Gradius II (Jpn) - グラディウスII
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabō (グラディウスII GOFERの野望, lit. "Gradius II: The Ambition of Gofer") is a horizontally-scrolling shooter originally released for the arcades in Japan in 1988. It is the sequel to original Gradius and was succeeded by Gradius III. Ports of Gradius II were released for the Family Computer, PC-Engine Super CD-ROM², and X68000 in Japan. The original arcade version is also included in the Gradius Deluxe Pack compilation for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn and in Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable. The Famicom and PC Engine versions were re-released for the Wii Virtual Console in 2007.
No version of Gradius II was released in North America until its inclusion in the Gradius Collection in 2006. The Virtual Console re-release of the Famicom and PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² ports were released internationally as well. In Europe, Gradius II was released for the arcades under the title of Vulcan Venture.
The player returns as the role of the pilot of the Vic Viper spaceship to battle the second onslaughts of the Bacterion Empire, under the new leadership of Gofer, the giant head.
Gradius II has kept the gameplay from the original game, but infused it with enhancements brought from the spin-off, Salamander, and the Japanese arcade release of Life Force. This is primarily evident in two of the weapons configurations that are selectable.
Another first in the series was the inclusion of the "boss rush" (also known as "boss parade" or "boss alley"), levels designed entirely with only boss confrontations.
Gradius II retains the selection bar from Gradius, but now the player can choose between four different weapon configurations and progressions. All schemes have speed-up and multiples (Options), but have differing 'Missile', 'Double' (laser), and 'Laser' weapons. The player can have at most four multiples. Choosing another multiple after four will make the four multiples to move around the spacecraft until they encounter an obstacle and stop revolving. Additionally, there are also two types of shielding to choose from: shield and forcefield. The shield option adds more durability, but only for the front of the Vic Viper, while the forcefield adds protection for the entire spacecraft, albeit only against three hits.
No version of Gradius II was released in North America until its inclusion in the Gradius Collection in 2006. The Virtual Console re-release of the Famicom and PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² ports were released internationally as well. In Europe, Gradius II was released for the arcades under the title of Vulcan Venture.
The player returns as the role of the pilot of the Vic Viper spaceship to battle the second onslaughts of the Bacterion Empire, under the new leadership of Gofer, the giant head.
Gradius II has kept the gameplay from the original game, but infused it with enhancements brought from the spin-off, Salamander, and the Japanese arcade release of Life Force. This is primarily evident in two of the weapons configurations that are selectable.
Another first in the series was the inclusion of the "boss rush" (also known as "boss parade" or "boss alley"), levels designed entirely with only boss confrontations.
Weapons
Gradius II retains the selection bar from Gradius, but now the player can choose between four different weapon configurations and progressions. All schemes have speed-up and multiples (Options), but have differing 'Missile', 'Double' (laser), and 'Laser' weapons. The player can have at most four multiples. Choosing another multiple after four will make the four multiples to move around the spacecraft until they encounter an obstacle and stop revolving. Additionally, there are also two types of shielding to choose from: shield and forcefield. The shield option adds more durability, but only for the front of the Vic Viper, while the forcefield adds protection for the entire spacecraft, albeit only against three hits.
Gradius II (Jpn)
Technical
CPU
- maincpu N2A03 (@ 1 Mhz)
Chipset
- N2A03 (@ 1 Mhz)
Display
- Orientation Yoko
- Resolution 255 x 240
- Frequency 60.098 Hz
Controlers
- Number of players 4
- Number of buttons 2
- Kind of controler
- triplejoy (8 ways)
- triplejoy (8 ways)
- triplejoy (8 ways)
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Gradius II (Jpn) Screenshots
Ports and related releases
The game was first ported to the Family Computer in 1988. It was never released outside of Japan (despite the fact that a full English conversion had been completed). The game also features a mapper chip which enhanced some of the game's graphics and sounds, such as animation and even voices.
A PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² port was later released only in Japan in 1992. The graphics remained nearly unaltered, the background music is mostly the arcade version's soundtrack in redbook audio format, and one additional stage was added that is similar to the temple stage in the NES version of Life Force and the first stage of Gradius III.
Gradius II was later re-released in the Japanese exclusive Gradius Deluxe Pack for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and Microsoft Windows in 1996, and for the first time a worldwide release on the Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable in 2006.
The PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² version was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console service in North America as a special "Hanabi Festival" release on October 20, 2008, at a cost of 900 Wii Points.
A PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² port was later released only in Japan in 1992. The graphics remained nearly unaltered, the background music is mostly the arcade version's soundtrack in redbook audio format, and one additional stage was added that is similar to the temple stage in the NES version of Life Force and the first stage of Gradius III.
Gradius II was later re-released in the Japanese exclusive Gradius Deluxe Pack for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and Microsoft Windows in 1996, and for the first time a worldwide release on the Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable in 2006.
The PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² version was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console service in North America as a special "Hanabi Festival" release on October 20, 2008, at a cost of 900 Wii Points.
Reception
Gradius II received generally positive to favorable reviews. IGN give the game a 8/10 of classic scrolling-shooter.
