Gradius Rebirth is a worthy progenitor of the franchise that fans of the series and everybody else will enjoy.
In case you happen to care, a story introduces the game. It's actually based on a Japanese Gradius spin-off called Nemesis for the MSX console. However, the gameplay is what defines the game, not the story. There are only five levels to be had, and many of them are reboots from past Gradius games. You had to have anticipated the Easter Island stage to make the cut, and it did. As with previous games of the series, you are able to choose different sets of weapon configurations to suit your playing style, and all of the traditional Gradius weapons are here for the taking--the Ripple Laser, the Options--it wouldn't be Gradius if they weren't present. From then on in, you'll contend with the traditional stock of Moai heads, belligerent spaceships, bacterionites, and spewing volcanic eruptions. The difficulty is just as tough as it was in past games, but not so much that you'll throw your controller and spew a flurry of profanities.
Disappointingly, there's no two-player co-op or alternate play, and you only get two gameplay modes: the traditional arcade mode and the score attack. For the first time ever, there are online leaderboards, so you can compare your shooting skills with every other Wii owner in the world. The graphics are as you'd expect--a nod to the classic games of yore, right down to the pixelations. The music is genuinely arcade-like with some new and familiar tunes. It's not quite as memorable as older Gradius themes, but it's far from volume-killing.
Gradius Rebirth is a fun game for fans of the series, fans of shooters or just anybody looking for a good time. Its short length may leave you begging for more, but for what it's worth, it is a solid shooter that deserves a look.