Konami compilation combining Gradius III and IV with technical improvements. Both classic vertical shooters are well preserved with their high challenge. A nostalgic dive into Konami's heritage for shmup fans seeking the series' origins.
Your verdict
Category
Compilation2 players7+
Co-op
Description
A Western Konami compilation released in 2000, bundling the two rarest arcade Gradius games of the series (1989 and 1990) on a single PS2 disc. Same Vic Viper ships and same power-up bar across two demanding titles with designs still inspired by 16-bit-era arcade games. A solid pick for purists.
Gradius III and IV review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Punishing"
Two landmarks of the horizontal shoot-'em-up gathered together, both with a merciless reputation: lethal scenery, ever-present enemies and the dreaded checkpoint setback that strips your power in one blow. Managing your power-up bar and memorizing every passage become essential. Tough yet crystal-clear, the set delights genre purists ready to start over again and again.
Two classics brought together, where the series unfurls its mythic bestiary: armored Big Core nuclei, Moai statues spitting rings and dizzying boss-rushes as a finale. Managing your options multiplies your angles of attack against guardians that demand memory and positioning. This exacting tradition of the horizontal shooter finds one of its finest showcases here.
Is Gradius III and IV still worth playing in 2026?
A compilation from Konami, Gradius III and IV gathers two entries of the cult horizontal shoot 'em up, where you upgrade your Vic Viper ship via a selectable power-up bar and a fearsome difficulty rewards memorisation. The purity of the level design, the iconic upgrade system and the old school challenge win over fans of classic shmups. The period production has aged. A title for fans of demanding horizontal shoot 'em ups and the Gradius saga.
