Gradius

Gradius had something no other shooter had: you decided how to power up your ship. Kids at the arcade argued about power-up order more than anything else, and somebody always insisted grabbing the shield early was for wimps. Then the Moai heads started spitting rings and all the theories went out the window.

Gradius isn't on UsuArcade yet, but it's on our wishlist. If you want it in the lobby, vote with “I want to play it.”

History

Konami released Gradius in 1985. In North America and Europe the arcade version went by Nemesis. It helped define the horizontal shooter and kicked off a long-running series, with sequels and spin-offs for decades.

Its big innovation was the selectable power-up system, which put strategy in the player's hands. Your ship, the Vic Viper, and enemies like the Big Core battleship became Konami icons.

How to play

You fly the Vic Viper from left to right. Certain enemies drop capsules, and each one moves a highlight along the power-up bar at the bottom: speed, missiles, double, laser, Option and shield. When the highlight is where you want it, hit the power-up button to cash it in.

Options are glowing orbs that trail you and copy your shots, and they're the key to surviving later stages. Die and you lose your power-ups, so going down mid-stage can be brutal. Each stage ends with a boss, often a battleship with a core you can only hit once you've blasted through its shields.

Fun facts

• Outside Japan, the arcade game was called Nemesis.
• The ring-spitting Moai heads became a series trademark.
• The famous Konami Code button trick caught on with the home version of Gradius.

In the arcade

Coming soon to UsuArcade. Once it's here, you'll be able to sit down at its machine in your browser, show off your power-up strategy to anyone watching and fight for the arcade high score. Until then, if you love shooters, try 1943: The Battle of Midway, Slap Fight or Aero Fighters: they're already in the lobby and free.

FAQ