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Gradius V - Worth It?

S

Sanjuro

Member
I checked a couple of my local TRU for the game for the green tag sale, both out.
I checked local game stores EB, Gamestop, old job Game Crazy all not available.

Is this game worth tracking down? I havent played a Gradius since the NES days and just purchased Ikaruga and looking for another shooter. Also if anyone has any extras from TRU I would bargin.
 
Yes, put some effort into it. DEFINITLY worth it. Ebay one if you can. I dont know what it is like where you live, but where I am there are none left ANYWHERE... pretty much zero chance of getting it new.
 
It's more than worth it at $50. If you can find it for less, it's just more sweet, sweet icing on the cake that God baked.

It's in my PS2 top 5 for sure.
 
I'm not a big fan of side scroller (or vertical for that matter) shooters, but Ikaruga and Gradius V were really a nice reintroduction to the genre for me. I still get slaughtered towards the end, and just cheat my way with the unlimited continues (you eventually earned it as you play longer)
 
Excellent game. I played it a bit earlier today. I am still trying to go through it on one credit but I am not consistent enough. There will always be that one bullet where I can think I can let it graze my ship and it ends up impacting with the cockpit. Still, a brilliant game, and I picked up at $30 when it was released. You start out with 3 credits and then every hour you put into the game, you gain an extra credit. I think at the 20 hour mark, you unlock unlimited continues.
 
Gradius V is green tagged at Toys R Us. what does this mean? you can get it for ~$21 right now, or wait next month and get it for $15
 
Wario64 said:
Gradius V is green tagged at Toys R Us. what does this mean? you can get it for ~$21 right now, or wait next month and get it for $15
Click to expand...

But if it is OOS now I lose regardless. I would gladly pay in the 10-20 market as I have been doing to add quality games or to beef up my collection.
 
It's the greatest shmup (or whatever you want to call it if you hate the term) I've played.

So yes, worth it.
 
Even if you don't like Gradius as a series it is more than worth it. They flip the script a little bit gameplay wise so that in my opinion makes it way more playable than previous Gradius titles.
 
The only Gradius game I've ever played was GIII for SNES. I am still kicking myself for selling it.

I will get V someday.
 
Gradius V and Ikaruga are the only SMUPS I play.
1.jpg
 
I bought it when it came out for $30, but if I'd known in advance how good it would be, I would have paid $50 for it without hesitation.
 
Modded consoles and a full Cave/Raizing/G.Rev/(even Psikyo) catalog at your disposal should be a clear requirement before one calls anything the greatest shooter ever.

With that said, Gradius 5 is pretty damn good even if it isn't the second coming of Christ.
 
SnowWolf said:
This and R-Type Final are the reasons why I bought the PS2. I'm not even kidding, I didn't get a PS2 until these games came out.
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Same here pretty much, they're 2 of my most precious titles in my small PS2 library.
 
Modded consoles and a full Cave/Raizing/G.Rev/(even Psikyo) catalog at your disposal should be a clear requirement before one calls anything the greatest shooter ever.
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Eh, I still like the game more than anything Cave and G.Rev have put out. Can't say I've played enough of Psikyo or Raizing's games.
 
So how's that insanity thing working out for ya?

Just kidding, please elaborate on why.
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Well, in G.Rev's case, I haven't played a huge amount of Border Down. Wish I could articulate why, but it didn't really grasp me. I consider it backlogged, I guess.

As far as Cave goes, DoDonPachi is second only to Gradius V. It's my favorite of Cave's games, no question. I think I might like Gradius V more due to the 'lighter' approach to memorization (I feel as if I've ruined a session in DDP by slipping up on a chain, whereas missing a pickup in Gradius V doesn't feel like a gigantic loss), though it could even just be the presentation that does it for me.

Still need to get around to Daioujou and Esp Galuda.
 
I loved the game and got pretty damn far but I couldn't progress any further. It just got sooo frustratingly hard at that point, even if I had lots of continues. Did anyone beat Gradius V here?
 
Tain said:
Well, in G.Rev's case, I haven't played a huge amount of Border Down. Wish I could articulate why, but it didn't really grasp me. I consider it backlogged, I guess.
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That's unfortunate, but sadly it seems to be the general consesus on BD. Nobody really gave it a chance. Try to get into its scoring system with the break laser and you might just end up loving it.

Tain said:
As far as Cave goes, DoDonPachi is second only to Gradius V. It's my favorite of Cave's games, no question. I think I might like Gradius V more due to the 'lighter' approach to memorization, though it could even just be the presentation that does it for me.

Still need to get around to Daioujou and Esp Galuda.
Click to expand...
I don't think I can agree about Gradius 5 being lighter on the memorization -- actually I feel it's the exact opposite. I do, however, see your point on the presentation. G5 is very 'cinematic', if a shooter can be, and engaging in that way.

You're missing out on Espgaluda, though. I think it's one of Cave's most brilliant titles since it's a bit easier meaning beginners have an easier time getting into it, yet at the same time scoring can be as insanely difficult as you want it to be. Genius.
 
open_mouth_ said:
I loved the game and got pretty damn far but I couldn't progress any further. It just got sooo frustratingly hard at that point, even if I had lots of continues. Did anyone beat Gradius V here?
Click to expand...


Yeah, the last couple of stages are a continue-fest for me though. I participated in the online ranking tournament just after the game came out (even though I suck); placed 12th, I think, in Type 4 at the time (you can still enter scores even though it's over; I see I'm all the way down to #88 now..."Naeblis").

http://www.onlineregister.com/konami/gradiusV/

Did anyone else participate in that tournament?
 
I just skimmed through the post, but I wanted to add another shooter to the mix.

I think R-Type Final is pretty cool, for what it is. Maybe you can find it cheap elsewhere? I dunno.
 
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