Somewhere there is a defense force absolutely irate at the bill I’m incurring them. I’ve destroyed more Vic Vipers in my short career as an intergalactic fighter pilot than most have since the release of Gradius on the NES in 1985. I don’t like to brag, but I am pretty consistent with blowing up shortly after getting a decent number of additions to my ship. It’s a gift.

At times your efforts seem like they are in vain. No matter how well you do, planet Gradius just cannot help but be invaded. The original introduces the Vic Viper to the invading and ever persistent Bacterions, with the people of Gradius sending you to stop the invaders and destroy their fortress, Xaerous. The sequel takes place two years later with the Bacterions returning with a force led by the special unit Gofer. I love that name. Not to be seen as quitters, the Bacterions return for a third time with their special weapon known as the Dark Force. Just as you think you’re safe, the fourth brings an invasion from a new, mysterious enemy; and Gaiden takes place after the Bacterion war and sees the people of Gradius exploring a dangerous new nebula, the ominously and space appropriately named Black Nebula. I like to think that there were some serious meetings about continuity throughout the development of the series, with some arguing for a new enemy while others wonder, “Why? Why would the Bacterions just give up? That doesn’t make any sense! Think, man! Think!”

While I received glares of disappointment from the series from my time with Gradius V (PS2), I was pretty much hated after my time with Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius III, Gradius IV, and Gradius Gaiden. It’s a small wonder that the game even bothers to boot anymore.

I’m glad it does though, because the Gradius series is one that I find completely endearing. I’m not too big into the shooter genre, but Konami’s stalwart series found a comfortable place in my heart with Gradius, Nemesis (GameBoy), and rekindling my interest with the fifth (sixth) release in the series. This latest collection is almost an overdose of the series with the five included titles being accompanied by a music section that has a jukebox-like menu that plays tracks from all of the titles and a movie gallery with the CG intros from the two previously released Gradius collections. Those additions are the exact kind that I like to see in a compilation, but the omission of old ads and artwork keeps it from being the be-all collection that it so nearly is.

Those unfamiliar with the series will be in for a treat. Gradius garnered attention from of its power meter and the series’ subsequent modifications to the player’s usage of power-ups. When certain enemies or chains of enemies are defeated small objects are left behind that can be absorbed to charge up the power meter. Throughout the series the power meter’s powers remain a constant: Speed, Missiles, Double, Laser, Option (additional orbs that follow you and fire when you fire), and ? (Shield). There are some exceptions, such as  Gradius Gaiden allowing you to customize the placement of the powers and Gradius III’s last power being a “!,” which reduces or replaces your upgrades. Starting with Gradius II a pre-option load of the powers is chosen beforehand; the options specify how the power-ups are engaged (e.g. in what directions the missiles and double lasers should fire into). Ideally, you want to become so good at the game that you can make it to the boss with your ship decked out with all the enhancements possible. So it’s pretty crushing when you die – with one hit, unless shield is activated – and lose all of the power-ups you doggedly collected, save for the always faithful Option orbs.

The inclusion and altering of the power meter throughout the series really does add a bit of complexity to the titles. One endearing method that helps you to get acquainted with a new release is that all of the titles begin in the same way, with a few rows of enemies attacking in similar positions. It’s in these crucial first few moments that you put your strategy into play – which power-ups serve you best now, which you need later, and how many opportunities will there be to achieve the necessary amount before difficult sections. Getting acclimated with the power meter is half the fun, and then the game really picks up as you start to find yourself surviving longer and longer, memorizing patterns and where which weapon is the most efficient. Going by my lengthy running tab with some sour, yet slightly optimistic, Vic Viper manufacturers on Gradius, I wouldn’t be considered good by any stretch of the imagination, yet the series still maintains its appeal. The different approaches taken by the various titles also gives you enough different systems to accommodate your style; you might enjoy the variety of all or find one most conducive to your methods.

Since it’s a PSP release – why not on the system’s older brother, Konami? – the game is adjusted for the wide screen. The screen can be adjusted so the game is played utilizing the entire screen, resulting in a slightly blurry image, or with borders, one half fuzzy and half small, and in the normal view that has a crisp picture but much of the screen being a border. There are also several options for the titles, which includes adjustable difficulty and the ability to alter other gameplay aspects, such as the collision box detection. The only downside is that the PSP isn’t really comfortable to me and the Gradius titles demand my attention, with any break in rhythm ruining whatever chance I had of not being a complete embarrassment, so the long play times result in cramped hands; and a few battered face buttons – c’mon, buttons, hold out!

Overall: 8.5/10

Gradius Collection is the kind of compilation that does a series justice. The titles, released over the period from 1985 to 1999, cover a series that saw gaming move from 8-bit to 32-bit and beyond. Not only do you get a handful of great games, but you also get a release that has never been released in North America until this collection (Gradius Gaiden) and another that was only released in a single compilation PS2 pack (Gradius IV). The lack of significant differences between the titles might turn off some, and that’s a fair complaint, but the ability to view and take part in a series’ progression also has a lot going for it. The major area lacking is that such a long-running series gets such an otherwise thorough compilation but no developer or artist interviews, old ads, commercials, etc., when that is something many of the lesser compilations excel at.