Gradius II PCE-CDROM - Full Run on Professional

Gradius II PCE CDROM² ver.
© 1992 Konami
Back to our roots. The arcade version of Gradius II were my first uploaded videos way back in 2009. My oh my how far we've come. I was 20 when I started this, I'm 24 now. Gettin old D:.
This version of the game is a crazy miracle port by Konami to the PC Engine. A dual 68000 + z80 arcade game ported to a low end 8bit 6502! Truly amazing. The professional difficulty is the hardest configuration of Gradius II you can play anywhere, much much harder than the AC version on very hard.
I spent a week playing the game with no success. Then I discovered that my monitor has a huge amount of input lag. Passing the cable signal through the BLackmagic and onto a low lag TV made the game that much easier that I beat it on my third attempt after the switch. Hurray!
And once again the video editing was a lot of work, way more than I thought. Worth it in the end. So please enjoy as usual.

[@theodorfons1551]

This is one of the best games i've ever played. I even forgot how to die here.. so much memories

[@SaphNeedsCoffee]

I still love watching your gradius runs. Gets me wanting to replay the games after so long.

[@TotemSP2]

I like this version of Gradius II better because the laser doesn't sound so harsh. Good to see you still got it!

[@eduardoragui3178]

I love the way you move!

[@andiarrohnds5163]

good lord this is golden

[@-roejogan-]

your playing is a fine art

[@mugglesthomas6585]

Cool info text during the bosses/bgm I thought it was part of the game until I saw the end :)

[@Seahawk0027]

Now you got me playing Gradius 4 again...

[@SophiaXiaoyuAralaCran]

2:00 Oh my GOD! No wonder I love the series!! o_O 1985 - Gradius 1 born, also so is my elder sibling! 1988 - Gradius 2 is born, MY birthyear exactly AND also Phantasy Star as well!

[@mortenera2294]

Ok...

[@Bloodreign1]

I remember buying this version for $30, I can see it from where I currently sit, all snug in it's CD rack compartment. I run the CD via emulation of course (Ootake runs it far better than Magic Engine, the latter lags on the arcade intro, not the extra demo added to this game that takes away the game play demo all other ports besides the FC version has), first time I ever ran the ISO, I was floored, felt damned near perfection, this in turn enticed me to track down a real copy. For it's time before the Deluxe Pack came along, felt like the best version with an added extra stage (the X68K version was close, but no extra stage, plus the music felt more tinny, and was much harder to get ahold of, as well as the X68K PC to run it, that is, till emulation came along), and a different ending if played on the highest difficulty level, the one seen here.

[@budiramadyanto6148]

1987 GRADIUS 1988 1989 SALAMANDER/LIFEFORCE 1990 GRADIUS 2 1991 GRADIUS 3

[@user-tz5kh4sr2q]

11:16 クリスタルコア「You shall be crushed！」 勇者でごわす

[@cps1247]

Nice run on professional mode, the boss parade stage is harder on this mode

[@Seahawk0027]

Yeah the arcade version laser sound is really sharp and hard on the ear after a while.

[@Seahawk0027]

It is available on the difficulty select in the options menu, no codes required.

[@Peter_Morris]

I kept seeing pictures of this ending, but I couldn’t figure out which version of Gradius II it was. Fortunately I have this on my Wii U via the Wii Store. Just gotta practice up.

[@kenbrisby4825]

that end boss is hilarious!

[@denxrstudio]

On the NES version, the funny part stop when Goofer start shoot you with bubble. 😆

[@aFxCalix]

it suprised me that the last boss died so quick

[@BocchiTheMeltDown]

Difference between the Shield and Force Field: Shield: Protect against the enemy’s attack. Lasts 10 hits, but front only. Force Field: Protect against the enemy’s attack from everywhere, but lasts 5 hits.

[@mitu123Copper]

It's why I prefer the Force Field, some sections are pretty difficult to not get hit from top to bottom.

[@Seahawk0027]

1. There is a very short interval after getting hit that you are invincible. With the fast scroll speed and me moving forward the game does not detect enough collisions in time to remove my force field and kill me. 2. It is possible that the developers did not enable the tiles INSIDE the wall (instead of just the outside) to be collision tested.

[@SuperViperT302]

The programmers specifically allowed for you to use the force field in that stage to go through walls. It said so in the blackoak interviews.

