphics remained nearly unaltered and one additional stage was added that is similar to the temple stage in the NES version of Life Force
and the first stage of Gradius III
.
Gradius II was later re-released in the Japanese exclusive Gradius Deluxe Pack for the PlayStation
, Sega Saturn
and Microsoft Windows
in 1996, and for the first time a worldwide release on the Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable
in 2006.
The PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² version was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console service in North America as a special "Hanabi Festival" release on October 20, 2008, at a cost of 900 Wii Points.
IGN give the game a 8/10 of classic scrolling-shooter.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in . It is the sequel to original Gradius
Gradius
The Gradius games, first introduced in 1985, make up a series of scrolling shooter video games published by Konami for a variety of portable, console and arcade platforms. In many games in the series, the player controls a ship known as the Vic Viper...
and was succeeded by Gradius III
Gradius III
Gradius III, known in Japan as , is a side-scrolling shooting game originally released for the arcades in Japan and Asia in . It is the second sequel to the original Gradius for the arcades following Gradius II, and was followed by Gradius IV. Gradius III was rereleased for the Super Nintendo...
. Ports of Gradius II were released for the Family Computer
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, PC-Engine Super CD-ROM², and X68000 in Japan. The original arcade version is also included in the Gradius Deluxe Pack compilation for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
and Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
and in Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. The Famicom and PC Engine versions were re-released for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
in .
No version of Gradius II was released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
until its inclusion in the Gradius Collection in . The Virtual Console re-release of the Famicom and PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² ports were released internationally as well. In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Gradius II was released for the arcades under the title of Vulcan Venture.
Plot
The player returns as the role of the pilot of the Vic Viper spaceship to battle the second onslaughts of the Bacterion Empire, under the new leadership of Gofer, the giant head.Gameplay
Gradius II has kept the gameplay from the original game, but infused it with enhancements brought from the spin-off, Salamander, and the Japanese arcade release of Life Force. This is primarily evident in two of the weapons configurations that are selectable.Another first in the series was the inclusion of the "boss rush" (also known as "boss parade" or "boss alley"), levels designed entirely with only boss
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
confrontations.
Weapons
Gradius II retains the selection bar from Gradius, but now the player can choose between four different weapon configurations and progressions. All schemes have speed-up and multiples (Options), but have differing 'Missile', 'Double' (laser), and 'Laser' weapons. The player can have at most four multiples. Choosing another multiple after four will make the four multiples to move around the spacecraft until they encounter an obstacle and stop revolving. Additionally, there are also two types of shielding to choose from: shield and forcefield. The shield option adds more durability, but only for the front of the Vic Viper, while the forcefield adds protection for the entire spacecraft, albeit only against three hits.Ports and related releases
The game was first ported to the Family ComputerNintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
in 1988. It was never released outside of Japan. The game also features a mapper chip which enhanced some of the game's graphics and sounds.
A PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² port was later released 1992. The graphics remained nearly unaltered and one additional stage was added that is similar to the temple stage in the NES version of Life Force
Salamander (arcade game)
, retitled Life Force in North America and in the Japanese arcade re-release , is a scrolling shooter arcade game by Konami. Released in 1986 as a spin-off to Gradius, Salamander introduced a simplified power-up system, two-player cooperative gameplay and both horizontally and vertically scrolling...
and the first stage of Gradius III
Gradius III
Gradius III, known in Japan as , is a side-scrolling shooting game originally released for the arcades in Japan and Asia in . It is the second sequel to the original Gradius for the arcades following Gradius II, and was followed by Gradius IV. Gradius III was rereleased for the Super Nintendo...
.
Gradius II was later re-released in the Japanese exclusive Gradius Deluxe Pack for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
, Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
in 1996, and for the first time a worldwide release on the Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
in 2006.
The PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² version was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console service in North America as a special "Hanabi Festival" release on October 20, 2008, at a cost of 900 Wii Points.
Reception
Gradius II received generally positive to favorable reviews.IGN give the game a 8/10 of classic scrolling-shooter.