Gradius ReBirth
{{Short description|2008 video game}}
{{Primary sources|date=August 2008}}
{{Infobox video game
|image=Gradius ReBirth Coverart.png
|developer=M2
|publisher=Konami
|director=Masato Misaki
|programmer=Hiroshi Yoneyama
|composer=Manabu Namiki
|series=Gradius
|platforms=WiiWare
|released={{vgrelease|JP|September 2, 2008|NA|March 9, 2009|PAL|July 3, 2009}}
|genre=Scrolling shooter
|modes=Single-player
}}
Gradius ReBirth{{efn|{{nihongo|Gradius ReBirth|グラディウスリバース|Guradiusu Ribāsu|lead=yes}}}} is a shoot 'em up video game for WiiWare developed by M2 and published by Konami. It's an installment in the Gradius series. It was released in Japan on September 2, 2008,{{cite news|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/08/gradius_rebirth_hitting_japan_next_week|title=Gradius ReBirth Hitting Japan Next Week|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|date=August 29, 2008|accessdate=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114073708/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/08/gradius_rebirth_hitting_japan_next_week|url-status=live}} and in North America on March 9, 2009, and in the PAL regions on July 3, 2009.{{cite news|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/03/usa_wiiware_update_gradius_rebirth|title=USA WiiWare Update: Gradius Rebirth|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|date=March 9, 2009|accessdate=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114073651/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/03/usa_wiiware_update_gradius_rebirth|url-status=live}}
Gameplay
Gradius ReBirth is a side-scrolling 2D shooter much like previous Gradius games, and has been described as a "remix" of levels from past games rather than an entirely new game. The game features two modes: a standard game with unlimited credits and a Score Attack mode where players are only given a single credit to beat the game. Score Attack also supports online leaderboards.{{cite news|last=Bazin|first=Robert|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/09/first_impressions_gradius_rebirth|title=First Impressions: Gradius Rebirth|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|date=September 3, 2008|accessdate=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114073635/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/09/first_impressions_gradius_rebirth|url-status=live}} The game features five different types of ships to choose from, and five stages in total, with each (except the first stage) having its own original boss at the end.
Plot
This game takes place in the Gradian Year 6664, two years before "The Silent Nightmare Incident". The planet Antichthon, a protectorate of the Gradian Empire, suddenly and mysteriously falls silent. A report was made by the Director General of the Space Science Agency, Dr. Venom, which mentions that Antichthon's mother computer was now under the control of the Bacterians.
Realizing that a threat from the Bacterians may be imminent, the Gradian Government deploys its Gradian forces to combat the threat. Among them is Special Colonel James Burton, who had defeated the Bacterians a few years ago. Armed with an A.I. program called Gaudie, James Burton sets out in the hyperspace fighter known as the Vic Viper, in the hopes that he can combat the new Bacterian threat. But little does James know that there's much more in store for him...
Development
Gradius ReBirth uses the Nemesis titles for the MSX as its basis. The power meter and text display have also been updated. The music was composed by Manabu Namiki and consists of remixed music from previous Gradius games.
An update to the game was released on the Wii Shop Channel for free of charge. It improves some of the visuals and adds a new ranking board for the adjustments made to the score system. In addition to this, there are new music tracks and a few changes to the game's levels.{{cite web|url=http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_wii_gradius_re_ww/index.html|title=GRADIUS ReBirth|language=Japanese|website=Konami|date=March 26, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114073908/http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_wii_gradius_re_ww/index.html|archivedate=January 14, 2018|accessdate=March 20, 2020}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 69/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/gradius-rebirth/critic-reviews/?platform=wii|title=Gradius ReBirth Critic Reviews for Wii|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=January 14, 2018|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609133726/https://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/gradius-rebirth/critic-reviews|url-status=live}}
| 1UP = B{{cite web|last=Barnholt|first=Ray|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3173393&p=44|title=Gradius Rebirth [sic]|website=1UP.com|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=March 23, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324212023/http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3173393&p=44|archivedate=March 24, 2009|accessdate=March 21, 2020}}
| Destruct = 7.5/10{{cite web|last=Holmes|first=Jonathan|url=https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-gradius-rebirth-124958.phtml|title=Destructoid review: Gradius Rebirth [sic]|website=Destructoid|publisher=Enthusiast Gaming|date=March 16, 2009|accessdate=March 21, 2020|archive-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204084148/https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-gradius-rebirth-124958.phtml|url-status=live}}
| GMaster = 79%{{cite magazine|title=Review: Gradius ReBirth|magazine=GamesMaster|publisher=Future plc|date=October 2009|page=80}}
| GRadar = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=McShane|first=Tom|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/gradius-rebirth-review/|title=Gradius ReBirth review|website=GamesRadar+|publisher=Future plc|date=August 13, 2009|accessdate=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114183929/http://www.gamesradar.com/gradius-rebirth-review/|url-status=live}}
| GTM = 7/10{{cite magazine|title=Review: Gradius ReBirth|magazine=GamesTM|publisher=Future plc|date=October 2009|page=132}}
| IGN = 7/10{{cite web|last=Hatfield|first=Daemon|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/10/gradius-rebirth-review|title=Gradius ReBirth Review|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=March 9, 2009|accessdate=January 14, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114095710/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/10/gradius-rebirth-review|url-status=live}}
| ONM = 67%{{cite magazine|title=Gradius ReBirth Review|magazine=Official Nintendo Magazine|publisher=Future plc|date=September 2009|page=93}}
| rev1 = Teletext GameCentral
}}
Gradius ReBirth received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. IGN praised the nostalgic retro design but found the game to be punishingly hard for most players and the lack of multiplayer disappointing.
{{Clear}}
See also
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091130163936/http://www.konami.com/games/gradius-rebirth/ Konami product website] {{in lang|en}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180114073908/http://www.konami.jp/products/dl_wii_gradius_re_ww/index.html Konami product website] {{in lang|ja}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170210043729/https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/6uxrU6zqXPjCmkaTJWZk_9vSPNTpqYuu Gradius ReBirth WiiWare website] {{in lang|en}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080912063915/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/wiiware/wgdj/index.html Gradius ReBirth WiiWare website] {{in lang|ja}}
- {{moby game|id=/wii/gradius-rebirth}}
{{Gradius series}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gradius Rebirth}}
Category:Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection games
Category:Retro-style video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in Japan