May 2019 Shmup Club - Gradius III (SNES/Arcade)

[MetalFRO]

@Normatron - yeah, don't get discouraged, I do the same thing. I make progress, then start to play horribly, then find a groove again, and move forward. Seems like it's a constant yo-yo effect with shmups for me.

@zoydo - nicely done! That's going to be a tough score to beat, considering how difficult the arcade original is.

[Addicted]

SNES Version (On Normal):

[img width=700 height=525]https://i.imgur.com/AKquu8t.jpg[/img]

I've only been able to make it to the Stage 3 boss in the Arcade version so far. It's very hard.

[Crabmaster2000]

This is from my 3rd attempt:

[img width=640 height=480]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32917739537_d4cea569df_z.jpg[/img]

Gradius has never been my favorite style of shmup. It's so crazy hard to recover after a death and get your ship beefed up again. Especially at certain points in the game if you die it's just so brutal. I'm pretty sure I can one life this game with a couple more tries though since as long as you get beefed up it's pretty hard to die when you know a few of the traps to watch out for. It's also got some mean design like near the final area when the roof and the floor close in on you.

I've been using the custom ship build and going with Hawk Wind, Tail Gunner, C Laser, Reduce and Mega Crush. Tried the shields on a run, but the reduce is more my style. Love that smaller hit box.

[Addicted]

The C laser can destroy bosses very quick. I agree there are a couple of parts where memorization is needed especially in the last stage with the shadow walker.  The speed trap isn't bad as long as you have at least three speed powerups. The slowdown makes this game a lot easier than it should be.

[MetalFRO]

I managed to get to Stage 9, to the dual walker dudes, but couldn't quite crack that. I did, however, get a nice new high score:
[img width=640 height=480]https://i.imgur.com/ppsyJ90l.jpg[/img]

However, Ser Flash, of Studio Mudprints / Bullet Heaven is the one to beat right now! He managed to 1CC the game, and got a pretty good score in the process, per this tweet:
https://twitter.com/Serra...tatus/1128821468215877632
[img width=700 height=393]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6phIrmXkAIwdbu.jpg[/img]

[EZ Racer]

I haven't been able to beat my PB yet, but wondered if anyone else changes the button alignment for gameplay? I switch to Y as the firing button and B as the powerup button, and it feels a little more natural.

[Crabmaster2000]

This'll be my last go at the game. I really dislike several thing about Gradius/Lifeforce/Salamander but the thing I hate the most and I would probably put it quite high if I were to ever make a list of worst game mechanics of all time is the areas with wall you shoot and then they reassemble behind you. Infuriates me. I did had a great run up to the very final area and then those walls started popping up and just sapped away any fun I was having. I was probably less than 30 seconds from the end too. Does anybody like that part of Gradius?

[img width=700 height=525]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47081719344_0beb66bb5b_o.jpg[/img]

[dtungsten]

This was on easiest difficulty, trial mode on PSP, so it doesn't count for anything competitive, but I made it to the boss of level 3.

[VicViper_Mk2]

Hello guys, I watched GameboyGuru's stream on Gradius 3 and learned of the Shmup club. Gradius 3 was the 1st game a friend of mine gave me, who's also a big shmup nut. Even now I fire it up every 2 days to keep that rhythm going and listen to those timeless soundtrack.

For those of you who finds that recovery after a death is too difficult, here's a little tip I shared with Guru. Choose the Convert life to option powerup (the one directly above full barrier) It converts your extra lives (up to 4) into options, instantly boosting your firepower considerably. To do the math with just 7 power chips you'll save the need to get 20 for that 4 options, and then you only need 2 speed, missile, double/laser for a total of 4 power chips to reach full power. Of course to use this effectively you'll need to build up your life stock, best way is to go into the 5 bonus stages and collect the points and 1-up chips littered around.

Anyway, this is done on Normal, I'd play it on arcade difficulty if only I didn't have to break my thumb mashing the A button 16 times a second just to unlock it. Cheers.

[img width=640 height=320]https://i.ibb.co/dLS0X3s/20190519-092750-HDR.jpg[/img]

[MetalFRO]

I haven't been able to beat my PB yet, but wondered if anyone else changes the button alignment for gameplay? I switch to Y as the firing button and B as the powerup button, and it feels a little more natural.

I haven't yet, but that might actually help me with my new strategy, so I might have to try that!

This'll be my last go at the game. I really dislike several thing about Gradius/Lifeforce/Salamander but the thing I hate the most and I would probably put it quite high if I were to ever make a list of worst game mechanics of all time is the areas with wall you shoot and then they reassemble behind you. Infuriates me. I did had a great run up to the very final area and then those walls started popping up and just sapped away any fun I was having. I was probably less than 30 seconds from the end too. Does anybody like that part of Gradius?

I don't know anyone who likes that part of Gradius. I know I certainly don't. I wouldn't let it discourage you, though. Great score, and great showing!

Great scores, dtungsten and VicViper_Mk2! I really appreciate you guys jumping in and participating! Vic, you're definitely the one to beat t this point, at least on the SNES version on Normal!

[dtungsten]

Difficulty 1 Easiest, Beginner mode, finished in one life. Wait level 2.

[MetalFRO]

Congrats on the clear, dtungsten!

[Duke.Togo]

Haven't had much time with kids and such, but snuck in a quick run. Nothing too impressive, but I was experimenting with the C. Laser. The hit box on it is very weird, and you can definitely see that where you have to cut through the dirt and boulders. It doesn't even consistently drill a straight line.

[img width=700 height=525]https://i.imgur.com/FHi32Yi.jpg[/img]

[dtungsten]

Score #3 was on normal difficulty level 4, beginner mode.

[dtungsten]

Difficulty level 3, easy. Completed beginner mode with no deaths. Score #2