Gradius Origins Review: Ultimate Shmup Collection for Fans & Newcomers

by

In simpler terms, Gradius by Konami, though not the first shoot ’em up (shmup) in arcades, was a significant leap forward for the genre and is iconic. To mark its 40th anniversary, Konami collaborated with M2, known for their expertise in shmup ports, to convert the initial three Gradius games and spin-offs. The result, Gradius Origins, is a comprehensive collection that includes various Gradius games released over recent years, and even adds a new spin-off shooter as an extra. It’s widely considered one of the best compilations in the Gradius franchise’s history.

In addition to games like Castlevania, Contra, and Metal Gear, Gradius is one of Konami’s longest-running and influential franchises, though it hasn’t received as much recognition due to the shmup genre’s niche popularity. One of the standout features of Gradius Origins is its effort to make the game more accessible within the shmup genre by offering a variety of options for those who might need them. Forty years after its initial arcade release, Gradius remains a solid blueprint for scrolling shooter games that followed, and along with its sequels and Salamander/Life Force spin-offs, marks a significant milestone in the development of arcade shoot ’em ups. Gradius Origins honors this legacy while also advancing it with Salamander 3, making it a must-have for any shmup enthusiast’s collection.

Gradius and Its Sequels and Spin-Offs Still Stand Out as Pure Shoot ’em Up Excellence

For both seasoned shmup enthusiasts and newcomers to scrolling shooter games, one standout feature of the games in Gradius Origins is its versatility. The shmup genre has largely evolved towards the “danmaku,” or “bullet hell,” design style, pioneered by renowned developers like Raizing, Compile, and Cave. However, the Gradius series and its offshoots are remnants of a different era. Unlike today’s games that are filled with complex bullet patterns, survival in these scrolling shooters initially relied on memorization and routing strategies. Despite being challenging even for skilled players who consider themselves beyond the label of “casual” scrolling shooter fans, Gradius Origins accommodates this difficulty level with a range of modern features and accessibility options that make the game more approachable to a broader audience.

Starting up Gradius Origins, players are first presented with a main interface offering various options such as adjusting global settings, exploring a gallery of digital artifacts, practicing, or diving into the game selection screen where the true range of the collection’s offerings unfolds. From the selection of the seven integrated games, players can opt for their preferred version and make further adjustments if needed. Except for the freshly introduced Salamander 3, each game offers three play modes – original, easy, and invincible. The original mode maintains the authentic arcade experience, while easy mode reduces enemy attacks and simplifies life extension requirements. As the name implies, invincible mode grants players absolute protection, although it disables achievement and leaderboard qualification.

The game collection titled “Gradius Origins” not only offers a dedicated Training Mode for mastering its various shoot ’em up games, but also allows players to play in invincible mode as an alternative way to learn the games. Unlike many other shoot ’em ups, the games included in this collection – such as Gradius, Salamander, and their sequels – rely more on memorization and strategic routing rather than quick reflexes and pattern recognition. With its comprehensive tools, players can not only appreciate the classic shoot ’em up games in this compilation, but also improve their skills at playing them effectively. In terms of a collection that serves as both an educational journey into the genre’s history and a practical guide for understanding the shoot ’em up genre as a whole, it is difficult to find a better choice than “Gradius Origins“.

What’s Included in Gradius Origins

There was much speculation about which games would be part of “Gradius Origins” before its launch, with Konami being rather vague about the details. However, now that the game has been released, we have a clear understanding of all the titles it encompasses, along with various ROM versions for each title meticulously ported and enhanced by Konami and M2, ensuring smooth gameplay on both PC and contemporary consoles. The following is the complete list of games included in “Gradius Origins“:

  • Gradius
    • Gradius JP ver.
    • Gradius Bubble System ver.
    • Nemesis (Gradius North American ver.)
    • Nemesis EU ver.
    • Nemesis NA Prototype ver.
  • Salamander
    • Salamander JP ver.
    • Life Force (Salamander North American ver.)
  • Life Force
    • Life Force JP ver.
  • Gradius 2
    • ​​​​​​​Gradius 2 JP early ver.
    • Gradius 2 JP mid ver.
    • Gradius 2 JP late ver.
    • Vulcan Venture (Gradius 2 North American ver.)
  • Gradius 3
    • Gradius 3 JP old ver.
    • Gradius 3 JP new ver.
    • Gradius 3 Asian ver.
    • Gradius 3 JP AM Show ver.
  • Salamander 2
    • Salamander 2 JP ver.
  • Salamander 3

The list of Gradius games is quite extensive, featuring some previously unplayed versions. However, there’s a notable absence in Gradius Origins – the exclusion of Gradius 4 and Gradius 5. It’s unfortunate that these games aren’t included, but considering the resources required to obtain the source files for those games and adapt them to current technology, it’s understandable. Despite the absence of Gradius 4 and 5, Gradius Origins is one of the most comprehensive collections in the series, boasting additional features like instant rewind, save states, easier game modes, and full replay viewing, which make it one of Konami’s finest classic game compilations.

Gradius Origins is an Easy Recommendation for Shmup Fans and a Fantastic Compilation

The game titled “Gradius Origins” is strategically released at a time when there’s an increasing enthusiasm for shoot ’em up games (shmups), thanks to the genre’s indie resurgence, similar to the contemporary beat ’em up revival. Konami’s move of entrusting M2 with the port was indeed shrewd. Beyond simply transferring some timeless classics to modern platforms like consoles and PC, M2 was granted creative freedom; they were able to develop a fresh spin-off within the Salamander series that feels as if it was produced during the genre’s peak period, in terms of both aesthetics, sound, and gameplay.

Gradius Origins is nearly a must-have, primarily due to the outstanding inclusion of Salamander 3. With excellent ports of other beloved games from the Gradius series, it becomes even easier to endorse this collection. Similar to other M2 releases, input delay is negligible, and added modern features enhance gameplay experience. The convenience of having these games at your fingertips under a single roof greatly enhances playability. For shoot ’em up enthusiasts, Gradius Origins offers the complete package, while for newcomers to the genre, it’s one of the finest starting points available, albeit lacking Gradius 4 and 5.

Read More

2025-08-13 12:06