Gradius NEO (グラディウスNEO Guradiusu NEO ) is a horizontally-scrolling shooter game developed and published by Konami in February 2, 2004 for mobile phones, and was released on NTT DoCoMo's FOMA 900i line of phones in Japan and has been released in North America through Verizon Wireless as part of their Get It Now service.
The game's storyline takes place in the future after the Bacterian Empire from the traditional Gradius series is gone. The Gradius Empire is no more and has been replaced by the Gradius Union, which is in battle with the Lars Empire; this new enemy force managed to obtain ancient Gradius and Bacterion technology, and makes use of it in their army.
Weapons[]
- Missile - can be upgraded in Extra Mode from Normal to 2-Way (fires a pair of missiles above and below).
- Double - can be upgraded in Extra Mode from Normal to either Tail Gun (fires backwards), Vertical (fires upwards), or Ripple (like Ripple Laser from Gradius II).
- Option - can be upgraded in Extra Mode from Normal to Metal Options, which absorb bullets and destroy small enemies (like CLAWs from Thunder Force II).
- Laser - the weapon has no upgrades, but when all four options are present, special laser weapons will be enabled (see below).
Formations[]
There is an additional gauge right to the Power Up gauge. To use this gauge, you collect green power capsules, and you are able to activate six different Option formations. With four options and the Laser slot active, special laser weapons are able to be used.
- Rotate Formation - Options rotate around the ship. The special laser weapon is Twin Laser, where the Options fire two short laser beams in quick succession.
- Cross Formation - Options are locked orthogonally around the ship. The special laser weapon is Round Bullet, where the Options fire bullets in the direction opposite of the ship's movement; this is an equivalent of Free Way from Gradius III AC, though it behaves akin to Nova from Thunder Force II.
- Forward Formation - Options are positioned in front of the ship to form a sideways V. The special laser weapon is Wide Laser, where the Options fire one massive laser beam.
- Wide Formation - Options are locked in place to form a sideways W with the ship. The special laser weapon is 5-Way Bullet, where the Options fire blue, round bullets in a wide spread.
- In-Line Formation - Options are locked in a straight line above and below the ship. The special laser weapon is Lightning Laser, where the Options fire lightning-like projectiles.
- Attack Formation - Options fly forward and return slowly. The special laser weapon is Sword Laser, where the returning Options generate a vertical laser barrier; this is an equivalent of the Parodius Kiku Beam special weapon.
Stages[]
Stage | Name | Boss | Music |
---|---|---|---|
1 | The Neutral Zone | Satellite Core | Shooting Again |
2 | Asteroids Zone | Crystal Moai | A Stone Graveyard |
3 | Lars Empire Fleet | Gigantic | Tension is Building Up |
4 | Space Highway | Ogre Shield | Speed of Photon |
5 | Lars Empire Base | Big Core X3 Central Server |
Another Bass S-Mix Salamander Boss NEO-MIX |
Ending[]
The Force Viper destroys Central Server. A derelict, destroyed Big Core is seen floating away in space; this is most likely Big Core Custom, before it burns up above a star.
See also[]
External links[]
- Information about Gradius NEO
- Gradius NEO Related Soundtrack
- Video playthrough showing metal options, formations and special attacks (part 1 and part 2)
Gradius NEO | ||
Characters/Ships | Force Viper • Big Core Custom • Lars Empire | |
Gradius NEO Bosses | Satellite Core • Crystal Moai • Gigantic • Ogre Shield • Big Core X 3 • Central Server | |
Gradius NEO Imperial Bosses | Big Core • Satellite Core MK II • Deadalus • Crystal Moai • Genocide Core |
Gradius video games | ||
Gradius series | Gradius • Gradius II • Gradius III • Gradius Gaiden • Gradius IV: Fukkatsu • Gradius Galaxies • Gradius V • Gradius ReBirth • Gradius: The Interstellar Assault • Gradius NEO • Gradius NEO Imperial | |
Spin-offs | Salamander (Life Force) (MSX ver.)• Salamander 2 • Nemesis 2 (Nemesis '90 Kai) • Nemesis 3 • Nemesis (Game Boy) • Cosmic Wars • Solar Assault | |
Parody games | Parodius • Parodius Da! • Gokujō Parodius! • Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius • Sexy Parodius • Paro Wars • Otomedius (Otomedius Gorgeous) • Otomedius Excellent | |
Other games | Scramble • Thunder Cross • Thunder Cross II • Space Manbow • Force Gear | |
Pachislot | Gradius: The Slot • CR Parodius Da! EX • Gokuraku Parodius! | |
Cancelled | Vic Viper • Gradius Arc • Salamander HD Remaster |