Topic: Gradius Rebirth Coming to WiiWare

[Yoshidious]

The next instalment in the classic arcade shooter series will be downloadable from the Wii Shop Channel.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=16414

 Following the emerging trend of renowned franchises being resurrected through digital distribution services, Konami has announced that its classic arcade shooter franchise Gradius will appear on WiiWare in the form of Gradius Rebirth.    

The first new title in the series since 2004's Gradius V on PlayStation 2, Gradius Rebirth will utilise a visual style that is highly reminiscent of Gradius III, which is currently available in its SNES form on Wii through the Virtual Console service, along with the NES conversion of the original Gradius. It is currently unclear whether Rebirth will be a remake of a previous Gradius game, or instead feature an entirely original design.

[NWR_Lindy]

This is Nintendo (where the company motto is "Here's your hamburger, pretend that it's caviar") so it'll never happen, but two-player online co-op for this would make me positively smitten.

"Me and Greg vs. the Universe"

[Yoshidious]

While we're discussing unlikely scenarios, let's include WiiSpeak compatibility so Jon (and the universe) can hear how the Bacterion empire turns me into Al Swearengen.

[Enner]

Sweet. New levels to Speed Up and "SHOOT THE CORE" in. Well, hopefully it will be new levels. It'll probably not, but I wonder if Treasure has some input in this.

[NWR_Lindy]

Do we know who is actually developing this?

[OzPrime]

Sweet. New levels to Speed Up and "SHOOT THE CORE" in. Well, hopefully it will be new levels. It'll probably not, but I wonder if Treasure has some input in this.

Wouldn't IT be nice if this is one of the games Treasure is working on?  Definitely a Day 1 purchase for me...

What a strange unexpected turn the Wii has taken, though:  The core gamers are getting all NEW versions of some classic franchises. Who saw this coming when the Wii's lifespan started?  For some reason, this reminds me of the scene from Back to the Future 2 when Marty is in the future diner and plays an old 80s arcade game (Hogan's Alley, I think) to show off his skills to a bunch of kids but they get annoyed because you have to HOLD the gun to play.  Although in this case you could alter the reaction to:

"You mean you push a button to jump?  There's no waggle? That's ANCIENT!"

Ancient... Moai statues... Gradius...  mmmm... 

 

[Morari]

You mean you have to use your hands? That's like a baby's toy!

[OzPrime]

You mean you have to use your hands? That's like a baby's toy!

That's it.   

[NWR_Lindy]

Wouldn't IT be nice if this is one of the games Treasure is working on?  Definitely a Day 1 purchase for me... 

That's exactly what I was getting at.  This is the kind of thing that would be right up their alley.

So is this going to be the equivalent of a SNES sequel?  Greg mentioned that it looked a lot like Gradius III for the SNES.

[Yoshidious]

No word on the developer (or much of anything else) right now. I also would be hugely encouraged if Treasure is developing this game, but you have to wonder whether Konami would already have released that info if that were the case.

[OzPrime]

Although lets be true here.  We're ALL huge Gradius fans and as far as I know, there hasn't been a horribly bad game in the series.  Granted, there hasn't exactly been a whole lot of change to the formula since day 1, and it would probably take more work to make a bad Gradius game than it would a good one (and everybody thinks Zelda is formulaic!). 

It's Gradius. A NEW Gradius.  At least that's the impression I get - doesn't make any sense to rehash an older version for WiiWare.  That's what the VC is for.

Best case scenario: Treasure develops it and it rocks.

Worst case:  It's STILL a Gradius game. 'Nuff said.

(you'd think by now SOMEONE would get a clue and load the Vic Viper with Antibiotic based weapons.  They're called "Bacterions" for crying out loud!)
 

[MegaByte]

I'm still waiting for an Otomedius port.