Gradius E3 2004 Hands-On Impressions

Konami's Gradius franchise has had a sirenlike effect on gamers since it first appeared on the gaming scene in the mid-'80s. The side-scrolling shooter's impressive sprite-based graphics and difficulty level has enticed gamers to come back, often to their financial doom, and to perfect their skills. We had a chance to play the latest entry in the series for the PlayStation 2, which appears to mark a flashy return for the franchise on the current generation of consoles.

Gradius is being developed by KCET and the 2D shooting gurus over at Treasure who appear to be working very well together. The pair's work is blending the hardcore shooting aspects the franchise is known for with a stronger story element. While Treasure has a knack for creating some of the most difficult shooters known to man, Gradius is being carefully crafted and balanced to ensure the difficulty isn't completely off the charts. When it comes to the default mode, plan on finding higher levels of difficulty that will enhance your esteem in the game.

Gradius' mechanics remain true to the precedent set by the previous game and allow you a measure of customization in order to trick out your ship's weapon systems to your liking. You'll find roughly four weapon configurations that offer a generous helping of firepower to choose from. You'll need the small arsenal in order to take out the alien hordes you'll encounter. The game will also feature a score attack that will challenge you to get as far as you can on one life in the game. After your swatch of destruction is cut short you'll be given a password that you can use to upload your score on the Internet. Unfortunately, you'll need a PC to access the Web page for it as Gradius doesn't offer any online functionality.

While the game's offerings fall squarely in the category of things we expected out of a new game, Gradius has one very appealing new element: simultaneous two-player support that marks a first for the franchise. You'll be able to have a friend join you in your face-off against the alien hordes, which will certainly help your odds of survival. The catch is that you should choose your partner wisely, because the game lets you and your friend draw from each other's pool of lives, which can cut your run prematurely short if there's a weak link in the mix.

Control is shaping up nicely and is laid out as you'd expect. You'll simply have to worry about using the power-ups you've collected to take advantage of your ship's weapon loadout and to be able to shoot anything that moves. A new twist has been added to the "options" you collect, which are the small spheres you'll pick up to enhance your firepower. If you pick a certain weapon configuration you can go ahead and have them rotate in a fairly tight circle around your ship and protect you from a decent amount of damage as you play.

The graphics in the game offer a bullet-laden but surreal experience that reflects many of Treasure's insane design sensibilities. The environments we played through featured intricately layered 2D and 3D elements that give the game a distinct look that's both insane and fun. As with any Treasure shooter, placement in the environment is key to survival, so plan on scanning the gorgeous visuals for safe spots that will let you avoid death. The intense onscreen action can make multiplayer a little disorienting, as it's entirely possible to lose track of your ship or your partners in crime when the action heats up.

Based on what we played, Gradius is looking extremely good. The gameplay is rock solid and the visuals are outstanding. Gradius is currently slated to ship this fall for the PlayStation 2. Look for more on the game in the coming months.