Gradius IV: Fukkatsu

Gradius IV: Fukkatsu
Japanesetitle(s)	グラディウスIV -復活- ("Gradius IV: Revival")
Developer(s)	KCET
Publisher(s)	Konami
Series	Gradius
Director(s)	Hiroyuki Ashida
Producer(s)	Hiroyasu Machiguchi
Designer(s)	Yasunori Kanetake Noriaki Yamamoto
Composer(s)	Atsuki Watanabe
Platform(s)	Arcade (Konami Hornet) PlayStation 2 PlayStation Portable
Release date(s)	February 4, 1999
Genre(s)	Side scrolling shoot 'em up
Mode(s)	Single player, two players

Gradius IV: Fukkatsu (グラディウスIV -復活-, Guradiusu IV -Fukkatsu-, lit. "Gradius IV: Revival") is the fourth arcade installment in the Gradius series of scrolling shooter video games produced by Konami. It was preceded by Gradius III, released in 1989, although other non-numbered spinoffs had been released such as Gradius Gaiden. This title brings a considerable graphical upgrade, particularly with the use of colored lighting. In addition, there have been several additions and removals to the vaulted weapons system; specifically, the edit mode has been removed and an online ranking system was added.

Story

A distant memory....

The doomsday planet Bacterian has long been forgotten and Planet Gradius is enjoying a time of restored peace and prosperity. However their worst nightmare is about to become reality... again.... Suddenly, out of nowhere, a massive attack force appears, overwhelming the Gradius Defense Forces.

Just when things are looking hopeless, a lone fighter screams across the sky. The battle for freedom is joined once more.....

Gameplay

The core gameplay of Gradius IV remains relatively unchanged. However, several changes were made on the weapons system in the transition from Gradius III. First of all, the edit mode has been completely eliminated, as are the "Snake Option" (s.option), the "Reduce" shield type, and the seventh powerup category. The seventh powerup category was the one that was labeled "!" and would produce detrimental results, such as reducing the speed or eliminating the weapons of the ship.

In this game there are a total of six configurations, the first four of which are migrated from Gradius II. There two new configurations are as follows:

Configuration 5: The missile mode is a vertical mine that is released above and below the ship. After a short delay, the mines explode, yielding a large explosion. The double mode is the standard 45-degree angle split. The laser mode is a thin armor piercing round that can penetrate multiple enemies.

Configuration 6: The missile mode is the flying torpedo, which produces two missiles that fly forward in front of the ship. The double mode is the tailgun, seen in other configurations. The laser is the twin laser seen in Gradius III.

Starting a tradition that is continued in Gradius V, this game introduced an online-ranking system. After a player's game was over, a password was presented. This password, which was hashed scoring information, could be uploaded to a Konami website. This ability was only available in Japan, and was discontinued in August 27 of 1998. This was similarly done for the Gradius III and IV console release. Score recording was disabled approximately a year after its arcade brethren.

Stages

Stage	Name	Boss	Music
1	Liquid Metal	Yorogaton Chimera	Hydra
2	Plant	Dendrodium	Demeter
3	Bubble	Bubble Core	Oceanus
4	Magma	Gillador	Cronos Hades
5	Moai	Alpha/Omega	Uranus
6	Cell	Berial	Hera
7	High Speed	Rolling Core	Dupon
8	Boss Rush	Vanishing Core Big Core MK III Kai Covered Tetran Berserk Core Planet Core	Aircraft Carrier Take Care!
9	Final Fortress	Bloody Gate Crab-II Gofer	Prometheus Athena

Enemies

Note: Names in italics are unofficial.

• Gear MK II
• Kill
• Melting Dragon
• Rugal
• Spina
• Gira
• Turret
• Kyura
• Kafras
• Urolist S
• Ducker Type-B
• Ducker Type-C
• Floral
• Flor
• Jumper
• Bubble
• Gigant
• Gizam
• Turret θ
• Saika
• Dirge
• Volcano
• Ducker
• Hard Turret
• Rera
• Moai
• Bias
• Thrasher
• Moai R
• Baum
• Moai Я
• Moai Я II
• Roam
• Glow Turret
• Brada
• Ramdas
• Ram
• Wyam
• Sera
• Backbait
• Zub MK IV
• Rugal α
• Gear Type S
• Keeper Turret
• Dagram
• Shret
• Jumper μ
• Hunter
• Fungus
• Pincer

Ports

Gradius IV: Fukkatsu never received a direct port. It was included in the Gradius III and IV compilation for the PlayStation 2 in 2000 and as a part of Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable in 2006. Both ports include a boss rush mode (play all the game's bosses in a time attack fashion) and a stage select.

Gallery

Key art.

Key art.

Trivia

• Most of the Gradius IV music tracks got their names from Greek and Roman gods.
• There are some stage ideas that did not make into the final cut of Gradius IV, with one of them had the Vic Viper fighting against its fake counterpart (presumably the Vic Cyber from Cosmic Wars) that ended up being too boring by the devs. That idea was also suggested in Gradius III, but was also rejected due to the ship's small hitbox and was frustrating.
  • Although this idea predates the main gimmick of Judgement Sword and Awakening from Thunder Force V and R-Type Delta respectively, it was not implemented in for the entire Gradius series.
  • Another stage idea was for the Vic Viper to shoot the ball to make it roll in an unrealized stage. That idea eventually realized in the form of Rutas from Gradius V for the second part of Stage 7.

External links

• Title at GameFAQs
• Title at MobyGames