Sure thing, here we go:
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So, Konami, right? They’ve kinda messed up in the past, trying to bring back old games. Remember those Silent Hill and Metal Gear collections? Yeah, not great. But hold up—things are looking up. Lately, thanks to M2—some real pros at this stuff—they’ve been nailing these retro collections.
Just last week, Gradius Origins dropped. Oh, man, it’s good. You can almost hear people cheering for M2. Gradius started way back in 1985; it built on some old-school side-scrolling stuff from Scramble. Fast forward, and we’ve got five main games, spin-offs, and even more with some fancy twists—Salamander or Life Force, if you’ve heard of ’em. They switched up the power-ups and threw in vertical stages just to keep things spicy.
Things went quiet after Gradius ReBirth in 2008. Who worked on that one? Yup, M2 again. Now, Gradius Origins is a masterpiece of nostalgia, bringing back six arcade classics: Gradius, Salamander, Life Force, and the rest. There’s this one super-rare Gradius 3 too—only ever seen at some 1989 arcade trade show. Crazy awesome for fans to see it alive again.
And don’t get me started on all the options. Invincibility modes, rewinds, you name it. Messed up a level? No worries, just roll it back. Plus, you can drown in all the behind-the-scenes goodies: early sketches, high-def art scans. Even throw on the game tunes just because.
M2 didn’t hold back on the detail, addressing OG glitches and giving you CRT filters that look like the real deal. They thought of everything. The standout, though—a new wild card—Salamander 3. It’s like stepping back to the ‘90s with its retro vibe, yet it feels fresh. Gradius and Salamander fans are eating this up. It’s classic shoot-’em-up action with some alien ship drama thrown in.
Seriously, if these games ever meant something to you, maybe even if they didn’t, this collection is a can’t-miss. It’s a love letter to the games without losing its focus on arcade magic. Not every single detail’s there, but man, it’s got just the right stuff.
Gradius Origins, by the way, is out for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. Go check it out if you dare.
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