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** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 1'' (1997, Japan) under the title of ''Gradius''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 1'' (2000, Europe) under the title of ''Gradius''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 1'' (2000, Europe) under the title of ''Gradius''
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** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 1'' (1997, Japan) for the SuperGameBoy under the title of ''Gradius''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 1'' (2000, Europe) for the GameBoyColor under the title of ''Gradius''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 1'' (2000, Europe) for the GameBoyColor under the title of ''Gradius''
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** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 3'' (1998, Japan) under the title of ''Gradius II''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 4'' (2000, Europe) under the title of ''Gradius II: Return of the Hero''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 4'' (2000, Europe) under the title of ''Gradius II: Return of the Hero''
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** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 3'' (1998, Japan) for the SuperGameBoy under the title of ''Gradius II''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 4'' (2000, Europe) for the GameBoyColor under the title of ''Gradius II: Return of the Hero''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 4'' (2000, Europe) for the GameBoyColor under the title of ''Gradius II: Return of the Hero''
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This series provides examples of:
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Games include:
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** Ported as part of '''Konami Classics'' to the DS.
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** Ported as part of '''Konami ''Konami Classics'' to the DS.
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* ''Gradius II: The Ambition of GOFER'' (1988, arcade; not to be confused with ''Gradius 2''). Titled ''Vulcan Venture'' in Europe.
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* ''Gradius II: The Ambition of GOFER'' GOFER no YabÅ'' (1988, arcade; not to be confused with ''Gradius 2''). Titled ''Vulcan Venture'' in Europe.
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* ''Gradius III: From Legend to Myth'' (1989, arcade)
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* ''Gradius III: From Legend to Myth'' Densetsu Kara Shinwa E'' (1989, arcade)
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** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 1'' (1997, Japan) under the title of ''Gradius''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 1'' (2000, Europe) under the title of ''Gradius''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 1'' (2000, Europe) under the title of ''Gradius''
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** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 3'' (1998, Japan) under the title of ''Gradius II''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 4'' (2000, Europe) under the title of ''Gradius II: Return of the Hero''
** Included in ''Konami GB Collection Vol. 4'' (2000, Europe) under the title of ''Gradius II: Return of the Hero''
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* LastBreathBullet - On later loops, many bosses will fire aimed shots at the player during their death throes. Better not get [[KaizoTrap caught off guard]]...
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* DifficultButAwesome: Vertical Mine in ''Gradius IV''. These can be thrown in any direction, the direction being influenced by what direction you're moving when you launch the mines. Clumsy at first, but once you learn how to throw mines effectively, you can easily hit hard-to-reach enemies and turn bosses into mechanical Swiss cheese very quickly.
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Alphabetizing
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* LargeHamAnnouncer
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* LargeHamAnnouncer
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* RecurringBossTemplate: The final stage is usually a long one inside the enemy's base, with {{mini boss}}es in between: These vary, but two of them are almost always:
** The first one is a "wall" with turret guns and MookMaker pods. Depending on the game, you will have to destroy 1-4 cores to put an end to it and proceed onwards.
** The second one is a strange walking robot or star-like machine where you will need to manoeuvre between its "legs". Depending on the game, it may or may not be destructible.
** The first one is a "wall" with turret guns and MookMaker pods. Depending on the game, you will have to destroy 1-4 cores to put an end to it and proceed onwards.
** The second one is a strange walking robot or star-like machine where you will need to manoeuvre between its "legs". Depending on the game, it may or may not be destructible.
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* BanditMook - Option Hunters/Thieves will steal away your options if they touch you or your options, but they cannot destroy you or be destroyed.
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** Subverted partly in the Salamander OAVs. Instead of cells, the Bacterians are living crystals that can turn into any kind of creatures. Maybe Bacterion is a huge Crystal lifeform that can transform into a cell or maybe the Bacterians are cells born in crystals grown on Bacterion's rocky shell?
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** Subverted partly in the Salamander OAVs.[=OAVs=]. Instead of cells, the Bacterians are living crystals that can turn into any kind of creatures. Maybe Bacterion is a huge Crystal lifeform that can transform into a cell or maybe the Bacterians are cells born in crystals grown on Bacterion's rocky shell?
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* MeaningfulName: "Vic ''Viper''". Consider its shape and how it is followed by the Options.
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* BulletHell - Many games on loop 2 and above, particularly the {{Treasure}}-developed ''Gradius V''.
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* BulletHell - Many games on loop 2 and above, particularly the {{Treasure}}-developed Creator/{{Treasure}}-developed ''Gradius V''.
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* ZeroEffortBoss - played straight for the most part, but [[ThatOneBoss heavily averted]] in Salamander 2.
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* ZeroEffortBoss - played straight for the most part, but [[ThatOneBoss heavily averted]] in Salamander 2.''Salamander 2'' and ''Nemesis 2''.
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* WastedSong - Konami released a soundtrack compiling music from their [=ReBirth=] games. However, ''{{Contra}} [=ReBirth=]'' and ''VideoGame/{{Castlevania}}: The Adventure [=ReBirth=]'' are the only games accounted for. ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' didn't even get the "Another Medley" treatment.
** ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' had a soundtrack released a year before the compilation album.
** For actual wasted songs, ''Salamander Portable'''s Gallery feature reveals a lot of unused tracks for the Salamander series.
** ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' had a soundtrack released a year before the compilation album.
** For actual wasted songs, ''Salamander Portable'''s Gallery feature reveals a lot of unused tracks for the Salamander series.
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Not applicable. \"Grah-dee-us\" is correct, like with \"Xeh-vee-us\"
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* NoPronunciationGuide - Is it "Gray-dee-Us" or "Grah-dee-us"? It doesn't help that the series uses both pronunciations.
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The first ''Gradius'' was released in 1985, but in a real-life RetCon, the 1981 game ''VideoGame/{{Scramble}}'' was declared part of the series in ''Gradius Galaxies''.
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The first ''Gradius'' was released in 1985, but in a real-life RetCon, {{Retcon}}, the 1981 game ''VideoGame/{{Scramble}}'' was declared part of the series in ''Gradius Galaxies''.
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** Vic Viper is one of the Konami characters appearing in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbS-cDOUZA special Purikura]] sequence of ''[[VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight Mitsumete Knight R : Daibouken Hen]]'' ; it's also, in ''[[TokimekiMemorial Tokimeki Memorial 4]]'', Rui Nanakawa's third (and very effective) LimitBreak, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAmeo0Y27E#t=5m42s invoking it]] after playing the {{Konami}} Code's buttons on a DanceDanceRevolution board.
to:
** Vic Viper is one of the Konami characters appearing in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbS-cDOUZA special Purikura]] sequence of ''[[VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight Mitsumete Knight R : Daibouken Hen]]'' ; it's also, in ''[[TokimekiMemorial Tokimeki Memorial 4]]'', Rui Nanakawa's third (and very effective) LimitBreak, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAmeo0Y27E#t=5m42s invoking it]] after playing the {{Konami}} Code's buttons on a DanceDanceRevolution VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution board.
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* WastedSong - Konami released a soundtrack compiling music from their [=ReBirth=] games. However, ''{{Contra}} [=ReBirth=]'' and ''{{Castlevania}}: The Adventure [=ReBirth=]'' are the only games accounted for. ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' didn't even get the "Another Medley" treatment.
to:
* WastedSong - Konami released a soundtrack compiling music from their [=ReBirth=] games. However, ''{{Contra}} [=ReBirth=]'' and ''{{Castlevania}}: ''VideoGame/{{Castlevania}}: The Adventure [=ReBirth=]'' are the only games accounted for. ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' didn't even get the "Another Medley" treatment.
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* {{Engrish}} - Gradius was originally going to be called "Gladius" (after the ancient Roman war sword).
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* {{Engrish}} - Gradius was originally going to be called "Gladius" "[[JapaneseRanguage Gladius]]" (after the ancient Roman war sword).sword). [[GoodBadTranslation We'll forgive them]].
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misuse of renamed trope (Mundane Made Awesome)
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* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome - The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNyAJLjjbbw trailer]] for ''Gradius the Slot''. Pachislot has never been this HotBlooded.
* WhatTheHellHero - You hear this said by the announcer if you make up to the last stage but die.
* WhatTheHellHero - You hear this said by the announcer if you make up to the last stage but die.
