the
weapon system cycles through the powers, until the desired one is chosen; speed
and multiple, how to get the additional firing pods,
can be enhanced multiple times. This may not sound like much, but it is actually
very interesting in its implementation, and that is in part to how
the levels are designed.
By having a pretty decent difficulty
curve, despite how much is going on, the game introduces the concept of having
a power-up strategy early on. After playing the first level so much, I have a
favored type to use and I know when to power up which weapon so that I can be
as effective as possible. The great thing is that my system works for me, but
someone else may come up with an order all their own: some may prefer getting
as much speed as possible early on, while another may prefer upgrading to have
a strong offense as possible. By utilizing the analog pad and the L1 button to
control the pods, the ship is locked into position while L1 is pressed allowing
only the pods to be moved, and this little kink adds in more reason to replay—aside
from getting a higher score and faster completion time, it becomes addictive trying
to get become as proficient as possible with the pods.
With a level count
of five levels, the game may seem thin. However, the game manages to be chock
full of replayability because of additional weapons that can be had, the sheer
nature of it creating self-competition, simultaneous two-player mode, but also
because the levels change. From my experience, I have found that the better I
do, the more enemies appear. There is no dramatic shifting of structures, but
seeing as how I'm still encountering new enemy patterns on the first level, which
makes my previous strategy in trying to get a perfect run different, I find myself
constantly playing to find all the paths and to best them all. Some sections also
offer a great sense of free flight, with the option to go as high or low, with
seemingly no limit—which is nice for a game, you know, set in space—and
some that are so confining that the game suddenly feels like a 2D platformer.
All, of course, with more projectiles on screen than one could count.
The graphics are also pretty to the point of being purty. I don't go into shooters
expecting much, but Konami really packed in the eye candy here. From the trailing
lasers to the cinematic camera swoops, it was nice to see such attention to presentation.
At times, though, there was some slowdown, but I can't shake the feeling that
it was purposeful for old time's sake as it isn't severe and tends to happen when
enemies aren't around. The enemies themselves range from standard to strange—par
for the genre, apparently. The music is there, but easily drowned out by the multiple
explosions; there is also some voice over work which is nice, considering the
story is kind of just tossed into it, I was surprised to see they took the time
to do it.
I do have a few qualms with the game, though. One is a deceptive
continue system. While it allows the player to continue from a section within
a level, the player cannot progress past the level; because this is suppose to
be more like training for when they get back to it from playing it from the start.
I don't like the idea of being able to practice certain parts, but it should be
labeled as such. There were also the moments of reprieve when a projectile would
hit my ship but not harm it, when another of the same type would; this seems to
be a form of leeway given in most shooters, but the lack of consistency is almost
as nerve racking as the onscreen action. Lastly, there is an online ranking mode,
but it is apparently just for contest purposes and won't carry on for long.
Overall:
9/10
Minor complaints aside, Gradius
V is a beautiful, responsive, and addictive shooter that brings the series
back with class. The weapon type, power-up system, and control scheme also go
a long way in complementing the dynamic levels to keep the game incredibly addictive.
Despite not being a follower of the genre, I cannot deny the mesmerizing affect
dodging multiple enemies, lasers, missiles, mines, and what-have-you has when
you're actually making it through it all. Curiously, it has a T for Teen rating,
but ignore that, because there is nothing but sweet, sweet mechanical and organic
alien death—all non-obscene, of course—awaiting any and all newcomers.
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When
giant organic alien life forms start trouble, the only recourse is to hop in a
space ship and blast the beejezus out of them. In the midst of a billion projectiles
flying across the screen, would-be heroes need to gather power-ups and take down
barriers while a hypnotic lightshow goes on around them. In a fine return to form
from the 1980s, Gradius V harkens back to the days when a game would be
played until fingers were rubbed raw, just for the sake of a better score. With
shifting levels, simple and fun power-up system, and some of the brightest colors
this side of Rez, Konami does shooter and non-shooter fans proud. 
