Support NeoGAF

[Mejilan]

Are they the same series?

Also, how many GB (classic, not GBA) Gradius titles were made? I've browsed lists and noticed that Nemesis (which I own) and Gradius - Interstellar Assault both show up. Are they the same game? If so, why the two names?

Edit - Gradius V rocks. Get it.

 

[drohne]

i think the first gradius was called "nemesis" in european arcades. gradius II was called "vulcan venture." dunno why they then called the gameboy version "nemesis," or whether it was called "nemesis" all over the world. it's probably something like the whole salamander/life force mess, which i'd rather not get into.

and gradius gaiden rocks nearly as hard as gradius v. get that too.

 

[Mejilan]

Why not get into the Lifeforce / Salamandar mess?

 

[drohne]

because it's complicated and irrelevant. but in short: a game called "salamander" was released in japanese arcades. it was then released in western arcades as "life force." a remix of salamander with an organic theme was then released in japanese arcades, and it too was called "life force." there was then a port to nes/famicom, which was called "salamander" in japan and "life force" in the us, but actually takes elements from the japanese arcade versions of "salamander" and "life force," loses some stuff in the port, and adds other original stuff. and the nes and famicom versions differ pretty substantially, though i don't remember the details.

 

[Mejilan]

Wow, that's awesome. Hahahah, thanks.

 

[Evenball]

Back in the day, I played through Life Force so many times I could get through it in 2-3 lives.

 

[Miburou]

The Japanese MSX version has 'Gradius' written in katakana, and 'Nemesis' in roman alphabet.

In Europe, Konami released Nemesis, Nemesis 2 and Nemesis 3 for the MSX.

 

[midnightguy]

almost every version of LifeForce/Salamander is slightly different.

even the Japanese vs U.S. versions of LifeForce in arcades

 

[Mejilan]

Truthfully, I'm more interested in the classic GB versions. Just wondering if they are both the same game with different names (per regions), or two separate Gradius games entirely.

 

[ShadowRed]

i think the first gradius was called "nemesis" in european arcades. gradius II was called "vulcan venture." dunno why they then called the gameboy version "nemesis," or whether it was called "nemesis" all over the world. it's probably something like the whole salamander/life force mess, which i'd rather not get into.

and gradius gaiden rocks nearly as hard as gradius v. get that too.

Gradius was released as Nemesis in the US as well, then renamed Gradius. There were sutle changes in the 2. Nemesis had big shield that shrank as they too damage and the disappeared, Gradius just had the small sheilds that eventually disappeared after taking so much damage. There were a couple other changes as well.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

and gradius gaiden rocks nearly as hard as gradius v. get that too.

This point should be stressed.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

So, since this is a Konami shooter name topic, there's also Top Gunner aka Jackal.

 

[Pellham]

Back in the day, I played through Life Force so many times I could get through it in 2-3 lives.

I played 2 player mode with my brother and we played it enough times to beat it perfectly every time.

god, life force. greatest shmup EVER.

 

[Mejilan]

Well, far as I can tell. The first GB Gradius game was called Nemesis here in the US (and presumably in Japan as well.) It's sequel, called Nemesis II in Japan, seems to have been localized here as Gradius - Interstellar Assault. Cool.