Gradius Galaxies

There are series that defined an entire genre, and Konami's Gradius undoubtedly belongs among them. Gradius Galaxies, released in 2001, brings this legendary horizontal shooter to the Game Boy Advance and proves that the classic shmup formula works in your pocket too.

The heart of the game is the famous upgrade system, the so-called power-up bar. For destroyed enemies you collect capsules that move an indicator along the bottom bar, and at the right moment you choose what to activate: ship speed, missiles, double shot, laser, protective Options or a shield. This manual management of your arsenal is what sets Gradius apart from the competition, because it forces the player to think about when to invest and when to save. Galaxies adds to this the series' typical volcanic, organic and mechanical levels and battles with mighty bosses.

In terms of development, it is interesting that Galaxies was created primarily for the Western market as a distinct instalment outside the main numbered line, and in Japan it came out under the name Gradius Generation. With this Konami wanted to offer fans a fully fledged new Gradius on the GBA launch wave, not a mere port of an older title. The result is a game that honours tradition while standing on its own feet.

Culturally, Gradius recalls an era when arcade shooters were a measure of a player's skill and when a game was judged by how far you fought your way through. The series' notorious difficulty is also legendary, where a single hit means losing most of your collected equipment, which turns every cautious advance into a tense gamble.

On the GBA, Gradius Galaxies ranks among the best that the horizontal shooter genre offered on the platform. It is pure, addictive action for players who enjoy a challenge and gradual improvement.

Why play it: A fully fledged handheld Gradius with the iconic upgrade system, one of the best horizontal shooters on the GBA for lovers of demanding arcade action.