'Almost' everything that ripped off Gradius

"Destroy the core!"

Before R-Type, there was...

Just so we're clear, Scramble kicked off flagship franchise, way back in 1981.

So how is title pronounced?

According to Gradius IV, it's 'Grad-e-us'.

The debate rages on.

Right, let's Vic Viper.

Ending(s)

Gradius II

Denaris (C64)

Thunder Force II (Megadrive)

Spaceship escaping enemy fortress before it goes kaboom?

Yeah.

Turrican II: The Final Fight (C64)

Same kind of thing, only with man replacing flying machine.

Erupting volcano

Gradius

CJ's Elephant Antics (C64)

Weird right?

One more.

Project-X (Amiga)

From design to weapons system, Team 17 classic is basically Gradius; with hi-speed 'guess the right way' stages.

Ballet dancers

Gradius III (Crab)

In most instances, hazard was reinvented as a boss*.

Apidya* (Amiga)

Sankyaku* (Nanostray 2 - DS)

Pulstar (Neo Geo)
Walker thing randomly shows up in sixth stage The Terminators.

R-Type Leo* (Arcade)

Bald Crab* is exclusive to Super Darius II on PC Engine CD, an updated version of Darius II.

Dancing Insector* (Starfox - SNES)

Check out identical horns (or tusks) found in either Salamander (left) or Gradius III.

Because.

Iveprowfent (Pulstar)
It appears pointed objects protruding from pipes are very similar.

Aside from that incredible spot, biological organism is of course an uber cousin of R-Type's Cyst.

Oh, almost forgot.

Venom Wing (Amiga)

Boss rush

Crystal Core (Gradius II)

Over Horizon (NES)

Superman (Arcade)

Venom (Nemesis 2 - MSX)

R-Type Leo

Turrican II: The Final Fight

Xaerous Brain (Gradius)

Denaris

Spot the resemblance?

Big Eye (Gradius II)

Turrican II: The Final Fight

Hey guys, you forgot the tentacles.

Gradius

In the truly unforgiving C64 classic Delta, boss spaceship crops up fairly regularly.

Core inspiration

Denaris

Armalyte (C64)

Blood Money (Amiga)

IO (C64)

Menace (Amiga)

Project-X

Retrograde (C64)

Thunder Force II (Mega Drive)

Zero Wing (Mega Drive)

Earth Defense Force (Arcade)

Sneakiest and/or strangest of all.

Carrier Airwing (Arcade)

What the fuck?

It gets better.

Covered Core (Gradius II)

Saint Dragon (Arcade)

Whip Rush (Mega Drive)

Mega Drive monster Gaiares provides further entertainment.

Big Core MK2 (Gradius III)

Demos (Gradius III)

Please forgive PC Engine classic Gate of Thunder for gatecrashing party.

More from Aicom's pre-rendered Neo Geo masterpiece Pulstar.

Salamander (1986 spin-off)

Gradius III

Not obvious at first, but look closer...

Goliath (Gradius III)

Kira.Ge.Woiare

Bacterion (Gradius III)

Mentos morphs into true end boss Bki.

All that's amazing, but Venom Wing brings something VERY special.

Gofer (Gradius II)

Copy and modification job went spectacularly well.

Really?

I mean, FUCKING REALLY?