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* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome - The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNyAJLjjbbw trailer]] for ''Gradius the Slot''. Pachislot has never been this HotBlooded.
* WhatTheHellHero -WhatTheHellHero
** You hear this said by the announcer if you make up to the last stage but die.
* WhatTheHellHero -
** You hear this said by the announcer if you make up to the last stage but die.
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Moved discussion to Headscratchers page
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* TimeTravel - In ''Gradius V'', you encounter your future self in Stage 2 and cooperate with him to destroy a battleship that he took back in time with him. Then at the end of Stage 7, you [[spoiler:encounter that same battleship and time-travel back to the events of Stage 2, because the battleship can only be destroyed with two ships. This leaves this troper with one question: ''Gradius V'' has 2-player simultaneous play. If two players reach the end of Stage 7, [[FridgeLogic wouldn't that defeat the purpose of going back in time since there's already two ships?]]]]
** [[spoiler:Because the battleship only appears in Stage 2, thanks to your future self teleporting it and himself. You don't actually encounter the battleship until the end of Stage 7, but you know how to destroy it due to the events from Stage 2 and the analysis of the battleship by your ship's computer at the end of Stage 7. [[FridgeBrilliance So, in a way, you have already completed the game at the end of Stage 2.]]]]
** [[spoiler:Because the battleship only appears in Stage 2, thanks to your future self teleporting it and himself. You don't actually encounter the battleship until the end of Stage 7, but you know how to destroy it due to the events from Stage 2 and the analysis of the battleship by your ship's computer at the end of Stage 7. [[FridgeBrilliance So, in a way, you have already completed the game at the end of Stage 2.]]]]
to:
* TimeTravel - In ''Gradius V'', you encounter your future self in Stage 2 and cooperate with him to destroy a battleship that he took back in time with him. Then at the end of Stage 7, you [[spoiler:encounter that same battleship and time-travel back to the events of Stage 2, because the battleship can only be destroyed with two ships. This leaves this troper with one question: ''Gradius V'' has 2-player simultaneous play. If two players reach the end of Stage 7, [[FridgeLogic wouldn't that defeat the purpose of going back in time since there's already two ships?]]]]\n** [[spoiler:Because the battleship only appears in Stage 2, thanks to your future self teleporting it and himself. You don't actually encounter the battleship until the end of Stage 7, but you know how to destroy it due to the events from Stage 2 and the analysis of the battleship by your ship's computer at the end of Stage 7. [[FridgeBrilliance So, in a way, you have already completed the game at the end of Stage 2.]]]]]]
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* EldritchAbomination - Zelos, Venom, Gofer, Bacterian, pretty much any BigBad.
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* EldritchAbomination - Most of the [[BigBad Big Bads]] qualify, including Zelos, Venom, Gofer, Bacterian, pretty much any BigBad.and Bacterian.
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* CosmicHorror - Zelos, Venom, Gofer, Bacterian, pretty much any BigBad.
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* EldritchAbomination - Zelos, Venom, Gofer, Bacterian, pretty much any BigBad.
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change namespace, yeah+
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Compare ''{{Parodius}}'', which is Konami taking [[SerialNumbersFiledOff this series]] and giving it a CuteEmUp redesign. [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs And pumped with enough LSD to drop an elephant]]. Also compare ''{{Otomedius}}'', an anime parody series which has a lot of breasts and FanService.
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Compare ''{{Parodius}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Parodius}}'', which is Konami taking [[SerialNumbersFiledOff this series]] and giving it a CuteEmUp redesign. [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs And pumped with enough LSD to drop an elephant]]. Also compare ''{{Otomedius}}'', an anime parody series which has a lot of breasts and FanService.
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** In ''Salamander 2'', you could do rolls like in later entries in the {{ThunderForce}} series. And like in ''Thunder Force'', it does nothing but [[RuleOfCool look stylish.]]
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** In ''Salamander 2'', you could do rolls like in later entries in the {{ThunderForce}} ThunderForce series. And like in ''Thunder Force'', it does nothing but [[RuleOfCool look stylish.]]
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* CoresAndTurretsBoss - Potentially the {{Trope Codifier}}.
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* CoresAndTurretsBoss - Potentially the {{Trope Codifier}}.TropeCodifier.
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* {{Engrish}} - Gradius was originally going to be called "Gladius" (after the ancient Roman war sword).
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* {{Engrish}} - Gradius was originally going to be called "Gladius" (after the ancient Roman war sword).
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* HiveMind - Bacterion, Gofer, and Zelos in the Gradius Series. Venom has [[spoiler: become one too in Gradius V.]]
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* HiveMind - Bacterion, Gofer, and Zelos in the Gradius Series. Venom has [[spoiler: become one too in Gradius V.]] ]]
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* NoExportForYou - Much of the series. In fact, in a world where [[strike:the U.S.]] North America gets priority over Europe when it comes to video game releases, the opposite applies for not only this series, but the AffectionateParody, {{Parodius}}, as well.
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* NoExportForYou - Much of the series. In fact, in a world where [[strike:the U.S.]] North America gets priority over Europe when it comes to video game releases, the opposite applies for not only this series, but the AffectionateParody, {{Parodius}}, VideoGame/{{Parodius}}, as well.
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* QuietlyPerformingSisterShow - ''Thunder Cross'', another series of horizontal shmups by Konami which reused musics and had similar aesthetics.
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* QuietlyPerformingSisterShow - ''Thunder Cross'', another series of horizontal shmups by Konami which reused musics and had similar aesthetics.
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** Vic Viper is one of the Konami characters appearing in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbS-cDOUZA special Purikura]] sequence of ''[[VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight Mitsumete Knight R : Daibouken Hen]]'' ; it's also, in ''[[TokimekiMemorial Tokimeki Memorial 4]]'', Rui Nanakawa's third (and very effective) LimitBreak, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAmeo0Y27E#t=5m42s invoking it]] after playing the {{Konami}} Code's buttons on a DanceDanceRevolution board.
to:
** Vic Viper is one of the Konami characters appearing in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbS-cDOUZA special Purikura]] sequence of ''[[VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight Mitsumete Knight R : Daibouken Hen]]'' ; it's also, in ''[[TokimekiMemorial Tokimeki Memorial 4]]'', Rui Nanakawa's third (and very effective) LimitBreak, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAmeo0Y27E#t=5m42s invoking it]] after playing the {{Konami}} Code's buttons on a DanceDanceRevolution board.
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* ThemeNaming - The bosses of the MSX ''Nemesis 3'' are named after obscure American rock and metal bands.
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* ThemeNaming - The bosses of the MSX ''Nemesis 3'' are named after obscure American rock and metal bands.
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* {{Video Game 3D Leap}} - ''Gradius IV'' was a presentation upgrade rather than a total upgrade.
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* {{Video Game 3D Leap}} VideoGame3DLeap - ''Gradius IV'' was a presentation upgrade rather than a total upgrade.
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<<|ShootEmUp|>>
||align=center border=1 width=100%
||align=center border=1 width=100%
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||align=center border=1
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* SpiderTank - The Shadow Dancer / Shadow Gear. In many of its appearances, it is invincible and must be dodged until it leaves.
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* GuideDangIt - '''Salamander MSX'''. To get the good ending, you have to have both the Salamander and Nemesis II cartridges plugged into your MSX/Emulator, get a item that randomly spawns in a set of different areas, and beat a bonus level. Oh yeah, did we mention that the bonus level doesn't load properly on a MSX2?
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* GuideDangIt - '''Salamander MSX'''. To In order to get the good ending, you have ending in the MSX version of ''Salamander'', the players has to have both the Salamander and Nemesis II cartridges a ''Nemesis II'' cartridge plugged into your MSX/Emulator, the second cartridge slot, get a item that randomly spawns in a set of different areas, and beat a bonus level. Oh yeah, did we mention that stage. To make matters worse, the bonus level stage doesn't load properly on a MSX2?certain [=MSX2=] models.
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* AnimeOfTheGame - The ''Salamander'' OAVs.
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* AnimeOfTheGame - The ''Salamander'' OAVs.[=OVA=]s.
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* MyNameIsNotShazam - The final boss music for ''Salamander 2'' is named "Giga's Rage". The final boss itself is actually named ''Doom''.
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* FridgeBrilliance - Why is it called the Vic ''Viper''/Warp ''Rattler''? Because the Options trail behind it in a serpent-like fashion, and the iconic front fins are designed to invoke the image of a snake's fangs.
