Gradius II

Gradius II

Overview & History

Released by Konami in 1988 for Japanese arcades and later ported to the Famicom in 1990, Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou (The Ambition of Gofer) stands as a landmark shoot 'em up. While the original NES port of Gradius was a technical marvel for its time, this sequel pushed hardware limits to deliver an audiovisual feast. The storyline plunges players back into the cockpit of the legendary Vic Viper starfighter. Humanity faces extinction once again as the malevolent Bacterion empire returns alongside their ultimate weapon, the sinister entity known as Gofer. Your mission is to navigate eight deeply treacherous, biomechanical stages—ranging from solar prominences to fiery volcanic interiors—and eradicate the alien menace before they consume the galaxy.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Gradius II refines the iconic Power Meter system pioneered by its predecessor. Instead of collecting fixed power-ups, defeated red-crystal-carrying enemies drop power capsule units. Accumulating these lets players highlight and activate specific systems on the bottom HUD: Speed Up, Missiles, Double, Laser, Option, and the coveted Force Field. A defining addition to Gradius II is the Weapon Select mechanic at the start of each game, allowing pilots to choose from four distinct preset configurations of missiles, shields, and auxiliary offensive beams (such as the sweeping Ripple Laser or aggressive Tail Gun). Furthermore, the iconic multiple trailing drone modules—known as Options—return to mimic your every move and unleash devastating synchronized firepower.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move Vic Viper
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause