You are the last hope of the gentle people of Gradius. You’ve just lifted off to confront the invading forces of the amoeboid Bacterions.
Your hyper-space fighter is armed with the greatest arsenal in the galaxy. Air-to-surface and double beam laser cannons for incredible firepower. Powerful force fields for protection. Time and space warps for fleeing the dimension.
You’ll need it all, just to survive. Because at the heart of the Bacterion Empire lies the Xaerous Superfortress – the nerve centre of the all-knowing, all-seeing Bacterion Bio-Computer. Read More »
It’s a Duel to the Death. While the entire galaxy watches. Waits. And hopes.
Gradius started Konami’s legendary space shooting game series. A true classic and an important part of video game history. Shoot the core!
Tue, 09 Jan 2007 by Damien McFerran
1. Ben
20 Feb 2007, 00:08 GMT
I've played Gradius & Life Force before, and I was excited to download the VC Rom for the Wii, however, I can't seem to get the Konami code to work... I thought maybe I just sucked, so I plugged in my old NES & popped in Gradius & it worked immediately for me... Did you actually get the Konami Code to work on the VC??
2. Dazza
20 Feb 2007, 15:39 GMT
The code still works. Pause the game then enter:
up, up, down, down, left, right ,left, right, B, A
Then un-pause. This activates all powerups except for Speed Up and Double.
3. Manaman
20 Feb 2007, 16:29 GMT
Gradius is nice and all, but what I really want is Life Force. Hope that's coming next...
4. Dazza
20 Feb 2007, 16:34 GMT
Yeah, I much prefer life force to the original Gradius too. The level design is great and it's got simultaneous 2 player mode. Top notch stuff!
5. Zweck36
25 Feb 2007, 20:44 GMT
Total excellence! Yes the code still works!
6. DEMON212
10 Mar 2007, 04:23 GMT
Am I the only one who seems to think that it runs slower than it used to?
I'm sure that you used to be as fast as, 2 speed powerups make you on the VC version.
7. diablos79
14 Mar 2007, 19:18 GMT
I like this game, although to be honest i was a bigger fan of parodious. Something about pirate ships with giant catheads and vegas showgirls as end of level bosses just tickle me. I dunno maybe its just me. As for gradius, its good but r-type is miles better.
8. sam
21 Mar 2007, 05:13 GMT
This game has some nice ideas but if you die after level 2-3 your pretty much screwed (unless you cheat). I seem to keep coming back to this one, but only for 10-15 mins at a time. After which I cant stop humming the music! It is worth the Wii points.
9. ehawk
24 Mar 2007, 00:28 GMT
I use this game as a bit of a break from my other more intense games, defo a must have but die once and you might as well just start again!! damn those bubble blowing heads!
10. TheNintendoBoy
25 Apr 2007, 16:09 BST
This hasn't aged well imo. It's very slow paced an unforgiving. I also don't like the upgrade system at all, but maybe that's just me.
Anyway Life Force is much better and it's 2-player as well, but remember to get the PCE/TG16 version.
11. Tull
01 Jun 2007, 18:50 BST
First game with the legendary Konami Code
12. William
07 Jul 2007, 23:24 BST
It's my favorite game of all time for the VC! I've downloaded this before, and I play it from time to time. It's a great game! The music is pretty awesome, though.
13. Mii be you
11 Sep 2007, 00:35 BST
This game is great. Good music, great challenge and awesome gameplay makes this one of the best NES games that I've ever played. Konami's greatest legacy. I also played the minigame on Mystical Ninja.
14. Alessandro Sojack
02 Oct 2007, 18:21 BST
I never liked the NES version of Gradius, mostly because it was just missing a ton of stuff from the arcade version. The NES version of Lifeforce was great though, adding the Salamander/Gradius powerup system, switching up some of the levels for the better, and the limitted NES palette actually worked here, making the game look even grungier and organic.
15. learn japanese ds
09 Jan 2008, 02:43 GMT
haha the only time I've every played this was during intermission in Blades of Steel! I didn't even realize it was it's own game till now.
16. angel m. rivera collazo
01 Feb 2008, 17:02 GMT
this is my favorite NES game.I suck playing it.just killed one boss. :[
17. Faz666
08 Feb 2008, 20:56 GMT
This game is the reason i re-bought an NES, reminded me of my student house days
18. Manicfatty
14 Feb 2008, 18:39 GMT
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now gimme Life Force...GIMMMEEEEEEE!
19. Matmax14
13 May 2008, 20:02 BST
this game is so boring...i like gradius 2 and 3 more...still the same endboss...
20. Sharecrow
18 May 2008, 17:25 BST
I like this game a lot. It's surprisingly addictive and certainly challenging. I feel so behind in my shooters.....maybe because I am playing four at once. Anyway, I'll beat each of those someday and someday I'll beat this one too.
That being said, I do hope that they release Life Force on the VC someday. That and Abodox!!!
21. CastlevaniaTest
24 May 2008, 04:53 BST
This is a good game, but I found it hard to come back to after playing Gradius III.
22. P. D4NG3R
11 Sep 2008, 21:25 BST
There is a new Gradius game coming out for Wiiware. Nevertheless, I like this game.
23. Mickeymac
01 Oct 2008, 00:18 BST
I have the Arcade version of this game on the PSP, though this game seems like a pretty faithful port, although there are only two options instead of four. I always go back to the original more than the third, or even Gaiden( personal favorite). There's just something about it that keeps on pulling me back.
24. Kobayashi
26 Oct 2008, 01:12 BST
Me playing Gradius on the Virtual Console - Wii:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-p3-gzYufk
25. Storm Owl
18 Feb 2009, 08:45 GMT
@Manaman your wish has been granted 2 years later http://www.vc-reviews.com/news/2009/02/usa_vc_update_life_force
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