* FridgeHorror - The enemies in Gradius NEO/Imperial are named the Lars Empire. That's all fine and dandy until you remember that the ''hero'' of the Nemesis series, James Burton, becomes '''Emperor Lars the 18th''' years prior.
** Why do the Bacterians have so easily defeatable end bosses? Because the Bacterians plan on letting the Vic Viper defeat them again and again so they come back stronger until there is a point that the Bacterians are completely invincible, crushing the Vic Viper and ruling the universe.
* FridgeHorror - The enemies in Gradius NEO/Imperial are named the Lars Empire. That's all fine and dandy until you remember that the ''hero'' of the Nemesis series, James Burton, becomes '''Emperor Lars the 18th''' years prior.
** Why do the Bacterians have so easily defeatable end bosses? Because the Bacterians plan on letting the Vic Viper defeat them again and again so they come back stronger until there is a point that the Bacterians are completely invincible, crushing the Vic Viper and ruling the universe.
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* IAmNotShazam - Many people, including the English translators of the ''{{Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game}}'' (though they later rectified this with the creation of its [[TookALevelInBadass upgraded form]]), think the Victory Viper is called "Gradius". Gradius is the name of the planet the ship protects.
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** Depending on where you died, you might have enough time to get over to your options, which drift offscreen rather than vanishing, and pick them up again.
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** Vic Viper is one of the Konami characters appearing in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbS-cDOUZA special Purikura]] sequence of ''[[MitsumeteKnight Mitsumete Knight R : Daibouken Hen]]'' ; it's also, in ''[[TokimekiMemorial Tokimeki Memorial 4]]'', Rui Nanakawa's third (and very effective) LimitBreak, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAmeo0Y27E#t=5m42s invoking it]] after playing the {{Konami}} Code's buttons on a DanceDanceRevolution board.
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** Vic Viper is one of the Konami characters appearing in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbS-cDOUZA special Purikura]] sequence of ''[[MitsumeteKnight ''[[VideoGame/MitsumeteKnight Mitsumete Knight R : Daibouken Hen]]'' ; it's also, in ''[[TokimekiMemorial Tokimeki Memorial 4]]'', Rui Nanakawa's third (and very effective) LimitBreak, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAmeo0Y27E#t=5m42s invoking it]] after playing the {{Konami}} Code's buttons on a DanceDanceRevolution board.
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[[quoteright:326:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gradius_ii.png]]
''Destroy the Core!''
{{Konami}}'s ''Gradius'' (also called ''Nemesis'' in some incarnations) is one of the seminal side-scrolling ShootEmUp series. The player controls the Vic Viper, a small starfighter, and faces off against the forces of the Bacterions, and generally destroys everything. Its most recent installment is ''Gradius V'' for the Playstation 2 -- there are many {{Gaiden Game}}s, however, so the total game count is enormously larger than five.
The PowerUp scheme in ''Gradius'' is unusually involved, and was particularly so for its time -- destroying an entire enemy wave (or special PaletteSwap enemies) drops a glowing token. Collecting tokens advances a counter along a track. The player may elect to purchase the powerup currently pointed to by the counter, which resets the counter to the beginning. Essentially, powerups in ''Gradius'' are currency; this is in contrast to the system later used by ''{{R-Type}}'', where there were multiple types of powerup each with a specific application; other shooters would typically copy one of these two systems. The traditional sequence is Speed Up, Missile, Double (a bidirectional cannon), Laser, Option, and Shield. It is because of ''Gradius'' that "Option" is often used to describe a powerup that provides the player with an AttackDrone.
The first ''Gradius'' was released in 1985, but in a real-life RetCon, the 1981 game ''VideoGame/{{Scramble}}'' was declared part of the series in ''Gradius Galaxies''.
Compare ''{{Parodius}}'', which is Konami taking [[SerialNumbersFiledOff this series]] and giving it a CuteEmUp redesign. [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs And pumped with enough LSD to drop an elephant]]. Also compare ''{{Otomedius}}'', an anime parody series which has a lot of breasts and FanService.
Games include:
* ''Gradius'' (1985, arcade). Titled ''Nemesis'' outside Japan.
** Ported to NES (which retained the ''Gradius'' name for its overseas releases), MSX, PC Engine, Japanese cellphones, [=PC88=], X1, X68000, Spectrum (as ''Nemesis the Final Challenge'').
*** MSX port ported to Japanese Saturn and [=PlayStation=] in Konami Antiques MSX Collection.
** Ported as part of ''Gradius Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn, PS, and PC.
** Ported as part of '''Konami Classics'' to the DS.
* ''Salamander'' (1986, arcade Japan/Europe)
** Ported to NES, MSX, PC Engine, Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad, Japanese cellphones, X68000.
*** MSX port ported to Japanese Saturn and Playstation in Konami Antiques MSX Collection.
** Ported as part of ''Salamander Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn and PS.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Salamander Portable''.
** ''Life Force'' (American arcade version, with changed plot and some changed backgrounds)
** ''Life Force'' (Japanese arcade version, with completely overhauled graphics and a ''Gradius''-style power-up system)
*** Ported as part of ''Salamander Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn and PS.
*** Ported to PSP as part of ''Salamander Portable''.
* ''Gradius 2'' (1987, MSX; ''Nemesis 2'' in Europe)
** Ported to Japanese cellphones.
** Ported to Japanese Saturn and Playstation in Konami Antiques MSX Collection.
** Ported to X68000 as ''Nemesis '90 Kai''.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Salamander Portable''.
* ''Gradius II: The Ambition of GOFER'' (1988, arcade; not to be confused with ''Gradius 2''). Titled ''Vulcan Venture'' in Europe.
** Ported to Famicom, PC Engine, X68000, and Japanese cellphones.
** Ported as part of ''Gradius Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn, PS, and PC.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Gradius Collection'', for a proper North American release. After ''18 years.''
* ''Gofer no YabÅ: Episode II'' (MSX; ''Nemesis 3'' in Europe)
** Ported to Japanese Saturn and Playstation in Konami Antiques MSX Collection.
* ''Gradius III: From Legend to Myth'' (1989, arcade)
** Ported to the SNES.
** Ported to the Playstation 2 as part of ''Gradius III and IV''.
* ''Nemesis'' (1990, GameBoy)
* ''Gradius: The Interstellar Assault'' (GameBoy). Released as ''Nemesis II'' in Japan and Europe.
* ''Salamander II'' (1996, arcade)
** Ported as part of ''Salamander Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn and PS.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Salamander Portable''.
* ''Gradius Gaiden'' (1997, Japanese Playstation only)
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Gradius Collection'', finally giving it a proper overseas release after 9 years.
* ''Solar Assault'' (1997, Japanese arcade)
* ''Gradius IV Fukkatsu'' (1998, arcade)
** Ported to the Playstation 2 as part of ''Gradius III and IV''.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Gradius Collection''.
* ''Gradius NEO'' (2004, Japanese cellphones)
* ''Gradius NEO -IMPERIAL-'' (2004, Japanese cellphones)
* ''Gradius Galaxies'' (2001, GBA). Didn't come out in Japan until 2002. Titled ''Gradius Advance'' in Europe and ''Gradius Generation'' in Japan.
* ''Gradius V'' (2004, [=PS2=])
* ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' (Wiiware, 2008, 2009 in US)
* ''Gradius the Slot'' (Arcade, 2011) not a traditional shoot 'em up, but a ''pachislot'' game where doing well in the slots affects how well you do in battle.
----
This series provides examples of:
* AdaptationDistillation - Those who have played both the arcade and SNES versions of ''Gradius III'' agree that the latter is easier and more enjoyable.
* AttackItsWeakPoint - "Destroy the core!"
* AnimeOfTheGame - The ''Salamander'' OAVs.
* LargeHamAnnouncer
* AsteroidThicket - ''Gradius V'' stage 5 is the epitome of this.
* AsteroidsMonster - Numerous enemies. In 2 of the stages in ''Gradius III'', they're predominant.
* AttackDrone - the Options.
* AwesomeButImpractical - The flame thrower weapon in the ''Nemesis'' series and ''Gradius V''. Sure it's powerful, but it has such short range that you have to put yourself in harm's way to get the most of it, and it's practically worthless against Core bosses.
** In ''Salamander 2'', you could do rolls like in later entries in the {{ThunderForce}} series. And like in ''Thunder Force'', it does nothing but [[RuleOfCool look stylish.]]
