Fan Game グラディウス風STG【UNIVERSE】(Gradius Fuu STG [Universe]) - Gradius fan-game

[Sanomoe]

Hello everyone! I've seen that there's no topic about this particular fan-game, so I want to raise awareness to it!

Universe is a Gradius fan-game, made by Dar Indies, for the Windows, made in the STG Builder Game Maker software. It's main features, gameplay-wise:

1. Dying will make you respawn in the place where you just died, instead of returning to a previous checkpoint;
2. Additionally, you won't lose some of your power-ups, like your Options and missiles, only your shoot and shield, obviously;
3. There's more enemies and projectiles to cater to those conveniences previously mentioned, making the game far from a walk in the park;
4. Many options, like choosing between a traditional Arcade mode, an Endless one; colors to Vic Viper and it's laser shoots; choose between the narrator voice, number of lives, and etc.

Also, the entirety of it's OST comes from the original Gradius III, just like PC-98's Garudius '95, also present in the Repo.
Download link

Just click on the link where the "gameversion.zip" is located, since this is the latest version.

Here is some gameplay video, for those curious about:

 

[zombie100379]

looks really good

 

[Sanomoe]

looks really good

Indeed! I was surprised with how close to the authentic games it was.

 

[4C374552A1CA2638]

*looks at looooooooooooooooooong Big Core in video thumbnail*

Shoot the... what the fuck is this bullshit?!

Whew, this looks hard, but maybe I suck at games like these. SNES G3 wrecked me a while ago.

 

[HydraSavior]

I'll have to try this one out. There was a game called "G-Type" by someone/a group? named CnC Darkside which roXored my soXors back in the early 00s. Absolutely perfect blend of Gradius and R-Type game mechanics. There was one boss, which I won't spoil, which had me out of my seat. I might have enjoyed that one more than most actual R-Type titles, and definitely more than any Gradius title (keeping in mind I haven't played Gradius V yet).

 

[4C374552A1CA2638]

There was a game called "G-Type" by someone/a group? named CnC Darkside which roXored my soXors back in the early 00s. Absolutely perfect blend of Gradius and R-Type game mechanics.

This?

I found another video that was running at 10 FPS (and I even recorded this to count frames because I was curious), so really glad I got a second opinion on performance. This actually gave me a headache:

Spoiler: You want headache?

Anyway, it looks like the game's still available for download, too! It looks pretty cool. I haven't played really any of the R-Types, yet here I have R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos wishlisted... I should probably add some shmups to the list sometime.

(keeping in mind I haven't played Gradius V yet).

It's pretty good, but I'm not good at it.

Spoiler: This post is already long enough.

It's got more visual spectacle than what previous games in the series I've played. It's by Treasure, so it has some of the Ikaruga feel even though it still plays just like Gradius, of course, just I guess it's the 3D visuals and how the camera pans when you're out of combat in some places that gives me that impression. I still listen to the soundtrack by Hitoshi Sakimoto who's worked on titles like Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, and Ogre Battle among many others.

Using the omni-directional Options is kinda fun, even if it's to 'wave' the Laser at enemies. You can eventually unlock Free Play after playing so many hours, there's a Weapon Edit feature where I think you can even change the order of the power-up bar (Option on position two?!), and you can trigger the special feature of Options like expanding/contracting Formation Option's formation at any time instead of needing the power-up bar on a specific position like Gradius III SNES. Two-player simultaneous play is interesting since you can only have four Options total, so you may need to share.

 

[HydraSavior]

This?

I found another video that was running at 10 FPS (and I even recorded this to count frames because I was curious), so really glad I got a second opinion on performance. This actually gave me a headache:

Spoiler: You want headache?

Anyway, it looks like the game's still available for download, too! It looks pretty cool. I haven't played really any of the R-Types, yet here I have R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos wishlisted... I should probably add some shmups to the list sometime.



It's pretty good, but I'm not good at it.

Spoiler: This post is already long enough.

It's got more visual spectacle than what previous games in the series I've played. It's by Treasure, so it has some of the Ikaruga feel even though it still plays just like Gradius, of course, just I guess it's the 3D visuals and how the camera pans when you're out of combat in some places that gives me that impression. I still listen to the soundtrack by Hitoshi Sakimoto who's worked on titles like Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, and Ogre Battle among many others.

Using the omni-directional Options is kinda fun, even if it's to 'wave' the Laser at enemies. You can eventually unlock Free Play after playing so many hours, there's a Weapon Edit feature where I think you can even change the order of the power-up bar (Option on position two?!), and you can trigger the special feature of Options like expanding/contracting Formation Option's formation at any time instead of needing the power-up bar on a specific position like Gradius III SNES. Two-player simultaneous play is interesting since you can only have four Options total, so you may need to share.

Wow, thanks! I haven't seen a download of G-Type not contaminated in a virus in a long, long time, in a galaxy far, far away.

If I remember correctly it didn't have controller support and the game kind of needs it; I haven't thought about this is *ages* but you'll need whatever successor to JoyToKey has been developed in the last 20+ years in order to play it "properly."

It's just a feels-good kinda game. Perfect movement-feel, perfect feeling to your attacks, difficulty that gets progressively harder. I liked the stage (it may be hidden) that actually went out of its way to copy the feel of shmups on early Japanese PCs and have a stage from Gradius "load in" in steps and chunks!

As for Gradius V, I just never found a copy when I was in a situation where buying from the Internet would have been difficult. I can Totally Play A Legit Copy On My Computer Now, Though, and I'll probably do that! I've heard nothing but praise for it all these years. The only fault I can find with it is that it's not a Parodius so no Smexy Ladies.

 

[4C374552A1CA2638]

Wow, thanks! I haven't seen a download of G-Type not contaminated in a virus in a long, long time, in a galaxy far, far away.

VirusTotal had two antivirus hits, so it's probably safe if none of the big players picked up anything. I didn't know Google even had one of their own.

Steam Input might work for controls, too.

 

[Sanomoe]

Thanks for letting me know about those other ones

 

[HydraSavior]

Steam Input might work for controls, too.

Oh, I didn't even *think* of that. Thank you so much for the idea!

I never beat the super secret hardest level accessible after a certain amount of progress through G-Type. And the wailing of guitars has awoken me, telling me to bury my past...