So I just got this game for SNES (A little bit late on the pickup, I know) and I find it to be incredible, and also INCREDIBLY difficult. Does anyone else feel this way, or am I just really bad at this game? I've been playing it for about 2 hours now and I can't get past the 3rd level. Once I die once, it's pretty much over for me, because I lose all my powerups, so it's basically like a one-life, no continue game for me.

...alright. Lemme rephrase that.

Does anyone else have trouble with this game? I think it's really hard but it might just be because I suck at shmups.

Yeah, it's a bit challenging. I eventually learned how to muscle through it but it took me quite a while. Speed Zone is a bitch... If it's any comfort the final boss is a cakewalk through...

Yeah all the Gradius games are hard. Welcome to hell, my friend