* BattleshipRaid - Stage 4 of ''Salamander 2''
* BigBad - Bacterion in most games; Dr. Venom in ''Nemesis 2'' and ''3'' on the MSX and in ''[[spoiler:[=ReBirth=]]]''.
** Doom in Salamander 2.
** The Lars Empire in Gradius NEO/Imperial.
*** For those who don't know, the Lars Empire is an evil human empire that has obtained the ancient Gradian and Bacterian technology in a time which takes place many years after the Gradius/Nemesis series. The only Bacterians in Gradius NEO/Imperial live in the wild, with no Hive Mind to guide them, and the Gradian Empire doesn't even exist anymore.
* BossRush - Most of the games since ''Gradius II'' have had one of these.
* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu - Blowing up the Big Bad into pieces just winds up having each piece being able to develop into their own Big Bad. Each with their own attack force.
* BulletHell - Many games on loop 2 and above, particularly the {{Treasure}}-developed ''Gradius V''.
* CatchPhrase - "Destroy the core!", also known as "Shoot the core!"
* ClassicCheatCode - The {{NES}} conversion of the first game introduced the KonamiCode, and the the {{SNES}} conversion of ''III'' was also first to subvert it.
* CollisionDamage - Arguably, this is more justifiable when one is flying a spacecraft.
* ContinuingIsPainful - So you've spent 30-35 powerup capsules powering up your ship. Then you die. Then you die some more because your default speed is slow and your ship is completely ass-naked.
** You do start with a single power-up on the bar (though this is only if you died with one on the bar). That's enough for a Speed-Up, which may be just enough speed to survive long enough to start rebuilding. If you're good.
* ContinuityNod - ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' is chock full of references to ''Nemesis 2'' and ''3'' on the MSX, to the point of being a ''de facto'' prequel. (The game is set in Cosmic Year 6664, 3 years before ''Nemesis 2'').
* ConvectionSchmonvection - In ''Life Force'' and ''Gradius II'' NES you fly between two solar surfaces and are totally OK unless you actually get struck by a flare.
** Same thing with any lava-based stage.
* CoolStarship - The Vic Viper, of course, along with its cousins, Lord British, Jade Knight, and Falchion Beta.
* CosmicHorror - Zelos, Venom, Gofer, Bacterian, pretty much any BigBad.
* CoresAndTurretsBoss - Potentially the {{Trope Codifier}}.
* CueTheSun - The ending for ''Gradius Gaiden''
* DemotedToExtra - Big Core MK.I is a recurring boss in the first Gradius games. By Gradius V, it's a generic mook which appears multiple times throughout the stages with the other enemies. Yes, it's more powerful than an ordinary mook, but it's still a mook.
** A similar fate occured to the Japanese Life Force boss Gau/Gaw, appearing in groups before the start of the Bio stages of Gradius Gaiden and Gradius V.
* DoppelgangerSpin - the Options.
* DubNameChange - In ''Gradius III'' for the SNES. Several [[strike:bosses]] mayors get renamed: Big Core mkII to Ice Ice, Crystal Core to Monarch, among others. The Vic Viper itself is called "Modulated Artillery Exalter" (or [[FunWithAcronyms M.A.X.]]). The NES version called the Vic Viper "Warp Rattler".
* EenieMeenieMinyMoai - Nearly every game has one stage full of these [[IncrediblyLamePun stoners]].
* {{Engrish}} - Gradius was originally going to be called "Gladius" (after the ancient Roman war sword).
* EverythingTryingToKillYou
* EvilIsVisceral - The final boss in each game tends to be some sort of brain, or a head with a very big brain. The entirety of ''Life Force'' is also this.
* FantasticVoyagePlot - ''Life Force'' establishes itself to be set inside a giant alien life-form which is infected by a strain of bacteria. In the Japanese version, you must destroy a PlanetEater from the inside.
* FollowTheLeader - A great many shooters followed the ''Gradius'' powerup system, sometimes expanding it into a between-levels "shop" where points could be exchanged for powerups, other times using it verbatim.
* FridgeBrilliance - Why is it called the Vic ''Viper''/Warp ''Rattler''? Because the Options trail behind it in a serpent-like fashion, and the iconic front fins are designed to invoke the image of a snake's fangs.
* FridgeHorror - The enemies in Gradius NEO/Imperial are named the Lars Empire. That's all fine and dandy until you remember that the ''hero'' of the Nemesis series, James Burton, becomes '''Emperor Lars the 18th''' years prior.
** Why do the Bacterians have so easily defeatable end bosses? Because the Bacterians plan on letting the Vic Viper defeat them again and again so they come back stronger until there is a point that the Bacterians are completely invincible, crushing the Vic Viper and ruling the universe.
* FlyAtTheCameraEnding - Played straight in the NES version of Gradius, Inverted in the rest of the games which show the Vic Viper or any other of the space fighters fly out of the camera and back to planet Gradius.
* GaidenGame - The aptly-named ''Gradius Gaiden'', though if you're looking for a real Gaiden Game, check out the MSX Gradius series (''Salamander'', ''Nemesis 2'', and ''Nemesis 3''), which has a completely different and more detailed plot from the main series, and introduces several features not seen in future games, save for a remake of ''Nemesis 2'' called ''Nemesis '90 Kai''.
* GeniusLoci - Many of the Big Bads, including Gofer, Bacterion, and Zelos. This trope also applies to the organic planets, which have Bacterians controlling the planets.
* GuideDangIt - '''Salamander MSX'''. To get the good ending, you have to have both the Salamander and Nemesis II cartridges plugged into your MSX/Emulator, get a item that randomly spawns in a set of different areas, and beat a bonus level. Oh yeah, did we mention that the bonus level doesn't load properly on a MSX2?
* GravitySucks - In Gradius Gaiden's stage, ''On The Event Horizon'', you are ''chased through a planet by a black hole''.
* HaveANiceDeath - "You need some practice."
* HiveMind - Bacterion, Gofer, and Zelos in the Gradius Series. Venom has [[spoiler: become one too in Gradius V.]]
* HopelessBossFight - The Shadow Gear(arachnoid HumongousMecha) in most of its appearances.
* IAmNotShazam - Many people, including the English translators of the ''{{Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game}}'' (though they later rectified this with the creation of its [[TookALevelInBadass upgraded form]]), think the Victory Viper is called "Gradius". Gradius is the name of the planet the ship protects.
* InertiaIsACruelMistress - Too many Speed Ups can lead to you running right into the bullets you're trying to dodge.
* InvincibleMinorMinion - The shrapnel fireballs in the Fire Stage of Gradius III AC, the [[MookMaker mook-depositing]] floating Moai heads, the ice cubes in the Ice Stage, the mini-spiderbots in the Fortress, and the regenerating Blue Moais in Gradius IV. Also some of the {{Mook Maker}}s used by bosses.
* ItHasOnlyJustBegun
* LandfillBeyondTheStars - Stage 2 ("Requiem for Revengers") of ''Gradius Gaiden'', complete with lots of boss cameos.
* LargeHam - The announcer in ''Salamander 2'' is ''really'' enthusiastic in his line delivery.
-->''"POUND through the ENTRAILS and '''SHOOT ABADON!'''"''
* {{Leitmotif}} - The first game's boss music evolved into the iconic "Boss Rush" music. Whenever and wherever it shows up, BossRush time.
* LoadBearingBoss - The final bosses of the Gradius/Salamander Series. Certain organic bosses count too.
* MalevolentArchitecture - The Fortress Stage in each game consists mostly of this.
* MascotMook - In the spinoff ''Cosmic Wars'', the Moai represents the Gradian Empire, while Salamander's Brain Golem is the mascot for the Bacterians.
* MeetTheNewBoss - Bacterion, Gofer, Venom, and Zelos. All of them are Bacterion emperors who mastermind the Bacterian attacks. All of them are located in fortresses/planets. All of them want to destroy Gradius. They command strong armies, but they themselves are weak and very vulnerable. They eventually get destroyed by Vic Viper and explode into pieces. The pieces spread across the universe and grow into a new BigBad.
** Subverted for Venom at first. Even in Nemesis 2, Venom was a Bacterion emperor but unlike the others, he was ThatOneBoss. But then Venom reappeared in Gradius V and in that game, now he's a brain that's no weaker than the other Big Bads.
