Gradius Galaxies (2001). Play online

Summary

Gradius Galaxies stands out as the sole Gradius experience on the Game Boy Advance, delivering the classic side‑scrolling action the series is famous for. You pilot the iconic Vic Viper, tearing through waves of enemies while the familiar Moai statues and an unprotected final boss keep the tension high.

The game keeps the familiar power‑meter system from Gradius III, offering four weapon configurations—Balanced, Wide‑area, Power, and Air‑to‑ground—each signaled by the ship’s color. Unlike its home‑console siblings, there’s no edit mode and the 'snake option' is gone; you can either let the AI allocate upgrades automatically or spend points to buy them yourself. Defensive choices are limited to a simple shield or a force field.

Three selectable difficulty levels each unlock three looping stages, increasing the challenge each round. The Japanese release adds a secret challenge mode unlocked by posting a high score, a feature omitted from the U.S. and European versions.

Storyline

The story of Gradius Galaxies is set between Gradius III and Gradius Gaiden. Bacterion, the series’ recurring villain, was constructing a powerful weapon to strike the planet Gradius, but the device was destroyed before it could be deployed. Years later the wreckage crashed onto an uncharted world, and the impact gradually turned the planet into a sprawling mechanical fortress. The planet—referred to in some sources as Gravis—sends its iconic starfighter, the Vic Viper, to investigate and stop the looming threat. The mission pits the Vic Viper against the transformed world’s automated defenses, continuing the classic side‑scrolling battle that defines the Gradius saga.