[@ToploadedGaming]

SuperViper T302 Can you link me to these interviews? Id surely be interested in any interviews from Gradius devs.

[@armosthelivingsekizou]

フェニックス 5:28 ビッグアイ 8:00 クリスタルコア 11:13 デスMk-II 13:50 ジャンピングモアイ 16:48 ビッグモアイ 17:20 デザートコア 20:18 ビッグコアMk-II 22:22 ビッグコア 23:04 ゴーレム 23:48 テトラン 24:22 ガウ 25:40 イントルーダ 26:15 カバードコア 26:48 中間要塞 29:05 クラブ 30:50 ゴーファー 33:19

[@KrazyScruffy9001]

I love this version, I have it on the Virtual Console! (It's a miracle it even made it to the crappy American VC). I can only seem to make it halfway through Stage 4. The new stage looks really nice!

[@luisreyes1963]

Konami was foolish not to include this game, Gradius II in their planned mini version of the Turbo-Grafx 16.

[@ItsMrChristmas]

@@luisreyes1963 ...they did. It's on there.

[@VectorOmega]

Would it be possible to still get a good used PC-Engine CDROM2? Can it be used on an Australian TV?

[@TronPachioftheDynamo]

What makes him harder is the fact that he moves triple the speed of normal walkers, has smaller openings, and does this weird bouncing motion.

[@elcoyote9137]

Casi iguala al gradius III de super,increíble lo que una máquina de 8 bits podía hacer

[@MajinErick]

33:50 ROFLLLLL!!!! "I am the strongest!"

[@G-Meister22]

Would the ruins core be considered death mk3

[@daviddyer3543]

Think PCE CD-ROM2 could have handled a CD enhanced version of Gradius III and Nemesis 90 Kai? PS. How does one program for PCE CDROM2? Are there paint programs to convert graphics to the PCE format? Also, how does one make a cutscene?

[@cps1247]

idk much about PCE programming but I believe the Hucard of CDROM system adds more extra memory

[@waynecuff3140]

Totally agree the Engine had more left in it, especially with the higher meg arcade card. Gradius 3 enhanced would of been amazing more like the Snes than arcade though. Snes is the better game. What would of been even better is Space Manbow from MSX. Imagine a PC Engine version of that brilliant game.

[@Kurayamiblack]

36:55 Good old fashioned Gradius bullshit; Classic Edition.

[@TronPachioftheDynamo]

I felt your pain when you died on Club. :x

[@kylechambers]

37:48 The evil Gofer laugh...

[@shalpp]

I can't get over how from an audio standpoint konami's PCE games have always been pretty weak, even when compared to their sound on the MSX (drum / voice samples aside) Yet in this game they went out of their way to sequence the sound effects NEARLY IDENTICALLY TO THEIR FM COUNTERPARTS IN THE ARCADE VERSION LIKE HOLY SHIT

[@Seahawk0027]

Yes but there are no enemies or bullets to crash into, much more vertical space to dodge in, and more precise hitboxes on the legs.

[@GITAHxgCoo]

Seahawk going ham #worldstarhiphop

[@megagrey]

Damn I missed out passing on the Wii VC reissue of this version. At least I got it on NES.

[@Seahawk0027]

Actually G4's walker is very easy compared to the rest of them as no other distracting enemies appear during the time it is on screen. Of course I say this with my limited experience on that area, as getting there is another story....

[@Seahawk0027]

Happens EVERY TIME, all the way since the first time I beat arcade -.-.

[@meghanhause9042]

20:23 "Ruins Core" is that really that boss's offical name? I thought that boss had no offical name and it was commonly refered to as the "Desert Core'?

[@SilverreploidCLE]

The voice implemented in this game is super arbitrary.

[@jeh6921]

i'm play this game.but so difficult.the last stage,i'm dying.so i save the slot (play emulator)and a play .finally, i'm clear and i see the ending this game so difficult.but so amazing and funny game.i love gradius 2!(i'm not pretty good english.because i'm a korean.please understand me....)

[@MetalSonicodraco7342]

Dont worry man, your English is nice ;) and yeah, lastest levels really punish the people haha

[@daviddyer3543]

5:36 "PHILOMENA!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! (cries)" Just kidding, that's not Celestia's pet here.

[@Shadowfynx]

I think maybe this version has the better of the music.

[@danmakuman]

Same as the arcade version

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

@@danmakuman Yeah, not much different here.

