Game:

Gradius (1985)

Duration: 19:16

1,381 views

25

For those who don't know, Nemesis is the name of the international version of the first Gradius. Compared to Gradius, Nemesis boasts significantly easier recoveries (it sends a bunch of extra powerup-carrying enemies after a death) but also more brutal rank (enemies and bullets become more aggressive more quickly). It's an interesting mix that makes it harder to avoid dying, but easier to avoid the infamous "Gradius syndrome" chain-deaths. There are some other differences, such as a higher extend interval and a shorter lead-up to the stage 1 boss, but they're minor compared to the aforementioned recovery assistance and more aggressive rank (unless there's some crazy difference in the loops). Overall I find Nemesis a bit easier than the Japanese Gradius (at least in the first loop), since recoveries are so much easier and the same general techniques work in both versions, but you do need to be more on your toes in Nemesis. Stages 4 and 7 are particularly crazy, similar to Gradius but even more exaggerated.

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