Gradius

グラディウスNES, Arcade, MSX, ZX Spectrum +161985

  1. JP1985
  2. NA1985
  3. EU1985
  4. RU—

Outside Japan the arcade Gradius was called Nemesis, and the European Spectrum, C64 and Amstrad ports were sold as Nemesis: The Final Challenge; the NES version kept the name Gradius. Today the NES version is on Nintendo Switch Online, and the arcade original is sold in Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection and as Arcade Archives.

Konami released Gradius in Japanese arcades in May 1985; at launch its official Japanese title was 超次空ファイター グラディウス. Outside Japan the arcade game was called Nemesis. It was directed by Hiroyasu Machiguchi, with music by Miki Higashino, and the player pilots the Vic Viper starfighter. The Moai enemies pay homage to Xevious and the Nazca Lines.

The Famicom version followed in Japan on 25 April 1986 and reached North America as Gradius in December. It is where the famous Konami Code began: a pause-screen cheat that grants nearly all power-ups. In the Famicom version the ending messages change over six loops and spell out "KONAMI" when read in order.

Gradius was ported widely, from the MSX, with an extra stage, to the X68000, where it came bundled with the first model, and the PC Engine, which added a Desert Planet stage.12

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Nemesis Arcade December 1985 Konami 1
NA Gradius NES December 1986 Konami 1
JP グラディウス Arcade May 1985 Konami 1
EU Nemesis Arcade September 1985 Konami 1
JP グラディウスFamicom NES Apr 25, 1986 Konami 2
JP グラディウスMSX version with an extra stage MSX Jul 25, 1986 Konami 2
EU Nemesis: The Final ChallengeUK; C64 and Amstrad CPC versions also in 1987 ZX Spectrum February 1987 — 1
JP グラディウスbundled with the first X68000 model, not sold separately X68000 Mar 28, 1987 Sharp 2
EU Gradius NES Nov 30, 1988 Konami 1
JP グラディウスadds a Desert Planet stage TurboGrafx-16 Nov 15, 1991 Konami 1
WW Arcade Archives GRADIUSarcade version PlayStation 4 Jan 29, 2015 Hamster 2
WW GradiusNES version, Nintendo Switch Online Switch Sep 19, 2018 Nintendo 1
WW Arcade Classics Anniversary Collectioncompilation (arcade version); also Switch, PS4 and Xbox One Windows 2019 Konami 1
JP アーケードアーカイブス グラディウスarcade version Switch Jul 9, 2020 Hamster 2

Also known as: グラディウス JP2超次空ファイター グラディウス JP2Nemesis WW1Nemesis: The Final Challenge EU1VS. Gradius NA1

Box art by region

  • Gradius box art, North America release
    NA Gradius
  • Gradius box art, Europe release
    EU Gradius
  • グラディウス box art, Japan release
    JP グラディウス

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • GameplayArcadeNES

    The NES version allows at most two Options instead of the arcade's four.1

  • ContentArcadeNES

    The NES game simplifies the level designs: the Moai stage loses the arcade's vertical scrolling, for example, and the stage 4 volcanoes don't erupt.2

  • GameplayNES

    The Famicom/NES version adds a pause-screen cheat (Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A) that grants nearly all power-ups; it became known as the Konami Code.1

All differences (6)

Where to play legally today

  • Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

    Gradius

    NES version

    Checked: 2026-10-133nintendo.com

  • Steam Purchase

    Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection

    arcade version

    Checked: 2026-10-134store.steampowered.com

Reception

The Famicom version sold over one million copies in Japan in 1986, and Famitsu's 1986 Best Hit Game Awards named it Best Shooting Game and runner-up for Game of the Year behind Dragon Quest. As Nemesis, it was the highest-grossing arcade game of 1986 on London's Electrocoin charts.1

In lists

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2ja.wikipedia.org
  3. 3nintendo.com
  4. 4store.steampowered.com
  5. 5ja.wikipedia.org

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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