List of Gradius media
Gradius is a video game series developed and owned by Konami. The series debuted in arcades with Gradius in March 1985, renamed Nemesis for international versions. Games in the series have been released for several platforms, including arcade hardware, home video game consoles, handheld systems and mobile phones. The Gradius franchise consists of 16 games, including spin-offs, home conversions and compilations, as well as other forms of media such as toys, manga, soundtrack albums and literature. The series has been seen by critics as important and influential for the shoot'em up genre, inspiring games such as R-Type, Thunder Force and Darius, as well as setting the template for horizontal-scrolling shooters as a whole. It is Konami's most successful shooter series and one of the company's core franchises.
Gameplay in the series remains relatively consistent throughout each installment: players assume the role of a starship called the Vic Viper in its efforts to vanquish the Bacterian army before they destroy the planet Gradius. Being a horizontal-scrolling shooter, the player must destroy enemies and avoid both them and their projectiles. Some enemies leave behind power capsules when destroyed, which can be used to select one of seven different weapons on the player's "power meter", and collecting more of them will give access to stronger, more durable weapons. Common elements throughout the series include enemy "Moai" statues, additional playable ships, and boss rush segments.
Video games
[edit | edit source]| Game | Details |
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Release years by system: 1985 – Arcade Famicom 2003 – Mobile |
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Release years by system: 1986 – Arcade Famicom |
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Release years by system: 1987 – MSX |
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Release years by system: 1988 – Arcade Famicom |
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Release years by system: 1988 – MSX |
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Release years by system: 1989 – Arcade |
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Release years by system: 1990 – Nintendo Game Boy |
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Release years by system: 1991 – Nintendo Game Boy |
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Release years by system: 1996 – Arcade |
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Release years by system: 1997 – PlayStation |
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Release years by system: 1999 – Arcade |
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Release years by system: 2001 – Game Boy Advance |
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Release years by system: 2004 – PlayStation 2 |
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Release years by system: 2004 – Japanese mobile phones |
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Release years by system: 2004 –[1] Japanese mobile phones |
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Release years by system: 2008 – Wii |
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Spin-offs
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Release years by system: 1987 – Famicom Disk System |
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Release years by system: 1988 - MSX 2006 - Mobile Phone 2010 - Wii Virtual Console 2013 - Wii U Virtual Console 2014 - Project EGG (Windows PC) |
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Parody of the Gradius series. | |
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Release years by system: 1989 - Redemption game |
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A redemption game of the Gradius series. | |
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Release years by system: 1989 – Nintendo Entertainment System |
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Release years by system: 1990 - Arcade |
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Release years by system: 1994 - Arcade |
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Release years by system: 1995 - Super Famicom |
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Release years by system: 1996 - Arcade 1997 - PlayStation, Sega Saturn |
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Release years by system: 1997 - PlayStation |
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Release years by system: 1997 – Arcade |
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Release years by system: 1998 – Pachislot |
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Release years by system: 2000 – Pachinko |
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Release years by system: 2004 – Pachinko |
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Release years by system: 2006 – Pachinko |
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Release years by system: 2007 – Arcade, Xbox 360 |
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Release years by system: 2010 – Japanese mobile phones |
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Release years by system: 2010 – Pachislot |
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Release years by system: 2011 – Xbox 360 |
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Release years by system: 2011 – Pachislot |
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Compilations and collections
[edit | edit source]The Gradius games have spawned a number of sequels. Being a prominent series in the shoot 'em up genre, the titles have become classics and thus have been repackaged and rebundled in several versions. These releases contain extra features and bonuses such as enhanced artwork, expanded soundtracks, and story materials.
| Game | Details |
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Gokujō Parodius Da! Deluxe Pack Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 1994 — PlayStation, Sega Saturn |
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Gradius Deluxe Pack Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 1996 — PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Windows |
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Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 1997 — PlayStation, Sega Saturn |
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Release years by system: 1997 — Game Boy 2000 — Game Boy Color |
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Release years by system: 2000 — PlayStation 2 |
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Gradius Collection Original release date(s): |
Release years by system: 2006 — PlayStation Portable |
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Salamander Portable Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 2007 — PlayStation Portable |
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Parodius Portable Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 2007 — PlayStation Portable |
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Gradius Origins Original release date(s):
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Release years by system: 2025 - Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S |
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Merchandise
[edit | edit source]- Gradius Board Game
- Parodius Plush, Grape, Purple, Blue and Pirate Penguin
- Parodius Da! Pencil Board by Shitajiki
- Gradius Portable Cleaner
- Otomedius Pillow
- Paro Wars the Board Game (1998)
- MSX Salamander (Keychain)
- Gokujo Parodius (Mini-Notebook and Keychain Issue) from Gacha
- Gokujo Parodius (Cards) from Card Jan
- Goku Paro Free (極パロフリー, Goku parofurī)
- Tako Plush from ItemLab
- Gokujo Parodius from MEF & Team Strike!