** Doom is an exception too.
* MookMaker - The ubiquitous enemy-spawning devices, some of which are indestructible. And many bosses, eg the Giant Moais, can do this too.
* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning - Said by the AntiClimaxBoss [[spoiler: who is also the BigBad and the FinalBoss]] in Gradius V, to more or less some degree after he is destroyed.
** In fact, it states that there is a whole lot of pieces of itself spread across the universe, with each one eventually becoming sentient and coming after the Gradians. Which leads to a horrifying thought: ''What if they '''ALL''' gain sentience '''AT THE SAME TIME'''?''
* NintendoHard - The arcade version of ''Gradius III'', especially. The SNES conversion and ''Gradius Gaiden'', on the other hand, are possible exceptions.
* NoExportForYou - Much of the series. In fact, in a world where [[strike:the U.S.]] North America gets priority over Europe when it comes to video game releases, the opposite applies for not only this series, but the AffectionateParody, {{Parodius}}, as well.
* NoPronunciationGuide - Is it "Gray-dee-Us" or "Grah-dee-us"? It doesn't help that the series uses both pronunciations.
* NonLinearSequel - Played straight with most of the games, save for ''Nemesis 2'' and ''3'' on the MSX and their prequel, ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]''.
* NowDoItAgainBackwards - Nemesis 2 (and presumably Nemesis '90 Kai) does this.
* OneManArmy - Except of a few games like ''Salamander'' and ''Gradius V'', even with multiplayer, each player storms the army of spaceships separately.
* OneHitPointWonder - Partially mitigatable by the Shield, but only if it hits the shield instead of you. Then again, the first ''Gradius'' was originally an 80s arcade game...
* OrganicTechnology - Most of the organic enemies as well as the [[WombLevel Womb Levels]] are these.
* QuietlyPerformingSisterShow - ''Thunder Cross'', another series of horizontal shmups by Konami which reused musics and had similar aesthetics.
* PlanetEater - Zelos from ''Salamander''/''Life Force''.
* PlayerMooks - ''Gradius NEO Imperial'' has you playing as a rebel Big Core MK I
* PrecisionFStrike - In ''V'', exactly two swear words are spoken: by the announcer upon dying after 7 stages ("What the hell?") and by the pilot at the end of stage 7 ("Damn. Nothing's denting it."). Oddly enough, ''V'' got a T rating...with the content warning ''having nothing to do with language.''
* ProtagonistWithoutAPast - Heck, outside of the MSX games, the Vic Viper's pilot isn't even named, and it isn't until ''Gradius V'' that he ever finds it necessary to talk to anyone. [[spoiler: And he's just [[HelpYourSelfInTheFuture talking to himself anyway]].]]
* RailShooter - ''Solar Assault''
* RecurringBoss - Oh god, where to start...
** [[http://gradius.wikia.com/wiki/Big_Core_MK_I The good ol' Big Core MK 1]].
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething - The 2nd player ship in ''Salamander'' is piloted by the prince of Planet Latis, the planet you're defending.
* SentryGun - In so many places.
* SequelFirst - ''Gradius II'' was released in 1988 in Japan and Europe, but ''not in North America'', where it was officially unreleased until its appearance on ''Gradius Collection'' in 2006. ''Gaiden'' is a milder example; ''IV'' and ''Galaxies'' came after it and were released here before ''Collection'' (which included ''Gaiden'' as well).
* SequentialBoss - The first boss of stage 8 in Gradius Galaxies is this.
* ShoutOut - Several Gradius ships, enemies and even power-ups appear as actual cards in the ''{{Yu-Gi-Oh card game}}''. A TransformingMecha in ''ZoneOfTheEnders'' is also named and designed after the Vic Viper.
** The 2nd player ship in ''Salamander 2'' is called "Super Cobra", a reference to the old arcade game of the same name.
** Vic Viper is one of the Konami characters appearing in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbS-cDOUZA special Purikura]] sequence of ''[[MitsumeteKnight Mitsumete Knight R : Daibouken Hen]]'' ; it's also, in ''[[TokimekiMemorial Tokimeki Memorial 4]]'', Rui Nanakawa's third (and very effective) LimitBreak, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAmeo0Y27E#t=5m42s invoking it]] after playing the {{Konami}} Code's buttons on a DanceDanceRevolution board.
** The Falchion Beta in ''Gradius Gaiden'' is an updated model of the titular ship from Konami's 1987 Famicom Disk game ''[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Falsion]]''.
** Many bosses in the ''Nemesis'' series are named after rock or heavy metal bands. Most of them have been renamed and given more generic names, with only Venom retaining his name.
** The boss ship Deltatry from ''Gaiden'' is heavily inspired by the ship from Konami's Trigon/Lightning Fighters, complete with its giant laser and fire dragon summoning attacks.
* SmartBomb - One of the items you can pick up.
* SpaceBase - Every level takes place on a SpaceBase, be it a WombLevel, a Mechanical fortress, or a volcano planet.
* SpaceIsNoisy - As expected from a shoot'em up game where a large part of the events take place in space.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS - Are the bad guys called "Bacterions" or "Bacterians"? It's not clear, especially when ''Gradius Gaiden'' use both names in the same context.
** Is it Lord British or Road British?
** Is it Metalion or Metarion?
* ThemeNaming - The bosses of the MSX ''Nemesis 3'' are named after obscure American rock and metal bands.
* TheVirus - The Bacterion Empire is an example of this. They are composed of invasive and matter controlling cells that multiply ''every'' ''time'' the Bacterian Empire is defeated.
** Subverted partly in the Salamander OAVs. Instead of cells, the Bacterians are living crystals that can turn into any kind of creatures. Maybe Bacterion is a huge Crystal lifeform that can transform into a cell or maybe the Bacterians are cells born in crystals grown on Bacterion's rocky shell?
* TimeTravel - In ''Gradius V'', you encounter your future self in Stage 2 and cooperate with him to destroy a battleship that he took back in time with him. Then at the end of Stage 7, you [[spoiler:encounter that same battleship and time-travel back to the events of Stage 2, because the battleship can only be destroyed with two ships. This leaves this troper with one question: ''Gradius V'' has 2-player simultaneous play. If two players reach the end of Stage 7, [[FridgeLogic wouldn't that defeat the purpose of going back in time since there's already two ships?]]]]
** [[spoiler:Because the battleship only appears in Stage 2, thanks to your future self teleporting it and himself. You don't actually encounter the battleship until the end of Stage 7, but you know how to destroy it due to the events from Stage 2 and the analysis of the battleship by your ship's computer at the end of Stage 7. [[FridgeBrilliance So, in a way, you have already completed the game at the end of Stage 2.]]]]
** One fun little detail regarding Stage 8 [[spoiler:is that your past self plays exactly like you did in Stage 2 during the parts when both ships are shown, or all four if there's 2 players. If you skip Stage 2 using stage select, however, then the ships will follow a predetermined path, like your future self does on Stage 2.]]
* {{Video Game 3D Leap}} - ''Gradius IV'' was a presentation upgrade rather than a total upgrade.
** There's also the ''Solar Assault'' sub-series, which is fully-3D ''Gradius'', though it hardly got any attention.
* VideoGameLives
* VideoGameLongRunners - The first game was ported to the NES, as well as many, many PC platforms. Then there's the many arcade releases and many, many console and (original!) PC releases.
* VillainProtagonist - You can play as the Bacterians in Cosmic Wars.
* WastedSong - Konami released a soundtrack compiling music from their [=ReBirth=] games. However, ''{{Contra}} [=ReBirth=]'' and ''{{Castlevania}}: The Adventure [=ReBirth=]'' are the only games accounted for. ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' didn't even get the "Another Medley" treatment.
** ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' had a soundtrack released a year before the compilation album.
** For actual wasted songs, ''Salamander Portable'''s Gallery feature reveals a lot of unused tracks for the Salamander series.
* WaveMotionTuningFork - Near the end of the opening cutscene for Gradius V, the Vic Viper is shown shooting a beam from between its front fins. It ''[[CutscenePowerToTheMax pierces through and destroys the boss of the first level]]''.
* WikiRule - [[http://gradius.wikia.com/wiki/Gradius_Wiki Yes, it has one]].
* WhatCouldHaveBeen - The canceled racing game ''Vic Viper''.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome - The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNyAJLjjbbw trailer]] for ''Gradius the Slot''. Pachislot has never been this HotBlooded.
