Crystal Zone is the ninth stage in Gradius III, exclusive to the Arcade version.
Overview[]
In the first section of this stage, tetromino and pentomino-shaped crystal cubes enter the screen from the right and attach themselves to other platforms of crystal cubes, potentially blocking and trapping the player. These platforms can be disposed if you're fast enough.
On the second section, other than the third appearance of an Option Hunter (which bounces up and down this time), you have to deal with about one hundred cubes, occasionally flying at you fast. Cubes 12 and 18 are the hardest ones, as they come from behind. One death and you have to start the stage all over again as there's no checkpoint.
Enemies[]
Boss[]
Music[]
| Description | Audio |
|---|---|
| Theme of Air Battle #1 - Departure for Space (Arcade) | |
| Theme of Crystal Zone - Crystal Labyrinth. | |
| Theme of Boss theme - Dark Force. |
Trivia[]
- The shapes of crystals cubes are inspired from Alexey Pajitnov's Tetris.
- During the development of Gradius III, the design of the Crystal Zone was intended to be similar to the Crystal stage in Gradius II.
| Gradius III | ||
| Ships | Vic Viper | |
| Stages | Desert • Bubble Zone • Volcanic Planet • High Speed Dimension • Moai Zone • Cell Planet • Prominence Planet • Plant Planet • Crystal Zone • Boss Rush • Mechanical Base | |
| SNES exclusive stages | High Speed Zone • Fortress • Cell | |
| Bosses | Goliath • Bubble Eye • Godrei • Big Core MK III • Dogas • Vaif • Twin Vaif (SNES) • Gregol • Wyvern • Vulture Dragon • Choking Weed • Lizard Core • Beacon (SNES) • Tetran • Covered Core • Big Core MK II • Crystal Core • Death MK II • Dellinger Core • Disrupt • Shadow Gear • Shadow Gear MK II (SNES) • Big Core • Golem • Bacterian | |