New Review Posted: Gradius V

Daniel Weissenberger · 02-02-2005, 02:20 AM

Mike kicks off a shooting-intensive week (although, around here, what week isn't shooting intensive?) with his review of Gradius V:

"It doesn't seem possible, but it's been 20 years since Gradius first showed up on the arcade scene, becoming an instant classic and one of the defining shoot-em-ups (aka, shmups) of all time. Over the years, the Vic Viper has turned up in a plethora of ports, sequels, and side stories, and while some of them have been better than others (Gradius IV has always seemed like the series lowpoint for me, personally), Gradius V may well be the best of them all. This is shmupping in its purest form, a melding of Zen aesthetics and lightning-fast reflexes that becomes poetry in motion when in the hands of a master. In a crowded gaming landscape where genuine challenge is harder to find than a Democrat in middle America, Gradius V is a welcome throwback to the days when a game could hand you your ass on a regular basis, and players were likely to respond with, 'Thank you, sir. May I have another?'"

Mike continues with the review (sans any further frat references) here.

Hypatia93 · 02-02-2005, 10:29 AM

Damn Mike, you sure do make me wish I had the reflexes to shmup with the lot of you!

As always, excellent review! You definitely gave the feel of the game.

Sajon · 02-02-2005, 10:48 AM

Gradius V review
"poetry in motion when in the hands of a master"

Neo Contra review
"visual poetry when played by a master."

Been reading my reviews, Mike?

Or maybe great minds just think alike.

-Matt

EnduroGamer · 02-02-2005, 02:33 PM

Great job, Mike. I started thinking, "don't I have this game, I don't remember liking it as much." And then I went to my shelf and saw R-Type Final sitting there and it all became much clearer for me. LOL!

You guys ought to make sure you only review one shmup a year, else you're going to get some crazy arthritis!

GC_Thom · 02-02-2005, 02:59 PM

Even people unfamiliar with shmups should give Gradius V a try. It'll be frustrating at first, but practice enough and you'll start to feel the game opening up to you--it's really one of those games that likes the player, even if it can be rock-hard at times.

Plus, like Ikaruga, if you play it long enough, you unlock up-to-infinite continues, giving you no excuse for completing it. (Of course, I haven't because...ah...I had to do my laundry. Yeah.)

jwe8k · 02-04-2005, 10:40 AM

Aren't there lots of hard-core Democrats in Middle America? At least Illinois and Minnesota, right? Is that Middle America?

Anyway, your review intrigues me. I have a feeling that I'd get the game, though, and like Ikaruga, tire of it fairly shortly. My videogame attention span has gotten so rediculously short. I loved Gradius and Life Force when I was a kid, though.

Mike Bracken · 02-04-2005, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sajon

Gradius V review
"poetry in motion when in the hands of a master"

Neo Contra review
"visual poetry when played by a master."

Been reading my reviews, Mike?

Or maybe great minds just think alike.

HAHA! I did read that review of yours when it first went up. I find these little phrases like that all the time. I'm an impressionable guy who likes a good turn of the phrase, I guess.

Mike B.

Mike Bracken · 02-04-2005, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwe8k

Aren't there lots of hard-core Democrats in Middle America? At least Illinois and Minnesota, right? Is that Middle America?

Middle America was pretty darn red in the last election.

Mike B.

Low Emissions · 02-06-2005, 04:06 AM

I played this game a month or two ago and loved it... definitely the best shooter I've played since Galactic Attack on the Saturn, I do believe. Not that I've played many...
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