[@Seahawk0027]

It's a shame I couldn't make it any farther.

[@KafkaLoveUZI]

2:01

[@therangersrule68]

does this version have a higher resolution than the arcade? It looks like the play area is bigger

[@yohkom.7988]

No, the resolution is smaller, 256x224 (as with most PC Engine games) while the arcade is 320x224.

[@G-Meister22]

Were you playing that on an emulator because I could never figure out how to get it to work on any PCE emulator?

[@grahamjarman]

retroarch

[@tomohikosatoh8897]

12:24 早速お出でなすった(^-^)OPH 14:43 2回目で全部もぎ取った！！ 25:19 3回目((((；゜Д゜))) 27:47 最後の？空中戦まっただ中で？？ 30:06 もはや最後の？悪あがき！ さぁ、どうする？！

[@daviddyer3543]

Are the audio tracks for this game playing from the CDROM or Red Book audio?

[@danmakuman]

That's right. Those are recordings of the arcade soundtrack

[@DanielAyy]

33:58 "I am the strongest!" Oh rly?

[@Persac7]

Y e s

[@hexortime]

I have remebered long ago playing gradius 3 4 and 5 I have never played before 2 . I guess the game titled Gradius is Gradius 1

[@Bloodreign1]

Sometimes this game is generous with it's checkpoints. Club killed you right as it was finishing it's sequence, the game still let you continue past him next life on to Gofer. I don't believe any other port of Gradius II is as generous.

[@cps1247]

I believe the X68000 port did the same too, I got killed right before club start leaving but the checkpoint was before Gofer. Not surprised if PCE port inspired by this

[@ts-hp5ob]

始めてエンディングまで見た。一番移植の中で豪華だと思う、当時X６８０００版持っていたが、超えてる気がする 友人はPCエンジン版じゃダメ、X６８０００真似して買ったが、自分がPCエンジンユーザーなら、X68000は買っていないな充分だと思う

[@hexortime]

I like that long range laser . The Gradius 5 is better wher the long range laser can auto aim to enemies wow

[@user-rq6dq3md3d]

17:50 if you are behind

[@danielb.m1075]

22:06? 🤨

[@glen-k.2k5]

That also had me wondering, since that's a real wall the player ran into; and we all know Force Field won't protect the player from instant death on that one.

[@cps1247]

@@glen-k.2k5 nah forcefield can protect you from walls as long as you have fully upgraded one, the wall he got through happens to be the thin one

[@tats_sacs]

22:05 How did you survive that?😂

[@TheSpectre2300]

Did you let Option hunter steal your options on purpose on Moai stage?

[@cps1247]

keeping the options for whole game will make option hunter spawn at unlucky timing during boss rush

[@chrishsu590]

This is harder than NES ver.

[@cheapspace]

i love the gradius series but the audio of this version is atrocious the famicom beats it hands down in that department visually tho this version is stunning.

[@TronPachioftheDynamo]

ROFL! XD You sound like Daym Drops.

[@TronPachioftheDynamo]

It's the worst dying on walkers of the series. Gradius IV's was the WORST.

[@Bloodreign1]

Gradius 4 had the easiest walker of the series due to not having to deal with popcorn enemies the entire time going through it's phase.

[@bambino100011]

Dude, get the 4th option..... it’s bugging me...

[@Bloodreign1]

The 4th option brings out the Option Hunter, and also raises the games rank to max peak when you get it, and get the shield or force field. Seahawk was probably playing it safe for a little bit.

[@mitu123Copper]

@@Bloodreign1 Yep, it's why I stick with 3 options, the Option Hunter is a pain in the ass to avoid and on the 5th stage it's really difficult to avoid it.

[@TronPachioftheDynamo]

ROFL! You sound like Daym Drops.

[@user-ve1rd5jj2b]

カニのところで何でダッカーの移動軸にいたんだろ。 そりゃぶつかるよね。

[@denxrstudio]

I prefer original NES version. At least Goofer from NES fighting back, and no "Im the strongest" crap.

[@Bloodreign1]

Gofer does speak in the FC version, but it is just a slowed down pitch of the announcer calling out what option you pick on the weapons powerup bar. I like it when Gofer talks shit, because he can't back it up by himself. You gotta go through hell to get to him, so like most of his brethren from the Bacterion Empire, a tickle from a feather could likely bring him down.

[@TronPachioftheDynamo]

ROFL! XD You sound like Daym Drops.