Gradius

GradiusNES

1986

System
NES
Publisher
Konami
Developer
Konami

7.1

Game Rating

User Ratings: 287

Our Review: 7/10

Overview

Number of Players
1 (Single Player)
Genre
Release Date

NES

  • US Dec 1986
  • EU Dec 1986

Wii (Wii Shop)

  • JP 2nd Dec 2006, 500 points
  • US 8th Jan 2007, 500 points
  • EU 2nd Feb 2007, 500 points

3DS eShop

  • US 18th Oct 2012, $4.99
  • EU 1st Nov 2012, £4.49

3DS (3DS eShop)

  • JP 8th May 2013, ¥500

Wii U eShop

  • EU 26th Sep 2013, £3.49

Wii U (Wii U eShop)

  • JP 2nd Oct 2013, ¥500
Also Available On
Series
Tags
Controller Support

Reviews

  • Gradius (Wii U eShop / NES)

    29

    Review Gradius (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Just keeps shooting

    To say that the original Gradius was influential on the evolution of the side-scrolling shoot 'em up would be a gross understatement. When it hit arcades in 1985 it was lauded for its amazing level designs and simple, yet wildly playable, power-up system. This NES release was one of the first home ports of the game and has become...

  • Gradius (3DS eShop / NES)

    18

    Review Gradius (3DS eShop / NES)

    Dated, but legendary

    To say that the original Gradius was influential on the evolution of the side-scrolling shoot 'em up would be a gross understatement. When the game hit arcades in 1985 it was lauded for its amazing level designs and simple, yet wildly playable, power-up system. This NES release was one of the first home ports of the game and has...

  • Gradius (Wii Virtual Console / NES)

    4

    Review Gradius (Wii Virtual Console / NES)

    Konami's classic shooter series takes off

    It's so hard to review a game like Gradius. This is a near-legendary title and has inspired a franchise that has sold millions, not to mention the spin-off series Parodius and countless other clones. But when reviewing classic retro titles, you have to judge if this game is still worth playing today...

Screenshots 5

Gradius Screenshot
Gradius Screenshot
Gradius Screenshot
Gradius Screenshot
Gradius Screenshot

Gradius News

About The Game

You are the last hope of the people of Gradius.

Your hyperspace fighter is armed with the greatest arsenal in the galaxy: air-to-surface and double beam laser cannons, powerful force fields and more. You’ll need them all to survive, because at the heart of the Bacterion Empire awaits the nerve centre of the evil Bacterion Bio-Computer. Gradius began the legendary space shooting series from Konami®. A true classic and an important part of video game history. Remember: shoot the core!

Comments 23

__Ben9

I've played Gradius & Life Force before, and I was excited to download the VC Rom for the Wii, however, I can't seem to get the Konami code to work... I thought maybe I just sucked, so I plugged in my old NES & popped in Gradius & it worked immediately for me... Did you actually get the Konami Code to work on the VC??

Dazza

The code still works. Pause the game then enter:

up, up, down, down, left, right ,left, right, B, A

Then un-pause. This activates all powerups except for Speed Up and Double.

Manaman

Gradius is nice and all, but what I really want is Life Force. Hope that's coming next...

Dazza

Yeah, I much prefer life force to the original Gradius too. The level design is great and it's got simultaneous 2 player mode. Top notch stuff!

__Zweck36

Total excellence! Yes the code still works!

DEMON212

Am I the only one who seems to think that it runs slower than it used to?

I'm sure that you used to be as fast as, 2 speed powerups make you on the VC version.

diablos79

I like this game, although to be honest i was a bigger fan of parodious. Something about pirate ships with giant catheads and vegas showgirls as end of level bosses just tickle me. I dunno maybe its just me. As for gradius, its good but r-type is miles better.

sam

  • 8
  • sam

This game has some nice ideas but if you die after level 2-3 your pretty much screwed (unless you cheat). I seem to keep coming back to this one, but only for 10-15 mins at a time. After which I cant stop humming the music! It is worth the Wii points.

ehawk

I use this game as a bit of a break from my other more intense games, defo a must have but die once and you might as well just start again!! damn those bubble blowing heads!

TheNintendoBoy

This hasn't aged well imo. It's very slow paced an unforgiving. I also don't like the upgrade system at all, but maybe that's just me.

Anyway Life Force is much better and it's 2-player as well, but remember to get the PCE/TG16 version.

Tull

First game with the legendary Konami Code

__William2

It's my favorite game of all time for the VC! I've downloaded this before, and I play it from time to time. It's a great game! The music is pretty awesome, though.

__Miibeyou

This game is great. Good music, great challenge and awesome gameplay makes this one of the best NES games that I've ever played. Konami's greatest legacy. I also played the minigame on Mystical Ninja.

__AlessandroSojack

I never liked the NES version of Gradius, mostly because it was just missing a ton of stuff from the arcade version. The NES version of Lifeforce was great though, adding the Salamander/Gradius powerup system, switching up some of the levels for the better, and the limitted NES palette actually worked here, making the game look even grungier and organic.

learn_japanese_ds

haha the only time I've every played this was during intermission in Blades of Steel! I didn't even realize it was it's own game till now.

Faz666

This game is the reason i re-bought an NES, reminded me of my student house days

Manicfatty

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now gimme Life Force...GIMMMEEEEEEE!

Matmax14

this game is so boring...i like gradius 2 and 3 more...still the same endboss...

Sharecrow

I like this game a lot. It's surprisingly addictive and certainly challenging. I feel so behind in my shooters.....maybe because I am playing four at once. Anyway, I'll beat each of those someday and someday I'll beat this one too.

That being said, I do hope that they release Life Force on the VC someday. That and Abodox!!!

CastlevaniaTest

This is a good game, but I found it hard to come back to after playing Gradius III.

MrDanger88

There is a new Gradius game coming out for Wiiware. Nevertheless, I like this game.

CanisWolfred

I have the Arcade version of this game on the PSP, though this game seems like a pretty faithful port, although there are only two options instead of four. I always go back to the original more than the third, or even Gaiden( personal favorite). There's just something about it that keeps on pulling me back.

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