List of Gradius media

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This page lists all the video and arcade games from the Gradius series published by Konami between 1981 and 2006. The series consists of nine arcade and video games and eleven spin-offs and/or related titles.

For a general overview of the series, see Gradius (series).

Contents 1 Principal titles 1.1 Gradius 1.2 Salamander 1.3 Gradius II 1.4 Gradius III 1.5 Salamander 2 1.6 Gradius Gaiden 1.7 Gradius IV Fukkatsu 1.8 Gradius Galaxies 1.9 Gradius V 2 Related titles 2.1 Life Force 2.2 Gradius 2 2.3 Gofer no Yabō Episode II 2.4 Cosmic Wars 2.5 Nemesis 2.6 Nemesis II 2.7 Solar Assault 2.8 Gradius NEO 2.9 Gradius NEO Imperial 3 Compilations and collections 3.1 Gradius Deluxe Pack 3.2 Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus 3.3 Gradius III and IV 3.4 Gradius Collection 3.5 Salamander Portable 4 Video collections 5 Printed media 6 Soundtracks 7 References

[edit] Principal titles

[edit] Gradius

Original release: 1985 — Arcade

Notes

• Released as Nemesis in Europe.
• Included as part of Gradius Deluxe Pack for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Microsoft Windows in 1996.
• Included as part of Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.
• Included as part of Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits for Nintendo DS in 2007.

[edit] Salamander

Original release: 1986 — Arcade in Europe and Japan

Notes

• Released as Life Force in North America.
• Included as part of the Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus compilation for PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1997.
• Included as part of Salamander Portable for PlayStation Portable in 2007.

[edit] Gradius II

Original release: 1988 — Arcade in Europe and Japan

Notes

• Released as Vulcan Venture in Europe.
• Original version was never released in North America.
• Included as part of Gradius Deluxe Pack for PlayStation, Sega Saturn and Microsoft Windows in 1996.
• Included as part of Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.

[edit] Gradius III

Original release: 1989 — Arcade in Japan

Notes

• Ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991.
• While the original arcade version was never released outside of Japan, it was included as part of Gradius III and IV for PlayStation 2 in 2000 and as part of Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.

[edit] Salamander 2

Original release: 1996 — Arcade in Japan

Notes

• Included as part of Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus for PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1997.
• Included as part of Salamander Portable for PlayStation Portable in 2007.

[edit] Gradius Gaiden

Original release: 28 August 1997 — PlayStation in Japan

Notes

• First title to be released exclusively for home consoles.
• Original version was never released in North America or Europe.
• Included as part of Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.

[edit] Gradius IV Fukkatsu

Original release: 1998 — Arcade in Japan

Notes

• Allowed players for a limited time to submit scores to an Internet-based ranking system.
• Included as part of Gradius III and IV for PlayStation 2 in 2000 and Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.

[edit] Gradius Galaxies

Original release: 2001 — Game Boy Advance

• Europe: 9 November 2001
• North America: 12 November 2001
• Japan: 17 January 2002

Notes

• Released as Gradius Advance in Europe, and as Gradius Generation in Japan.

[edit] Gradius V

Original release: 2004 — PlayStation 2

• Japan: 22 July
• North America: 14 September
• Europe: 10 October

Notes

• The result of a collaboration between KCET and Treasure Co. Ltd.

[edit] Related titles

[edit] Life Force

1986 — Arcade

• Altered version of Salamander with different plot and stage design.
• An enhanced version was released in 1987 for the Japanese market.
• Included as part of the Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus compilation for PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996.
• Included as part of Salamander Portable for PlayStation Portable in 2007.

[edit] Gradius 2

1987 — MSX

• A remake entitled Nemesis '90 Kai was released in 1993 for the Sharp X68000 computer.
• Included as part of Salamander Portable for PlayStation Portable in 2007.

[edit] Gofer no Yabō Episode II

1988 — MSX

• —

[edit] Cosmic Wars

1989 — Nintendo Entertainment System

• Strategy game based on the Gradius series.

[edit] Nemesis

1990 — Nintendo Game Boy

• —

[edit] Nemesis II

1991 — Nintendo Game Boy

• Released with the subtitle Return of the Hero in Europe and in North America as Gradius: The Interstellar Assault.

[edit] Solar Assault

1997 — Arcade

• An update titled Solar Assault Revised was released in late 1997.

[edit] Gradius NEO

2004 — NTT DoCoMo FOMA 900i series mobile phones

• Released exclusively for mobile phones in Japan.

[edit] Gradius NEO Imperial

2004 — NTT DoCoMo FOMA 900i series mobile phones

• Released exclusively for mobile phones in Japan.

