Gradius V
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😊 8.2/10
(Playstation 2 - JP, Action & Adventure)
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Developed_By:
Treasure
Published_By:
Konami
Released On:
22 Jul 2004
Long ago, the Gradius army destroyed an evil life form that was threatening the galaxy. But somehow some of the Bacterian cells survived, and a new army has appeared ready to take over the galaxy! The Gradius forces have developed a super spatial-temporal fighter (called the Vic Viper) which you must pilot in order to destroy all of the enemies. The gameplay in Gradius V is an arcade style shooter and is very similar to the other games in the series. You need to guide the Vic Viper through a series of side scrolling screens and destroy the many enemies that appear (including several very large bosses). Although you begin the game with very limited firepower, additional weapons can be acquired. After destroying certain enemies, a power up capsule is left behind; collecting these will advance the weapon selector. When the weapon you want is selected after collecting enough capsules, you can activate it to equip the Vic Viper with that weapon. Your choices are speed up, missiles, double fire, lasers, multiples (these circle the Vic Viper providing additional firepower), and force fields. As you progress through the game, short animated cut scenes will reveal the story, and the enemies become tougher and more numerous. The game is somewhat customizable, allowing you to set the controls, difficulty level, and number of lives you begin with.
EAN-13:
4542084000966 (Japan)
UPC-A:
4988602120790 (Japan)
Sony PN:
SLPM-62462 (Japan)
Part #:
SLPM-62621 (Japan)
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Media Type:
CD-ROM
Multiplayer Game Modes:
Co-Op
Gamepads Supported:
DualShock 2
Save Game Methods:
External Storage
Multiplayer Options:
Same/Split-Screen
Number of Offline Players:
1-2 Players
Input Device Features Supported:
Vibration
Controller Types Supported:
Analog Controller
Prices as of 15 Sep 2026
Typical $55.22–$59.57 (last 90 days)
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is a classic arcade shoot 'em up game where players pilot the Vic Viper, a futuristic spacecraft, to defend the Gradius Army from the alien Zelos Force. You'll engage in fast-paced aerial combat, battling waves of enemies and powerful bosses to prevent the resurgence of a destructive life form.
Story
Prologue
Long ago, a destructive life form, born from the dark depths of space, was annihilated in an arduous battle with the Gradius Army. However, remnants of the life form's cells floating in an unnoticed pocket of the universe somehow survived.
Slowly but surely the cells multiplied, and eventually began to form into a new type of Bacterian cell.
The Year 8010: Gradius Era
Suddenly, an orbiting space station took massive damage from a Zelos Force surprise attack. The Gradius Army quickly developed a counter strategy.
Vic Viper, a super spatial-temporal fighter belonging to the Wide Range Strike Support Unit, took flight to counterattack.
Controls
L1 button
Not Used
R1 button
Multiple Control
L2 button
Not Used
R2 button
Not Used
directional button
Moves Ship
button
Not Used
right analog stick
Not Used
A button
Not Used
left analog stick
Moves Ship
O button
Power Up
SELECT button
Not Used
X button
Shoot, Missiles
START button
Confirm, Pause
L1+L2+R1+R2+START+SELECT
Soft Reset
How to Play
Starting The Game
After the Konami logo disappears, the opening demo will start. Press the START button at the "Gradius V" title screen.
Use the directional button to select a mode and press the START or button to confirm.
Player Control
Using a controller in controller port 1 allows you to start the game as Player 1. Using a controller in controller port 2 allows you to start the game as Player 2.
Use two controllers to start in two-player mode.
•
Highlighting "GAME START" makes the number of credits appear at the bottom of the screen.
•
The number of credits determines the amount of times you are able to continue.
•
The number of credits available will increase according to the playtime saved on the memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2).
Select Weapon Array
After beginning a game, you will move on to the "Select Weapon Array" screen. Here you are able to choose from four types of Power Ups.
Stage Select
This allows you to choose which stage to begin your game from. The amount of stages you are able to select increases as you clear each area and save the game data.
Score Attack
Allows you to play a game with specific parameters and receive a password upon completion. In order to record your score on the Internet Ranking web site, a password is displayed along with your score when the game is over.
Ranking
Allows you to view the high scores.
Config
Allows you to adjust game settings.
Save/Load
Allows you to save or load game data.