- Otomedius Cellphone
- Otomedius Pin Aoba Anoa
- Gradius Pins
- Otomedius Big Doll
- Otomedius Keyrings
- Otomedius Action Figure
Video collections
[edit | edit source]Konami Video Collection Original Game BGV Konami Best Vol.1 — 1987 — VHS
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Salamander — 1988 — VHS
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Salamander Game Simulation Video — 1988 — VHS
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Gradius III Game Simulation Video — 1991 — VHS
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| King CGV Series Parodius Da! Shinwa Kara Owarai He — 1991 — VHS |
| Gamest Video Gokujo Parodius! — 1994 — VHS |
| Gradius V Options — 2004 — DVD |
Gradius V Official DVD The Perfect — 2004 — DVD
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| Gradius Breakdown — 2004 — DVD |
Printed media
[edit | edit source]Gradius Complete Works — 1986 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Gradius: Michi Tono Tatakai — 1986 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Gradius Hisshō Kōryaku Hō — 1986 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Famicom Ryu — 1985-1987 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Nekketsu! Famicom Shounendan — 1986-1987 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Gradius II Bible — 1988 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Gradius II Perfect Technique Book — 1989 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Rock'n Game Boy — 1989-1991 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Cyber Boy — 1991-1993 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Gokujyō Parodius (1) Namie Iwao — 1995 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Gradius Portable Official Guide — 2006 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Shūtingugēmusaido Vol. 2 (Gēmusaido bukkusu) — 2011 — Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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Gradius Origin Collection Official Book — 2025
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Music albums
[edit | edit source]Original Sound of Gradius & Salamander: Battle Music Collection — 1987 — Compact disc
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The Konamic Game Freaks — 1987 — Compact Disc
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Beep Magazine Vol.3 - Konami Game Music Sono Sheet — 1987 — Compact Disc
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SUITE GRADIUS Fantasia — 1988 — Cassette
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Space Odyssey Gradius II ~GOFER no Yabou~ — 1988 — Cassette
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| Konami Game Music Special — 1988 — Compact Disc |
Konami Famicom Music Memorial Best Vol.1 — 1989 — Compact Disc
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Konami Special Music Senryoubako — 1990 — Compact Disc
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Kukeiha Club — 1990 — Compact Disc
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Gradius III — 1990 — Compact Disc
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Perfect Selection Gradius — 1991 — Compact Disc
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Perfect Selection Gradius — 1991 — Compact Disc
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Perfect Selection Gradius Part 2 — 1992 — Compact Disc
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Konami All-Stars 1993~Yume no Music Station — 1992 — Compact Disc
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MIDI Power X68000 Collection ver 3.0 — 1993 — Compact Disc
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Konami GM Hits Factory II — 1993 — Compact Disc
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Gradius In Classic I & II — 1993 — Compact Disc
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PERFECT SELECTION KONAMI SHOOTING BATTLE II — 1995 — Compact Disc
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Salamander 2 Original Game Soundtrack — 1996 — Compact Disc
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Gradius Gaiden Original Game Soundtrack — 1997 — Compact Disc
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Konami MSX Super Best Antiques — 1998 — Cassette
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Gradius IV Fukkatsu Original Game Soundtrack — 1999 — Compact disc
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Konami Game Music Vol.1 — 2000 — Compact Disc
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Gradius Arcade Soundtrack — 2002 — Compact Disc
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Salamander Arcade Soundtrack — 2003 — Compact Disc
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Konami Music Masterpiece Collection — 2004 — Compact Disc
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Gradius V Soundtracks — 2004 — Compact Disc
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UNDER THE BLUE SKY ~include GRADIUS arrange~ — 2005 — Compact Disc
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Legend of Game Music ~Premium Box~ — 2005 — Compact Disc
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Gradius Tribute — 2006 — Compact Disc
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Konami Addiction ~For Electro Lovers~ — 2008 — Compact Disc
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GRADIUS house ReMix — 2009 — Compact Disc
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GRADIUS THE SLOT ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK — 2011 — Compact Disc
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KONAMI SHOOTING COLLECTION — 2011 — Compact Disc
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FALSION SOUNDTRACKS — 2014 — Compact Disc
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References
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).