- published: 30 Dec 2006
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The Gradius (pronounced: Grah-dee-us) games, first introduced in 1985, make up a series of scrolling shooter video games published by Konami for a variety of portable, console and arcade platforms. In many games in the series, the player controls a ship known as the Vic Viper. In other games of the series, ships the player controls include the Lord British Space Destroyer, Metalion, Sabel Tiger, Thrasher, Vixen, Alpinia, Super Cobra, Jade Knight, and the Falchion β.
There are several gameplay elements that are common to almost all the Gradius games. These include, but are not limited to:
One of the defining characteristics of the Gradius series is the use of a "power meter." The power meter is powered by a power-up item, whose purpose, when collected, is to move a highlight to the next power-up on the power meter. When a power-up that the player wants becomes highlighted, he or she may activate it, also causing the highlight to reset.
For example, when the player collects a power-up item for the first time, the first power-up (usually a speed increase) becomes highlighted.
I've lived long enough to see the dead horse
I've lived long enough to cross swamps at night
I've lived long enough to chase a rat
I've lived long enough to take a jet ride
If you see me on an airplane
Just make sure and get out of my way
I lived long enough to know the sun will drop
And you ought to leave it lie
To see the dying of the pines
I've lived long enough to kill my first love
I've lived long enough to break in and do harm
I've lived long enough to fly an airplane
I've lived long enough to break a machine
If you see me on an airplane
Just make sure and get out of my way
I lived long enough to know the sun will drop
And you ought to leave it lie