List of Gradius media

This page lists all the video and arcade games from the Gradius series published by Konami between 1981 and 2006. The series consists of nine arcade and video games and eleven spin-offs and/or related titles.

For a general overview of the series, see Gradius (series).

Principal titles

Scramble

Original release dates:

• Japan: 1981
• North America: 1981
• Europe: 1981

1981 — Arcade

Notes

• Retroactively added to the Gradius series in 2001 with the release of Gradius Galaxies.
• Included as part of Konami Arcade Classics for PlayStation.

Gradius

Original release dates:

• Japan: 1985
• North America: 1985
• Europe: 1985

1985 — Arcade

Notes

• Released as Nemesis in North America and Europe.
• Included as part of Gradius Deluxe Pack for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Microsoft Windows in 1996.
• Included as part of Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.

Salamander

Original release dates:

• Japan: July 1986
• Europe: 1986

1986 — Arcade

Notes

• Released as Life Force in North America.
• Included as part of the Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus compilation for PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1997.

Gradius II

Original release dates:

• Japan: July 1988
• Europe: 1988

1988 — Arcade

Notes

• Released as Vulcan Venture in Europe.
• Original version was never released in North America.
• Included as part of Gradius Deluxe Pack for PlayStation, Sega Saturn and Microsoft Windows in 1996.
• Included as part of Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.

Gradius III

Original release dates:

• Japan: 1989

1989 — Arcade

Notes

• Ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991.
• While the original arcade version was never released outside of Japan, it was included as part of Gradius III and IV for PlayStation 2 in 2000 and as part of Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.

Salamander 2

Original release dates:

• Japan: January 1996

1996 — Arcade

Notes

• Never released outside of Japan.
• Included as part of Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus for PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1997.

Gradius Gaiden

Original release dates:

• Japan: 28 August 1997

1997 — PlayStation

Notes

• First title to be released exclusively for home consoles.
• Original version was never released in North America or Europe.
• Included as part of Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.

Gradius IV Fukkatsu

Original release dates:

• Japan: 1998

1998 — Arcade

Notes

• Allowed players for a limited time to submit scores to an Internet-based ranking system.
• Included as part of Gradius III and IV for PlayStation 2 in 2000.
• Included as part of Gradius Collection for PlayStation Portable in 2006.

Gradius Galaxies

Original release dates:

• Europe: 9 November 2001
• North America: 12 November 2001
• Japan: 17 January 2002

2001 — Game Boy Advance

Notes

• Released as Gradius Advance in Europe, and as Gradius Generation in Japan.

Gradius V

Original release dates:

• Japan: 22 July 2004
• North America: 14 September 2004
• Europe: 10 October 2004

2004 — PlayStation 2

Notes

• The result of a collaboration between KCET and Treasure Co. Ltd.

Related titles

Life Force

1986 — Arcade

• Altered version of Salamander with different plot and stage design.
• An enhanced version was released in 1987 for the Japanese market.
• Included as part of the Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus compilation for PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996.

Gradius 2

1987 — MSX

• A remake entitled Nemesis '90 Kai was released in 1993 for the Sharp X68000 computer.

Gofer no Yabō Episode II

1988 — MSX

• —

Cosmic Wars

1989 — Nintendo Entertainment System

• —

Nemesis

1990 — Nintendo Game Boy

• —

Nemesis II

1991 — Nintendo Game Boy

• Released with the subtitle Return of the Hero in Europe and in North America as Gradius: The Interstellar Assault.

Solar Assault

1997 — Arcade

• An update titled Solar Assault Revised was released in late 1997.

Gradius NEO

2004 — NTT DoCoMo FOMA 900i series mobile phones

• Released exclusively for mobile phones in Japan.

Gradius NEO Imperial

2004 — NTT DoCoMo FOMA 900i series mobile phones

• Released exclusively for mobile phones in Japan.

Parodius series

The Parodius games are tongue-in-cheek parodies of Gradius, hence the name (Parodius is a word play on Parody and Gradius).

• Parodius - 1988 - MSX2
  • Included as part of Konami Antiques MSX Collection for PlayStation and Sega Saturn.
• Parodius Da! - 1990 - Arcade
  • Ported to and released as Parodius: Non-sense Fantasy in Europe for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
• Gokujō Parodius! - 1994 - Arcade
  • —
• Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius - 1995 - Nintendo Super Famicom
  • Released for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996 with the subtitle ~forever with me~.
• Sexy Parodius - 1996 - Arcade
  • Ported to the PlayStation and Sega Saturn in 1996.
• Paro Wars - 1997 - PlayStation
  • —

Compilations and collections

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.

Gradius Deluxe Pack

1996 — Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Microsoft Windows

• Compilation of Gradius and Gradius II.
• Includes an introductory CGI sequence.
• Never released in North America or Europe.

Salamander Deluxe Pack Plus

1997 — Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn

• Compilation of the arcade releases of Salamander, Life Force and Salamander 2.
• Includes an introductory CGI rendered sequence.
• Never released in North America or Europe.

Gradius III and IV

2000 — Sony PlayStation 2

• Compilation of Gradius III and Gradius IV Fukkatsu.
• Released in Japan with the subtitle ~Fukkatsu no Shinwa~ (lit. "Myth of Revival").

Gradius Collection

2006 — Sony PlayStation Portable

• Compilation of Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius III, Gradius IV Fukkatsu and Gradius Gaiden.
• Released as Gradius Portable in Japan.
• Includes music and movie galleries with content from previous console releases.

Salamander Portable

2007 — Sony PlayStation Portable

• Compilation of the arcade releases of Salamander, Life Force, Salamander 2, Gradius 2 and Xexex.

References

• Gradius Breakdown (DVD). North America: Konami. 2004.
• Gradius Portable Official Guide (in Japanese). Japan: Konami. 2006. pp. pp. 2-3. ISBN 4-86155-111-0. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
• "Gradius Home World - Games". GameStone. Retrieved 2006-05-21.