[edit] Compilations and collections

The Gradius games have spawned a number of sequels. Being a prominent series in the shoot 'em up genre, the titles have become classics and thus have been repackaged and rebundled in several versions. These releases contain extra features and bonuses such as enhanced artwork, expanded soundtracks, and story materials.

[edit] Gradius Deluxe Pack

1996 — Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Microsoft Windows

• Compilation of Gradius and Gradius II.
• Includes an introductory sequence created using Computer-generated imagery.
• Never released in North America or Europe.

[edit] Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus

1997 — Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn

• Compilation of the arcade releases of Salamander, Life Force and Salamander 2.
• Includes an introductory CGI sequence.
• Never released in North America or Europe.

[edit] Gradius III and IV

2000 — Sony PlayStation 2

• Compilation of Gradius III and Gradius IV Fukkatsu.
• Includes an introductory CGI sequence.
• Released in Japan with the subtitle ~Fukkatsu no Shinwa~ (lit. "Myth of Revival").

[edit] Gradius Collection

2006 — Sony PlayStation Portable

• Compilation of Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius III, Gradius IV Fukkatsu and Gradius Gaiden.
• Released as Gradius Portable in Japan.
• Includes music and movie galleries with content from previous console releases.

[edit] Salamander Portable

2007 — Sony PlayStation Portable

• Compilation of the arcade releases of Salamander, Life Force, Salamander 2, Gradius 2 and Xexex.

[edit] Video collections

Salamander — 1988 — VHS A three-volume OVA series based on the arcade games Salamander, Gradius, and Gradius II Gofer no Yabō.

Salamander Game Simulation Video — 1988 — VHS An expert playthrough of Salamander.

Gradius III Game Simulation Video — 1991 — VHS An expert playthrough of Gradius III.

Gradius V Options — 2004 — DVD A promotional DVD given away with Gradius V in Japan as a bonus to preordering customers. Contains interviews with the developers, an expert playthrough of stage five and an image gallery of enemies encountered in the game.

Gradius V Official DVD The Perfect — 2004 — DVD Contains a complete set of "super-play" videos.

Gradius Breakdown — 2004 — DVD A promotional DVD released shortly after Gradius V in North America as a preorder bonus. Contains a series retrospective, enemy database, an interview with the game director and a collection of "super-play" videos.

[edit] Printed media

Gradius Complete Works — 1986 — ISBN 4-576-86067-4 Japanese title: グラディウス 裏ワザ大全集 別巻 (guradiusu urawaza daisenshō)

Gradius II Bible — 1988 — ISBN 4-87655-025-5 Published by Konami. Japanese title: グラディウスII バイブル (guradiusu II baiburu)

Gradius II Perfect Technique Book — 1989 — ISBN 4-88658-133-1 Japanese title: グラディウス2完全攻略テクニックブック (guradiusu II kanzen kōryaku tekunikku bukku)

Gradius Portable Official Guide — 2006 — ISBN 4-86155-111-0 Published by Konami on March 9, 2006. A 192-page book in colour with artwork, series history and guide for Gradius I-IV and Gradius Gaiden. Japanese title: グラディウス ポータブル 公式ガイド ~レジェンド オブ I・II・III・IV・外伝~

[edit] Soundtracks

Gradius III — 1990 — Compact Disc Soundtrack by Konami Kukeiha Club for Gradius III. Released in Japan by King Records on February 21, 1990.

Salamander 2 Original Game Soundtrack — 1996 — Compact Disc 1-disc soundtrack by Konami Kukeiha Club for Salamander 2. Released in Japan by Konami Co., Ltd on April 5, 1996.

Gradius IV Fukkatsu Original Game Soundtrack — 1999 — Compact Disc A 1-disc soundtrack for Gradius IV Fukkatsu. Released in Japan by Konami on March 5, 1999. One of a few soundtracks not composed by Konami Kukeiha Club, but by Japanese artist "Atsuki"

Gradius Arcade Soundtrack — 2002 — Compact Disc A 2-disc collection of background music and arrangements by Konami Kukeiha Club. Released in Japan by Konami Music Entertainment Inc. on April 24, 2002."

Salamander Arcade Soundtrack — 2003 — Compact Disc 1-disc album containing the background music heard in Salamander, Life Force, and Salamander 2 Produced by Konami Kukeiha Club. Arrangements by Motoaki Furukawa. Released in Japan by Konami Music Entertainment Inc. on April 9, 2003.

Gradius V Soundtracks — 2004 — Compact Disc Official soundtrack for Gradius V, composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto. Released in Japan by Konami Media Entertainment, Inc. on August 18, 2004.

[edit] References

v • d • e Gradius video games Gradius · Salamander (Life Force) · II · Gofer no Yabō Episode II · III · Nemesis · Nemesis II · Salamander 2 · Gaiden · Solar Assault · IV · Galaxies · V List of Gradius media