Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The KING of side scrolling shoot em ups!!!, 1 Aug 2004
I have got this game on import and it is SUPERB!!There have been loads of great shootem ups on the PS2 (some which have not made it to our shores) and in my opinion this is probably the best one yet! It takes all the great gameplay from the previous games and throws in some truely outstanding graphics and sound to produce the complete gaming experience. Anyone who has played Nemesis, Salamander or any of the previous Gradius (as they have all been known in Japan) games, will be instantly at home with the weapon choice system and the way the game plays in general. Gradius V has not set out to be original, what Konami (and Treasure) have done is set out to make the ultimate side scrolling shoot em up experience. This is pretty much what they have achieved. This is not an easy game and most people will find this game very challenging on Normal level but it does have that addictive quality that will keep you coming back for more! Buy this game either on import now, or in September when the game gets it's PAL release!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The greatest shoot-em-up series just got better, 2 Aug 2005
Gradius. If you don't know the series: Google is your friend. The Gradius (Nemesis in Europe), and their Parodius parody series has always been fighting with the R-Type series for the crown of shoot-em-ups. I have always preferred Gradius, but that's personal I guess. :)Gradius V, after having been delayed several times, finally came into my possession a few days after its release in Europe, and it was worth the wait. This game is simply the best shoot-em-up available to date. Take the typical Gradius playing style, and add beautiful 3D graphics (the game is still in 2D though), some very nice music, and a two player mode (both ships flying at the same time), and this game simply couldn't be better. They've decreased the hit area to a small part of a ship, so no more feeling you've been cheated when you die: trust me, you've been hit this time! As you play the game you unlock more credits to play with, until finally you receive unlimited credits. Combined with the "continue where you die" feature this Gradius packs, and the ability to pick up your options (again, Google if you're not familiar with the typical Gradius terminology) when you die, and the game should be finishable for players of every skill. Luckily I didn't need more than 5, though I've been completely outclassed by several players that have managed to play through all levels of this game several times without using more than a single credit. I'd say the game is just slightly less difficult than Gradius IV. If you like shoot-em-ups, then get this game. For the moment, it just doesn't get better than this!
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2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Professional shooter missing that elusive Treasure magic, 13 April 2006
Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars
Having bought and played through every shmup for the Dreamcast and PS2 and also many others on earlier consoles and in the arcades, I can safely say I am a die-hard fan of the genre. Knowing that Treasure (developers of Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun) were making Gradius V, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. When I booted it up for the first time, the graphics blew me away...
Many hours of gameplay later, I switched the PS2 off and headed off to bed. Strangely, however, the next time I felt like a bit of shmup action, I didn't feel particularly drawn back to Gradius V. It's difficult to put a finger on exactly why but I think there a number of factors which, when combined, detract from the enjoyment factor:
1. My first criticism is aimed more at the PS2 controller than the game but it is perhaps worth mentioning as it detracts from the experience somewhat: the control feels a little soggy. As in many games, using the analogue sticks feels unresponsive. Furthermore, the PS2's digital pad is badly designed for moving diagonally or changing direction rapidly because it is inset.
2. The sound effects are a bit weedy and the music mediocre. The graphics are of a high quality but aesthetically uninspired. Stock spaceships and too much blue, yellow, red and grey. There are also the standard problems of the PS2's flat colour palette and repeated textures.
3. The Gradius power-up system is still a pain.
4. The level design is a bit bland. I'm not talking about the graphics here. The best shooters have interesting game mechanics and clever level design. Ikaruga was a perfect example with its colour-switching, chaining system and level geometry. Even less feted shooters like Castle of Shikigami II have some inspired parts (see e.g. level 3). This, I think, is where Gradius V falls down. Maybe I'm jaded but I felt that Treasure were recycling their ideas. There's nothing which grabs you by the scruff of the neck. Sure, there's some crazy stuff but it feels like a Treasure franchise.
The bottom line: better than Silpheed but falls short of the lofty heights set by Ikaruga. I'd still recommend any shooter fan to get it, though.
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