Gradius (NES)

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Gradius
Gradius - NES - USA.jpg
Platform: NES
Year: 1986
Developer: Konami Corporation

Gradius is a horizontally-scrolling shoot-'em-up released by Konami in 1986. A port of the arcade game of the same name (known as Nemesis outside Japan), it uses the same basic gameplay: the player pilots the Vic Viper and fights a wide array of enemies throughout several levels. Collecting power-up capsules will advance the power bar on the bottom of the screen, allowing the player to access the highlighted ability by pressing the B button. These will be practically necessary to progress - Gradius is widely considered a remarkably difficult game.

The NES version naturally makes some compromises to work with less powerful hardware, including limiting the maximum number of Options to two instead of four, but is otherwise a faithful port. It is also the origin of the Konami Code, added to help a tester struggling with the high difficulty - entering it when the game is paused gives nearly every power-up to the Vic Viper at once.

Screenshots

Gradius - NES - Title.png

The title screen.

Gradius - NES - Beginning of the History.png

Every stage opens with a "dogfight" segment.

Gradius - NES - Challenger 1985.png

The first stage proper.

Gradius - NES - Volcano.png

These volcanoes spew rocks everywhere.

Gradius - NES - Boss.png

Most levels end with a boss fight against the Big Core.

Gradius - NES - Beat Back.png

The second stage.

Music

The original arcade game's soundtrack is almost entirely retained here, arranged for the NES's sound hardware. The primary melodies, generally upbeat and exciting, are largely intact even on a less powerful system. Noticeably, however, some songs have their first square channel drop out entirely after the intro - this is because the game's sound effects are inaudible otherwise.

Recording

# Title ComposerArranger Length Listen Download
01 Credit Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:01
Download
02 Beginning of the History Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:52
Download
03 Challenger 1985 Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:51
Download
04 Beat Back Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:54
Download
05 Blank Mask Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:50
Download
06 Free Flyer Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:51
Download
07 Mazed Music Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:45
Download
08 Mechanical Globule Miki HigashinoUnknown 1:17
Download
09 Final Attack Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:57
Download
10 Aircraft Carrier Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:24
Download
11 All Pattern Clear Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:08
Download
12 Game Over Miki HigashinoUnknown 0:04
Download

Credits

  • Ripper: Josh W. (NSF), Sonic of 8! (VGM)
  • Recorder: Theand
  • Game Credits:

(Game lacks credits.)

Miki Higashino has been identified as the composer of the original arcade version through this interview, among other sources.

Albums

Game Rip

Format

Download

NSF.png, VGM.png

Download

(Info)


Ripping NES music is a very arduous process that is beyond the scope of this site.

Releases

  Japan.svg   Japan
Gradius - FC - Japan.jpg
Title: グラディウス (Gradius)
Platform: Famicom
Released: 1986-04-25
Publisher: Konami Corporation
  USA.svg   USA
Gradius - NES - USA.jpg
Title: Gradius
Platform: NES
Released: 1986-12-13
Publisher: Konami Corporation
  USA.svg   USA
Vs. Gradius - ARC - Cabinet.jpg
Title: Vs. Gradius
Platform: Arcade
Released: 1986-??-??
Publisher: Nintendo
  EU.svg   EU
Gradius - NES - Europe.jpg
Title: Gradius
Platform: NES
Released: 1988-11-30
Publisher: Konami Corporation

Links


Gradius
Gradius / Nemesis Platform - ARC.png • Platform - NES.png • Platform - PC88.png • Platform - MSX.png • Platform - X1.png • Platform - X68.png • Platform - CPC.png • Platform - C64.png • Platform - ZXS.png • Platform - TG16.png
Salamander / Life Force Platform - ARC.png • Platform - NES.png • Platform - MSX.png • Platform - X68.png • Platform - CPC.png • Platform - C64.png • Platform - ZXS.png
Nemesis 2 Platform - MSX.png • Platform - X68.png
Gradius II / Vulcan Venture Platform - ARC.png • Platform - FC.png • Platform - X68.png • Platform - TGCD.png
Nemesis 3: The Eve of Destruction Platform - MSX.png
Cosmic Wars Platform - FC.png
Gradius III Platform - ARC.png • Platform - SNES.png
Nemesis Platform - GB.png
Gradius: The Interstellar Assault Platform - GB.png
Salamander 2 Platform - ARC.png
Solar Assault Platform - ARC.png
Gradius Gaiden Platform - PS1.png
Gradius IV Platform - ARC.png
Gradius Galaxies Platform - GBA.png
Gradius V Platform - PS2.png
Gradius ReBirth Platform - WII.png