"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)
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| Gradius II |
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| Denaris (C64) |
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| 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
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| Gradius |
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| CJ's Elephant Antics (C64) |
Weird right?
One more.
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| Project-X (Amiga) |
From design to weapons system, Team 17 classic is basically Gradius; with hi-speed 'guess the right way' stages.
Ballet dancers
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| Gradius III (Crab) |
In most instances, hazard was reinvented as a boss*.
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| Apidya* (Amiga) |
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| Sankyaku* (Nanostray 2 - DS) |
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Pulstar (Neo Geo)
Walker thing randomly shows up in sixth stage The Terminators. |
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| R-Type Leo* (Arcade) |
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| Bald Crab* is exclusive to Super Darius II on PC Engine CD, an updated version of Darius II. |
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| 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.
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| Venom Wing (Amiga) |
Boss rush
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| Crystal Core (Gradius II) |
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| Over Horizon (NES) |
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| Superman (Arcade) |
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| Venom (Nemesis 2 - MSX) |
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| R-Type Leo |
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| Turrican II: The Final Fight |
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| Xaerous Brain (Gradius) |
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| Denaris |
Spot the resemblance?
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| Big Eye (Gradius II) |
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| Turrican II: The Final Fight |
Hey guys, you forgot the tentacles.
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| Gradius |
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| In the truly unforgiving C64 classic Delta, boss spaceship crops up fairly regularly. |
Core inspiration
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| Denaris |
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| Armalyte (C64) |
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| Blood Money (Amiga) |
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| IO (C64) |
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| Menace (Amiga) |
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| Project-X |
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| Retrograde (C64) |
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| Thunder Force II (Mega Drive) |
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| Zero Wing (Mega Drive) |
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| Earth Defense Force (Arcade) |
Sneakiest and/or strangest of all.
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| Carrier Airwing (Arcade) |
What the fuck?
It gets better.
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| Covered Core (Gradius II) |
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| Saint Dragon (Arcade) |
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| Whip Rush (Mega Drive) |
Mega Drive monster
Gaiares provides further entertainment.
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| Big Core MK2 (Gradius III) |
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| Demos (Gradius III) |
Please forgive PC Engine classic
Gate of Thunder for gatecrashing party.
More from Aicom's pre-rendered Neo Geo masterpiece
Pulstar.
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| Salamander (1986 spin-off) |
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| Gradius III |
Not obvious at first, but look closer...
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| Goliath (Gradius III) |
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| Kira.Ge.Woiare |
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| Bacterion (Gradius III) |
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| Mentos morphs into true end boss Bki. |
All that's amazing, but
Venom Wing brings something VERY special.
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| Gofer (Gradius II) |
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| Copy and modification job went spectacularly well. |
Really?
I mean, FUCKING REALLY?