* WhatTheHellHero - You hear this said by the announcer if you make up to the last stage but die.
** Inverted in Gradius IV, where if you make it up to the last stage and die, the announcer [[AWinnerIsYou congratulates you for making it that far, saying "You are the Viper!"]].
* WombLevel - Usually at least once per game, since the BigBad does the invasive bio-goo thing. Cell-levels are also reasonably common. The premises for ''Life Force'' and ''Salamander'' make those entire games {{Womb Level}}s, but not every level within them counts as one.
* ZeroEffortBoss - played straight for the most part, but [[ThatOneBoss heavily averted]] in Salamander 2.
** That's probably because the final level is usually the final boss; all the enemies are controlled by the Big Bad's pyschic powers.
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<<|ShootEmUp|>>
||align=center border=1 width=100%
|| '''[[OverDrive SPEED UP]]''' || '''[[MacrossMissileMassacre MISSILE]]''' || '''[[MoreDakka DOUBLE]]''' || '''[[FrickinLaserBeams LASER]]''' || '''[[AttackDrone OPTION]]''' || [==] '''[[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe ?]]''' [==] ||
''Destroy the Core!''
{{Konami}}'s ''Gradius'' (also called ''Nemesis'' in some incarnations) is one of the seminal side-scrolling ShootEmUp series. The player controls the Vic Viper, a small starfighter, and faces off against the forces of the Bacterions, and generally destroys everything. Its most recent installment is ''Gradius V'' for the Playstation 2 -- there are many {{Gaiden Game}}s, however, so the total game count is enormously larger than five.
The PowerUp scheme in ''Gradius'' is unusually involved, and was particularly so for its time -- destroying an entire enemy wave (or special PaletteSwap enemies) drops a glowing token. Collecting tokens advances a counter along a track. The player may elect to purchase the powerup currently pointed to by the counter, which resets the counter to the beginning. Essentially, powerups in ''Gradius'' are currency; this is in contrast to the system later used by ''{{R-Type}}'', where there were multiple types of powerup each with a specific application; other shooters would typically copy one of these two systems. The traditional sequence is Speed Up, Missile, Double (a bidirectional cannon), Laser, Option, and Shield. It is because of ''Gradius'' that "Option" is often used to describe a powerup that provides the player with an AttackDrone.
The first ''Gradius'' was released in 1985, but in a real-life RetCon, the 1981 game ''VideoGame/{{Scramble}}'' was declared part of the series in ''Gradius Galaxies''.
Compare ''{{Parodius}}'', which is Konami taking [[SerialNumbersFiledOff this series]] and giving it a CuteEmUp redesign. [[ThisIsYourPremiseOnDrugs And pumped with enough LSD to drop an elephant]]. Also compare ''{{Otomedius}}'', an anime parody series which has a lot of breasts and FanService.
Games include:
* ''Gradius'' (1985, arcade). Titled ''Nemesis'' outside Japan.
** Ported to NES (which retained the ''Gradius'' name for its overseas releases), MSX, PC Engine, Japanese cellphones, [=PC88=], X1, X68000, Spectrum (as ''Nemesis the Final Challenge'').
*** MSX port ported to Japanese Saturn and [=PlayStation=] in Konami Antiques MSX Collection.
** Ported as part of ''Gradius Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn, PS, and PC.
** Ported as part of '''Konami Classics'' to the DS.
* ''Salamander'' (1986, arcade Japan/Europe)
** Ported to NES, MSX, PC Engine, Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad, Japanese cellphones, X68000.
*** MSX port ported to Japanese Saturn and Playstation in Konami Antiques MSX Collection.
** Ported as part of ''Salamander Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn and PS.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Salamander Portable''.
** ''Life Force'' (American arcade version, with changed plot and some changed backgrounds)
** ''Life Force'' (Japanese arcade version, with completely overhauled graphics and a ''Gradius''-style power-up system)
*** Ported as part of ''Salamander Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn and PS.
*** Ported to PSP as part of ''Salamander Portable''.
* ''Gradius 2'' (1987, MSX; ''Nemesis 2'' in Europe)
** Ported to Japanese cellphones.
** Ported to Japanese Saturn and Playstation in Konami Antiques MSX Collection.
** Ported to X68000 as ''Nemesis '90 Kai''.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Salamander Portable''.
* ''Gradius II: The Ambition of GOFER'' (1988, arcade; not to be confused with ''Gradius 2''). Titled ''Vulcan Venture'' in Europe.
** Ported to Famicom, PC Engine, X68000, and Japanese cellphones.
** Ported as part of ''Gradius Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn, PS, and PC.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Gradius Collection'', for a proper North American release. After ''18 years.''
* ''Gofer no YabÅ: Episode II'' (MSX; ''Nemesis 3'' in Europe)
** Ported to Japanese Saturn and Playstation in Konami Antiques MSX Collection.
* ''Gradius III: From Legend to Myth'' (1989, arcade)
** Ported to the SNES.
** Ported to the Playstation 2 as part of ''Gradius III and IV''.
* ''Nemesis'' (1990, GameBoy)
* ''Gradius: The Interstellar Assault'' (GameBoy). Released as ''Nemesis II'' in Japan and Europe.
* ''Salamander II'' (1996, arcade)
** Ported as part of ''Salamander Deluxe Pack'' to the Japanese Saturn and PS.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Salamander Portable''.
* ''Gradius Gaiden'' (1997, Japanese Playstation only)
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Gradius Collection'', finally giving it a proper overseas release after 9 years.
* ''Solar Assault'' (1997, Japanese arcade)
* ''Gradius IV Fukkatsu'' (1998, arcade)
** Ported to the Playstation 2 as part of ''Gradius III and IV''.
** Ported to PSP as part of ''Gradius Collection''.
* ''Gradius NEO'' (2004, Japanese cellphones)
* ''Gradius NEO -IMPERIAL-'' (2004, Japanese cellphones)
* ''Gradius Galaxies'' (2001, GBA). Didn't come out in Japan until 2002. Titled ''Gradius Advance'' in Europe and ''Gradius Generation'' in Japan.
* ''Gradius V'' (2004, [=PS2=])
* ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' (Wiiware, 2008, 2009 in US)
* ''Gradius the Slot'' (Arcade, 2011) not a traditional shoot 'em up, but a ''pachislot'' game where doing well in the slots affects how well you do in battle.
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This series provides examples of:
* AdaptationDistillation - Those who have played both the arcade and SNES versions of ''Gradius III'' agree that the latter is easier and more enjoyable.
* AttackItsWeakPoint - "Destroy the core!"
* AnimeOfTheGame - The ''Salamander'' OAVs.
* LargeHamAnnouncer
* AsteroidThicket - ''Gradius V'' stage 5 is the epitome of this.
* AsteroidsMonster - Numerous enemies. In 2 of the stages in ''Gradius III'', they're predominant.
* AttackDrone - the Options.
* AwesomeButImpractical - The flame thrower weapon in the ''Nemesis'' series and ''Gradius V''. Sure it's powerful, but it has such short range that you have to put yourself in harm's way to get the most of it, and it's practically worthless against Core bosses.
** In ''Salamander 2'', you could do rolls like in later entries in the {{ThunderForce}} series. And like in ''Thunder Force'', it does nothing but [[RuleOfCool look stylish.]]
* BattleshipRaid - Stage 4 of ''Salamander 2''
* BigBad - Bacterion in most games; Dr. Venom in ''Nemesis 2'' and ''3'' on the MSX and in ''[[spoiler:[=ReBirth=]]]''.
** Doom in Salamander 2.
** The Lars Empire in Gradius NEO/Imperial.
*** For those who don't know, the Lars Empire is an evil human empire that has obtained the ancient Gradian and Bacterian technology in a time which takes place many years after the Gradius/Nemesis series. The only Bacterians in Gradius NEO/Imperial live in the wild, with no Hive Mind to guide them, and the Gradian Empire doesn't even exist anymore.
* BossRush - Most of the games since ''Gradius II'' have had one of these.
* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu - Blowing up the Big Bad into pieces just winds up having each piece being able to develop into their own Big Bad. Each with their own attack force.
* BulletHell - Many games on loop 2 and above, particularly the {{Treasure}}-developed ''Gradius V''.
* CatchPhrase - "Destroy the core!", also known as "Shoot the core!"
