Gradius ReBirth

released on Sep 02, 2008
by Konami

,

M2

Blast your way through levels filled with alien spaceships and otherworldly creatures in this retro side-scrolling shooter. Pick your weapons carefully and upgrade them to create a devastating arsenal of space-aged weapons that will aid you in your challenging mission. Players can post their high scores to worldwide leader boards via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and see where they rank against all the other Gradius ReBirth players. Test your skills with Gradius ReBirth and see if you have what it takes to beat this action-packed arcade shooter.


Released on

Genres


More Info on IGDB


Reviews View More

The start of the digital era of online game services is quite an interesting one as many companies experimented with what would work both in terms of both service and software. Take Wiiware for example, a service Nintendo introduced on the Wii in 2008. It allowed small teams to release small games (40mb limit) at budget prices. This was back at a time when shovelware appearing on these digital stores was a lot less of an issue and even some of the bigger known game developers were trying their hand in this type of market. This led Konami to release a trilogy of 'rebirth' games on the Wii. These games used existing intellectual property of Konami to make remake / remixes of older titles of Contra, Castlevania and the first of these three, Gradius.

The thing is that Gradius Rebirth just feels like a remix in every way. There isn't anything here that feels like this release was actually necessary. It's not that it's bad, it isn't. It plays like Gradius, looks like Gradius, sounds like Gradius but that's also kind of the problem. It's just so uninspired in a series hardly know for variation or innovation between titles. If you weren't a fan of Gradius this won't change your mind, if you were then you've basically played this game already. Otherwise it was just a Gradius title available on the Wii.

You play the role of James Burton piloting the iconic Vic Viper sent out to defeat the Bacterians. Like the rest of the series in Rebirth you can collect power ups that you choose when to use depending on how many you have collected which will upgrade a different element of the ship. Depending on the ship you choose (or later unlock) will depend on the load out available to upgrade. The upgrades are mostly weapons such as missiles, lasers, or two way firing but can also include the ships manoeuvre speed or force fields and shields as well. The various power up load outs have levels when used multiple times to gain strength to deal with the waves of enemies you will face over the course of the five levels.

I like the power up system, it gives control for what you want to upgrade and different ships handle different levels and bosses differently due to their slightly varied load outs. What I don't like is how utterly punishing it is when you die losing everything. Often if you die it will be because a section is hard to get by so going back into it with only a portion of your previous strength often means, (at least in my case) I will die there again. It feels there should be greater balance for a game that isn't an arcade coin gobbler like some of it's predecessors.

Whilst unfortunately Gradius Rebirth and the rest of this trilogy are currently lost to the annals of time with the Wiiware store closing in 2019. I also can't say unless you're a super fan you are missing out much with this one either. It's fine, it's just forgettable. Still I hope it does get a trilogy Rebirth release on modern platforms for preservation so that other gamers can at least find that out for themselves.

Half a star for the cover art. Gradius covers nearly always have stunning artwork and the usage of almost prism colours here really stand out.

+ Looks like Gradius, sounds like Gradius, plays like Gradius.
+ Gradius power up system and ship options are still pretty great a mechanic.
+ that cover art.

- Looks like Gradius, sounds like Gradius, plays like Gradius.
- Dying still feels brutally punishing.

Criminally-underrated Gradius game.

Yes, most people complain that a loop takes just 20 minutes and has "only" 5 stages. So? Maybe that isn't for everyone, but that makes it good for a quick session, 30 minutes like many arcade shmups can wear me out sometimes. And most modern bullet hell shooters are 5 stages anyway.

In terms of graphics and level design it feels a lot like a miniature Gradius Gaiden. Lots of unique twists on familiar level formats, with my only real complaint being the indestructible bone debris in stage 4.

Soundtrack sounds like the best of Gradius soundtracks in a similar soundfont to Gradius II and III, all arranged by the legendary Manabu Namiki. I'm glad this game gave some love to the MSX Gradius games, giving some of those games' tracks some solid arrangements. And speaking of, the game being a prequel to the MSX Gradius 2 is icing on the cake -- Gradius lore is also a thing that's underrated.

I'm praying to the gods of video game preservation that K*nami, Nintendo, and M2 can come to a deal to bring the ReBirth games to modern platforms. The fact that these games are left to be unobtainable by legal means if you didn't buy them back in the day should be a federal offense on Nintendo's part lmao.

Um Gradius agressivamente ok.

unfortunately this and all the other rebirth games are more or less lost to the aether. its a damn shame because the music is really good! I love the sort of hi-fi megadrive sound this game and the other rebirth games go for. As for how it plays? well its gradius, if you're into those quarter munchers that basically cripple you if you die once then you'll like it. me personally I enjoy keeping some of my powers when I die.

Obviously not the kind of game that revolutionises the gradius series like Gaiden or V but ReBirth is a good reimagining of Gradius I in its own right. Some parts feel rough but the stages are fun with visually striking boss fights.

It also has the same weird difficulty curve that Gradius I has where some sections are actually easier to do on recovery pace than fully powered up because the rank gets pretty crazy.