Gradius 3 & 4 question

Do I suck or is Gradius 3 impossibly hard? I'm getting the hang of Gradius 4, which is significantly easier, but Gradius 3 seems totally over the top in the default difficulty. I'm learning level 1 pretty well at this point, and I can forsee a day in which I can actually beat it, but I have to wonder if I'm doing something hideously wrong.

Combine really fast enemies (some of the ground walkers) with a cramped screen (in the sand cavern) and large enemies (sand dragon and sand lions) while piloting a ship that has a default speed just a bit faster than the average glacier and I'm left wondering if it's worth bulling through. Just because I can learn to get by doesn't necessarily mean it's worth it.

Gradius 4, on the other hand, is much kinder. A faster ship mixed with more frequent power-ups helps tame things quite nicely. It's still tough but not so hard as to make me wonder what the point is.

James

Dude, I totally destroyed the SNES version of Gradius 3 on the hardest setting, but I can barely stay alive through half of the PS2 Gradius 3. They're pretty different, and the PS2 one is fucking brutal.

For real.

If you think Level 1 is tough, get to the bubbles.

...why doesn't someone just say he sucks? oh right - this isn't FC :p

You suck! But so do I. It's not just you, it's nutz!.

The PS2 version of 3 is a port of the arcade which seems to be considerably harder than the SNES game. Too bad the announcer is different. =/

some levels in Gradius V looks nutz too ;)

I was waiting for someone to chime in on the suck factor. Thankfully, Gradius 3 is too damn hard for someone to tell me I suck at it.

But what the hell, bring it on. :)

James

Why even complain about how hard a shmup is? As far as I see it, the harder a shmup is, the better it is. Thats what makes Ikaruga and Gradius great and Silpheed: TLP lame.

enjoy getting pasted in Gradius, and keep coming back!

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Originally posted by Zerodash
Why even complain about how hard a shmup is? As far as I see it, the harder a shmup is, the better it is.

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Go play Rayxanber 2, then get back to me.

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Originally posted by BenT
Go play Rayxanber 2, then get back to me.

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!

I swear that damn game actually cheats to kill you.

As for Gradius 3 and 4, I'm not a fan. I can't stand the default speed settings in the game and at this point in the serie's life there's no excuse not to have a decent set speed or selectable speeds ala Thunderforce. Gradius is a home release and PS2 has a load o' buttons, make one a speed select.

Gaiden and Galaxies seemed a bit more forgiving on the mobility and power of your ship starting out. *-neo

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Originally posted by BenT
Go play Rayxanber 2, then get back to me.

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Yeah, or Aldynes. Evil game.

If those bubbles are getting you, using the Laser may be best. A full length beam (hold the fire button down, don't just tap) works wonders.

The arcade version is a lot harder than the SNES one and makes Dodonpachi Dai-ou-jou look like Gekirindan in regard to difficulty.

Want a really hard game? Try the FM Towns Rayxanber. :sneak:

I get there with full options and the laser. I still die. I'll get through it someday, though.

Silpheed is not lame.

I agree, almost every shooter that is too easy, well, sucks to be honest.

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Originally posted by BoBVila
Silpheed is not lame.

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You're right. But Silpheed: TLP is. :lol:

Cleared level 1 at last, on one life too. I used the slowdown with the lasers mercilessly on level 2 and yet I've only got one thing to say-

The bubbles... my god, the bubbles...

James

I need to get around to that Rayxanber 2. Curiosity is killing me.










How appropriate.

I wouldn't mind seeing Aldynes and the Raisen Bar games on the GBA (dreaming...)

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Dude, I totally destroyed the SNES version of Gradius 3 on the hardest setting, but I can barely stay alive through half of the PS2 Gradius 3. They're pretty different, and the PS2 one is fucking brutal.

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Well the massive slowdown on the SNES version sort of makes things easier....

What, even worse than the PS2 version? Get yourself a laser and a few options and you can slow the game down as much as you want. Of course, once you lose all those power-ups it's over, but it's fun while it lasts.

James

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Originally posted by cigsthecat
I need to get around to that Rayxanber 2. Curiosity is killing me.










How appropriate.

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Excellent, excellent.