* ClassicCheatCode - The {{NES}} conversion of the first game introduced the KonamiCode, and the the {{SNES}} conversion of ''III'' was also first to subvert it.
* CollisionDamage - Arguably, this is more justifiable when one is flying a spacecraft.
* ContinuingIsPainful - So you've spent 30-35 powerup capsules powering up your ship. Then you die. Then you die some more because your default speed is slow and your ship is completely ass-naked.
** You do start with a single power-up on the bar (though this is only if you died with one on the bar). That's enough for a Speed-Up, which may be just enough speed to survive long enough to start rebuilding. If you're good.
* ContinuityNod - ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' is chock full of references to ''Nemesis 2'' and ''3'' on the MSX, to the point of being a ''de facto'' prequel. (The game is set in Cosmic Year 6664, 3 years before ''Nemesis 2'').
* ConvectionSchmonvection - In ''Life Force'' and ''Gradius II'' NES you fly between two solar surfaces and are totally OK unless you actually get struck by a flare.
** Same thing with any lava-based stage.
* CoolStarship - The Vic Viper, of course, along with its cousins, Lord British, Jade Knight, and Falchion Beta.
* CosmicHorror - Zelos, Venom, Gofer, Bacterian, pretty much any BigBad.
* CoresAndTurretsBoss - Potentially the {{Trope Codifier}}.
* CueTheSun - The ending for ''Gradius Gaiden''
* DemotedToExtra - Big Core MK.I is a recurring boss in the first Gradius games. By Gradius V, it's a generic mook which appears multiple times throughout the stages with the other enemies. Yes, it's more powerful than an ordinary mook, but it's still a mook.
** A similar fate occured to the Japanese Life Force boss Gau/Gaw, appearing in groups before the start of the Bio stages of Gradius Gaiden and Gradius V.
* DoppelgangerSpin - the Options.
* DubNameChange - In ''Gradius III'' for the SNES. Several [[strike:bosses]] mayors get renamed: Big Core mkII to Ice Ice, Crystal Core to Monarch, among others. The Vic Viper itself is called "Modulated Artillery Exalter" (or [[FunWithAcronyms M.A.X.]]). The NES version called the Vic Viper "Warp Rattler".
* EenieMeenieMinyMoai - Nearly every game has one stage full of these [[IncrediblyLamePun stoners]].
* {{Engrish}} - Gradius was originally going to be called "Gladius" (after the ancient Roman war sword).
* EverythingTryingToKillYou
* EvilIsVisceral - The final boss in each game tends to be some sort of brain, or a head with a very big brain. The entirety of ''Life Force'' is also this.
* FantasticVoyagePlot - ''Life Force'' establishes itself to be set inside a giant alien life-form which is infected by a strain of bacteria. In the Japanese version, you must destroy a PlanetEater from the inside.
* FollowTheLeader - A great many shooters followed the ''Gradius'' powerup system, sometimes expanding it into a between-levels "shop" where points could be exchanged for powerups, other times using it verbatim.
* FridgeBrilliance - Why is it called the Vic ''Viper''/Warp ''Rattler''? Because the Options trail behind it in a serpent-like fashion, and the iconic front fins are designed to invoke the image of a snake's fangs.
* FridgeHorror - The enemies in Gradius NEO/Imperial are named the Lars Empire. That's all fine and dandy until you remember that the ''hero'' of the Nemesis series, James Burton, becomes '''Emperor Lars the 18th''' years prior.
** Why do the Bacterians have so easily defeatable end bosses? Because the Bacterians plan on letting the Vic Viper defeat them again and again so they come back stronger until there is a point that the Bacterians are completely invincible, crushing the Vic Viper and ruling the universe.
* FlyAtTheCameraEnding - Played straight in the NES version of Gradius, Inverted in the rest of the games which show the Vic Viper or any other of the space fighters fly out of the camera and back to planet Gradius.
* GaidenGame - The aptly-named ''Gradius Gaiden'', though if you're looking for a real Gaiden Game, check out the MSX Gradius series (''Salamander'', ''Nemesis 2'', and ''Nemesis 3''), which has a completely different and more detailed plot from the main series, and introduces several features not seen in future games, save for a remake of ''Nemesis 2'' called ''Nemesis '90 Kai''.
* GeniusLoci - Many of the Big Bads, including Gofer, Bacterion, and Zelos. This trope also applies to the organic planets, which have Bacterians controlling the planets.
* GuideDangIt - '''Salamander MSX'''. To get the good ending, you have to have both the Salamander and Nemesis II cartridges plugged into your MSX/Emulator, get a item that randomly spawns in a set of different areas, and beat a bonus level. Oh yeah, did we mention that the bonus level doesn't load properly on a MSX2?
* GravitySucks - In Gradius Gaiden's stage, ''On The Event Horizon'', you are ''chased through a planet by a black hole''.
* HaveANiceDeath - "You need some practice."
* HiveMind - Bacterion, Gofer, and Zelos in the Gradius Series. Venom has [[spoiler: become one too in Gradius V.]]
* HopelessBossFight - The Shadow Gear(arachnoid HumongousMecha) in most of its appearances.
* IAmNotShazam - Many people, including the English translators of the ''{{Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game}}'' (though they later rectified this with the creation of its [[TookALevelInBadass upgraded form]]), think the Victory Viper is called "Gradius". Gradius is the name of the planet the ship protects.
* InertiaIsACruelMistress - Too many Speed Ups can lead to you running right into the bullets you're trying to dodge.
* InvincibleMinorMinion - The shrapnel fireballs in the Fire Stage of Gradius III AC, the [[MookMaker mook-depositing]] floating Moai heads, the ice cubes in the Ice Stage, the mini-spiderbots in the Fortress, and the regenerating Blue Moais in Gradius IV. Also some of the {{Mook Maker}}s used by bosses.
* ItHasOnlyJustBegun
* LandfillBeyondTheStars - Stage 2 ("Requiem for Revengers") of ''Gradius Gaiden'', complete with lots of boss cameos.
* LargeHam - The announcer in ''Salamander 2'' is ''really'' enthusiastic in his line delivery.
-->''"POUND through the ENTRAILS and '''SHOOT ABADON!'''"''
* {{Leitmotif}} - The first game's boss music evolved into the iconic "Boss Rush" music. Whenever and wherever it shows up, BossRush time.
* LoadBearingBoss - The final bosses of the Gradius/Salamander Series. Certain organic bosses count too.
* MalevolentArchitecture - The Fortress Stage in each game consists mostly of this.
* MascotMook - In the spinoff ''Cosmic Wars'', the Moai represents the Gradian Empire, while Salamander's Brain Golem is the mascot for the Bacterians.
* MeetTheNewBoss - Bacterion, Gofer, Venom, and Zelos. All of them are Bacterion emperors who mastermind the Bacterian attacks. All of them are located in fortresses/planets. All of them want to destroy Gradius. They command strong armies, but they themselves are weak and very vulnerable. They eventually get destroyed by Vic Viper and explode into pieces. The pieces spread across the universe and grow into a new BigBad.
** Subverted for Venom at first. Even in Nemesis 2, Venom was a Bacterion emperor but unlike the others, he was ThatOneBoss. But then Venom reappeared in Gradius V and in that game, now he's a brain that's no weaker than the other Big Bads.
** Doom is an exception too.
* MookMaker - The ubiquitous enemy-spawning devices, some of which are indestructible. And many bosses, eg the Giant Moais, can do this too.
* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning - Said by the AntiClimaxBoss [[spoiler: who is also the BigBad and the FinalBoss]] in Gradius V, to more or less some degree after he is destroyed.
** In fact, it states that there is a whole lot of pieces of itself spread across the universe, with each one eventually becoming sentient and coming after the Gradians. Which leads to a horrifying thought: ''What if they '''ALL''' gain sentience '''AT THE SAME TIME'''?''
* NintendoHard - The arcade version of ''Gradius III'', especially. The SNES conversion and ''Gradius Gaiden'', on the other hand, are possible exceptions.
* NoExportForYou - Much of the series. In fact, in a world where [[strike:the U.S.]] North America gets priority over Europe when it comes to video game releases, the opposite applies for not only this series, but the AffectionateParody, {{Parodius}}, as well.
* NoPronunciationGuide - Is it "Gray-dee-Us" or "Grah-dee-us"? It doesn't help that the series uses both pronunciations.
