![gradius gaiden shield options gradius gaiden shield options](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gradius/images/5/5e/GradiusIIOverheat.png)
The Japanese version included a challenge game play mode that had to be unlocked by achieving a high score during a single play-through of the game's normal difficulty mode. In addition, the S.Option ("snake option") is not present in this version the player can however choose to have the computer assign weapon power-ups automatically or purchase upgrades manually. Unlike Gradius III, there are only two shield options - shield and force field.
![gradius gaiden shield options gradius gaiden shield options](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gradius/images/b/bb/Gradius_Gaiden_Fortress.png)
Each configuration is indicated by the color of Vic Viper. There are four different types of weapons configurations: Balanced, (traditional Gradius) wide area ( Salamander) power, and air-to-ground. The weapons system remains mostly unchanged as the configurations available are identical to Gradius III, with the exception that the edit mode is missing.
#GRADIUS GAIDEN SHIELD OPTIONS UPGRADE#
Various traditional elements of Gradius are present - the moai, an undefended final boss, and the upgrade power meter. The player takes control of the Vic Viper spacecraft tasked with hordes of enemies. The game plays almost identically to other titles in the series. A few years later it crashes on a planet and the planet gradually changes into a mechanical fortress, and the planet Gradius then sends the Vic Viper to stop it. Bacterion was developing a powerful weapon to use against the planet Gradius, but it was destroyed. The game's plot is set between Gradius III: From Legend to Myth and Gradius Gaiden.
![gradius gaiden shield options gradius gaiden shield options](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gradius/images/3/32/BC_Custom_weapons.gif)
It is the only Gradius title available for the Game Boy Advance. It was released later in the year in the United States as Gradius Galaxies and in 2002 in Japan as Gradius Generation ( グラディウスジェネレーション, Guradiusu Jenerēshon). Gradius Advance is a horizontally scrolling shooter handheld video game developed by Mobile21 and published by Konami in 2001.