•
At least 40 KB of free space must be available on the memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2) in order to save game data.
Configuration
Configuration allows you to change the game settings.
Sound
Choose between Stereo or Mono sound.
Difficulty
Adjust the level of difficulty.
•
VERY EASY
•
EASY
•
NORMAL
•
HARD
•
VERY HARD
Player Stock
Choose the number of ships (1 - 5 ships) available at the beginning of the game.
Extend
Adjust the number of points required to get extra ships in the game.
•
1ST: Indicates the number of points required to receive the first extra ship.
•
EVERY: Indicates the number of points required to receive every extra ship thereafter.
•
NONE: No extra ships awarded for points.
Revival Start
Toggle between ON and OFF. When ON, your ship will restart from a determined point when destroyed. When OFF, your ship will restart from where it was destroyed.
Default
Allows you to change the settings back to their original state. There is one default option for the Game Configuration and another for the Button Setting.
Button Settings
Allows you to change the button settings. Choosing "ALL" sets all buttons to perform a selected function.
•
This does not include L3, R3, SELECT button, or START button.
•
POWER UP: Performs Power Up
•
SHOT: Performs shooting and laser fire
•
MISSILE: Fires missiles
•
MULTIPLE: Controls Multiples
•
RAPID SHOT: Holding down the button performs rapid shot or laser fire
•
RAPID MISSILE: Holding down the button performs rapid missile launch
Exit
Exits configuration mode.
Tips & Maps
SAVING/LOADING
A memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2) is necessary to save or load game data. At the Configuration screen, select "SAVE/LOAD" to advance to the Save/Load menu.
LOAD
Save game data is read from a memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2). When the main power is on, the "Gradius V" save game data on the memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2) in MEMORY CARD slot 1 will be read automatically.
SAVE
Saves back-up data on a memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2).
AUTO SAVE
You can enable this function when a memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2) with enough free space is in MEMORY CARD slot 1. When this function is enabled, the configuration data selected will be automatically saved during a game over sequence.
HOW TO USE POWER UPS
Power Up capsules appear when destroying certain enemies or formations. Each time you pick up a capsule, the particular type of Power Up you receive will light up on the power meter. When the Power Up that you want to use lights up, press the Power Up button.
Power Up Capsule
Destroys all minor enemies and bullets on the screen.
WEAPON ARRAY
When starting the game, you can choose from four types of Weapon Arrays for your Power Ups.
WEAPON EDIT
If certain conditions are met, you will be able to access the Weapon Edit command from the "Select Weapon Array" screen. With Weapon Edit, you are able to customize your fighter by equipping it with weapons that have appeared in previous games in the Gradius series, as well as new equipment.
Items & Weapons
SPEED UP
There are 6 different speeds (0-5). The maximum speed is 5, and when it is reached, "INIT SPEED" (Initial Speed) is displayed. If Speed is powered up again at 5, it will drop back down to 0.
MISSILE
Launches air-to-surface missiles to take out ground enemies.
2-WAY MISSILE
Two missiles are launched up and down.
EAGLE WIND
When the fighter is located in the upper half of the screen, missiles are launched upward. When in the lower half of the screen, missiles are launched downward.
2-WAY BACK
Two missiles are launched up and down from behind.
DOUBLE
Adds a gun that fires upward to the standard one.
TAIL GUN
Adds a gun that fires from the rear to the standard one.
LASER
A piercing laser lances out.
MULTIPLE
Up to 4 clone ships (Options) shadow your ship and fire alongside you. There are four different types of Multiples: Freeze, Direction, Spacing, and Rotate.
FORCE FIELD
Surrounds your fighter and protects it for up to three hits.
FREEZE
Holding the R1 button fixes the Multiple positioning, while still leaving your fighter free to move around. Releasing the R1 button takes the Multiple out of the fixed position.
DIRECTION
Holding the R1 button, move the left analog stick or the directional buttons to control the direction of fire (Multiple fire only). You are unable to move the fighter while adjusting the direction.
SPACING
Multiples are positioned above and below the fighter. Pressing the R1 button expands or reduces the amount of space between the fighter and Multiples.
ROTATE
Pressing R1 causes the Multiples to rotate around the fighter. Another R1 button press causes them to rotate in the opposite direction.
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