* NonLinearSequel - Played straight with most of the games, save for ''Nemesis 2'' and ''3'' on the MSX and their prequel, ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]''.
* NowDoItAgainBackwards - Nemesis 2 (and presumably Nemesis '90 Kai) does this.
* OneManArmy - Except of a few games like ''Salamander'' and ''Gradius V'', even with multiplayer, each player storms the army of spaceships separately.
* OneHitPointWonder - Partially mitigatable by the Shield, but only if it hits the shield instead of you. Then again, the first ''Gradius'' was originally an 80s arcade game...
* OrganicTechnology - Most of the organic enemies as well as the [[WombLevel Womb Levels]] are these.
* QuietlyPerformingSisterShow - ''Thunder Cross'', another series of horizontal shmups by Konami which reused musics and had similar aesthetics.
* PlanetEater - Zelos from ''Salamander''/''Life Force''.
* PlayerMooks - ''Gradius NEO Imperial'' has you playing as a rebel Big Core MK I
* PrecisionFStrike - In ''V'', exactly two swear words are spoken: by the announcer upon dying after 7 stages ("What the hell?") and by the pilot at the end of stage 7 ("Damn. Nothing's denting it."). Oddly enough, ''V'' got a T rating...with the content warning ''having nothing to do with language.''
* ProtagonistWithoutAPast - Heck, outside of the MSX games, the Vic Viper's pilot isn't even named, and it isn't until ''Gradius V'' that he ever finds it necessary to talk to anyone. [[spoiler: And he's just [[HelpYourSelfInTheFuture talking to himself anyway]].]]
* RailShooter - ''Solar Assault''
* RecurringBoss - Oh god, where to start...
** [[http://gradius.wikia.com/wiki/Big_Core_MK_I The good ol' Big Core MK 1]].
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething - The 2nd player ship in ''Salamander'' is piloted by the prince of Planet Latis, the planet you're defending.
* SentryGun - In so many places.
* SequelFirst - ''Gradius II'' was released in 1988 in Japan and Europe, but ''not in North America'', where it was officially unreleased until its appearance on ''Gradius Collection'' in 2006. ''Gaiden'' is a milder example; ''IV'' and ''Galaxies'' came after it and were released here before ''Collection'' (which included ''Gaiden'' as well).
* SequentialBoss - The first boss of stage 8 in Gradius Galaxies is this.
* ShoutOut - Several Gradius ships, enemies and even power-ups appear as actual cards in the ''{{Yu-Gi-Oh card game}}''. A TransformingMecha in ''ZoneOfTheEnders'' is also named and designed after the Vic Viper.
** The 2nd player ship in ''Salamander 2'' is called "Super Cobra", a reference to the old arcade game of the same name.
** Vic Viper is one of the Konami characters appearing in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbS-cDOUZA special Purikura]] sequence of ''[[MitsumeteKnight Mitsumete Knight R : Daibouken Hen]]'' ; it's also, in ''[[TokimekiMemorial Tokimeki Memorial 4]]'', Rui Nanakawa's third (and very effective) LimitBreak, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAmeo0Y27E#t=5m42s invoking it]] after playing the {{Konami}} Code's buttons on a DanceDanceRevolution board.
** The Falchion Beta in ''Gradius Gaiden'' is an updated model of the titular ship from Konami's 1987 Famicom Disk game ''[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Falsion]]''.
** Many bosses in the ''Nemesis'' series are named after rock or heavy metal bands. Most of them have been renamed and given more generic names, with only Venom retaining his name.
** The boss ship Deltatry from ''Gaiden'' is heavily inspired by the ship from Konami's Trigon/Lightning Fighters, complete with its giant laser and fire dragon summoning attacks.
* SmartBomb - One of the items you can pick up.
* SpaceBase - Every level takes place on a SpaceBase, be it a WombLevel, a Mechanical fortress, or a volcano planet.
* SpaceIsNoisy - As expected from a shoot'em up game where a large part of the events take place in space.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS - Are the bad guys called "Bacterions" or "Bacterians"? It's not clear, especially when ''Gradius Gaiden'' use both names in the same context.
** Is it Lord British or Road British?
** Is it Metalion or Metarion?
* ThemeNaming - The bosses of the MSX ''Nemesis 3'' are named after obscure American rock and metal bands.
* TheVirus - The Bacterion Empire is an example of this. They are composed of invasive and matter controlling cells that multiply ''every'' ''time'' the Bacterian Empire is defeated.
** Subverted partly in the Salamander OAVs. Instead of cells, the Bacterians are living crystals that can turn into any kind of creatures. Maybe Bacterion is a huge Crystal lifeform that can transform into a cell or maybe the Bacterians are cells born in crystals grown on Bacterion's rocky shell?
* TimeTravel - In ''Gradius V'', you encounter your future self in Stage 2 and cooperate with him to destroy a battleship that he took back in time with him. Then at the end of Stage 7, you [[spoiler:encounter that same battleship and time-travel back to the events of Stage 2, because the battleship can only be destroyed with two ships. This leaves this troper with one question: ''Gradius V'' has 2-player simultaneous play. If two players reach the end of Stage 7, [[FridgeLogic wouldn't that defeat the purpose of going back in time since there's already two ships?]]]]
** [[spoiler:Because the battleship only appears in Stage 2, thanks to your future self teleporting it and himself. You don't actually encounter the battleship until the end of Stage 7, but you know how to destroy it due to the events from Stage 2 and the analysis of the battleship by your ship's computer at the end of Stage 7. [[FridgeBrilliance So, in a way, you have already completed the game at the end of Stage 2.]]]]
** One fun little detail regarding Stage 8 [[spoiler:is that your past self plays exactly like you did in Stage 2 during the parts when both ships are shown, or all four if there's 2 players. If you skip Stage 2 using stage select, however, then the ships will follow a predetermined path, like your future self does on Stage 2.]]
* {{Video Game 3D Leap}} - ''Gradius IV'' was a presentation upgrade rather than a total upgrade.
** There's also the ''Solar Assault'' sub-series, which is fully-3D ''Gradius'', though it hardly got any attention.
* VideoGameLives
* VideoGameLongRunners - The first game was ported to the NES, as well as many, many PC platforms. Then there's the many arcade releases and many, many console and (original!) PC releases.
* VillainProtagonist - You can play as the Bacterians in Cosmic Wars.
* WastedSong - Konami released a soundtrack compiling music from their [=ReBirth=] games. However, ''{{Contra}} [=ReBirth=]'' and ''{{Castlevania}}: The Adventure [=ReBirth=]'' are the only games accounted for. ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' didn't even get the "Another Medley" treatment.
** ''Gradius [=ReBirth=]'' had a soundtrack released a year before the compilation album.
** For actual wasted songs, ''Salamander Portable'''s Gallery feature reveals a lot of unused tracks for the Salamander series.
* WaveMotionTuningFork - Near the end of the opening cutscene for Gradius V, the Vic Viper is shown shooting a beam from between its front fins. It ''[[CutscenePowerToTheMax pierces through and destroys the boss of the first level]]''.
* WikiRule - [[http://gradius.wikia.com/wiki/Gradius_Wiki Yes, it has one]].
* WhatCouldHaveBeen - The canceled racing game ''Vic Viper''.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome - The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNyAJLjjbbw trailer]] for ''Gradius the Slot''. Pachislot has never been this HotBlooded.
* WhatTheHellHero - You hear this said by the announcer if you make up to the last stage but die.
** Inverted in Gradius IV, where if you make it up to the last stage and die, the announcer [[AWinnerIsYou congratulates you for making it that far, saying "You are the Viper!"]].
* WombLevel - Usually at least once per game, since the BigBad does the invasive bio-goo thing. Cell-levels are also reasonably common. The premises for ''Life Force'' and ''Salamander'' make those entire games {{Womb Level}}s, but not every level within them counts as one.
* ZeroEffortBoss - played straight for the most part, but [[ThatOneBoss heavily averted]] in Salamander 2.
** That's probably because the final level is usually the final boss; all the enemies are controlled by the Big Bad's pyschic powers.
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<<|ShootEmUp|>>
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|| '''[[OverDrive SPEED UP]]''' || '''[[MacrossMissileMassacre MISSILE]]''' || '''[[MoreDakka DOUBLE]]''' || '''[[FrickinLaserBeams LASER]]''' || '''[[AttackDrone OPTION]]''' || [==] '''[[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe ?]]''' [==] ||
