SOTM October 2019: Gradius III

daskrabs

Ace Ghost Pilot
10 Year Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Posts
1,314
Gradius_III_Japanese_Arcade_flyer.jpg


Let's do separate scoreboards for SNES, PS2/Arcade (basically same), and PSP. If you're playing SNES, I highly encourage you to try the speed patch. If you use it, note it in your entry, i.e. "SP".

(name/score/platform/stage)

SNES/SFC
1. Kidpanda 1,653,200 - 3-All
2. andsuchisdeath 964,600 - 2-9
3. Chosen One 546,600 - 2-2
4. daskrabs 499,400 - 2-1
5. Dogg 328,800 - 7
6. Ralfakick 268,900 - 5
7. gusmoney 141,200 - 3
8.
9.
10.


PS2/PCB/MAME
1. Kidpanda - 140,890 - Stage 3 - Mame
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.


PSP
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 
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Gaston

Mature's Make-up Artist
Joined
Jan 15, 2003
Posts
1,352
Ow, that speed patch for the SNES is a must. Try that and play it in hard mode, it's busting my balls!!
 

Kid Panda

The Chinese Kid
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Posts
12,514
Loadout
Speed x 2
Missile
Double
Rotate Options
Reduce
Full Barrier


Stage 1 Basic Stage
Collect 2 Speed ups first
Then work towards one option
Collect missile
Collect Double
Collect Reduce Shield

First Boss
Stay about 1/4 from the left and in the center vertically on the screen, just fire and dodge the exploding pattern when it goes horizontal

Stage 2 Bubble Stage
Collect Option #2
Collect Twin Laser
Collect Option #3
Collect Option #4
(If you collect #4 the Option hunter will spawn)
Blow up all teh bubbles
[There is a bonus area in this stage]

Stage 2 Boss
Stay at the top of the screen until his eye opens then center yourself and just blast away

Stage 3 Reverse Basic Stage
Collect Double
Collect Option #4 if not already
Once fully powered up, try to keep the weapon bar on the ! tile for shield refresh
Milk the volcanoes
Once in the downtown area, make sure not to get hit by the false ceiling
When you are clearing out the dirt area, remember boulders are worth 300 points each
Twin upside down volcanoes area - position yourself under the right one and centered vertically on the screen

Stage 3 Boss
Position yourself in the second diamond pattern and just wait
When the eyes start to open you can get some shots fired off
When he shoots the blue laser pattern, position yourself to be right under the top most one he fires
When he opens again repeat the diamond pattern and clear out the shields and cores
Repeat the closed laser pattern

Stage 4 Moai Head Stage
Option hunter spawns near the start of the level, dodge
Milk Moai Heads
Once at the Moai Totems, just fly down and stay closer the left of the screen and just fire

Stage 4 Boss
Wait until the bottom mouth opens then fire into it blowing it up
Shoot the falling rocks and repeat for the upper mouth

Stage 5 Fire Stage
MILK ALL FIREBALLS
Collect enough powerups to leave one tile left to !
Later in the stage you have to squeeze through an area and are forced to pick up a powerup
Option Hunter appears shortly after entering fire area from space

Stage 5 Boss
Wait until his body gets more out in the open instead of hiding in the upper and lower portions
If he pops out and you're in his loop, he will most likely pop you
Once blowing off the first head, the dragon will then switch directions
Lead him out in the open and bast his head, careful he is spitting fireballs with more intensity

Stage 6 Botanical Gardens
The area where the flower arms appear, a option hunter will show his ugly face

Stage 6 Boss
Stay in upper left corner dodging the 3 way shot
When it opens it's mouth, there is a vacuum, hold left, this is also it's weak spot

Stage 7 Perimeter Defense
This stage sucks
You're going to have to memorize this stage
Stay towards the center is the only advice I have

Stage 7 boss
Boss approaches from the left
Avoid lasers and bouncing cores and blow up the cores

Stage 8 Boss Rush
Destroy them all

First boss
Shoot the front and dodge the missiles

once the front is blown off, avoid the blue laser

Second boss
Stay to the bottom as he appears from the left
Avoid little shots and his blue lasers

Third Boss
Just avoid lasers and blow up cores

Fourth Boss
Avoid dropping grenades and destroy core

Stage 8 Boss
Avoid lasers and destroy core
Watch out for suicide attack

Stage 9 Inner Base
Watch out for moving areas, if it's wide open, it's a trap
No area here will close all the way leaving you to die, just be patient
Except for when the ceiling drops, make sure you are center of screen vertically after wards or will be pinched

Stage 9 Boss
Starts with the wall, blow it up
Ceiling and floor tiles start to attack you dodge and fire
Laser batteries need to be taken out
Walking sentries, watch its footwork and work your way under them and shoot the blue core. Two show up

Stage 10 The Gooey stuff
Starts off with nuclei that grows arms, keep shooting
Keep your firing to a minimum, area regrows itself
Once you get to the closed area with the cells, move towards the upper area and shoot yourself a hole

Stage 10 Boss - Final
Avoid his three pulses coming out of his mouth, once the pattern is decided by the middle of their travel you can avoid
He shoots this 9 times, then dies

End
 
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daskrabs

Ace Ghost Pilot
10 Year Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Posts
1,314
Loadout
Speed x 2
Missile
Double
Rotate Options
Reduce
Full Barrier


Stage 1 Basic Stage
Collect 2 Speed ups first
Then work towards one option
Collect missile
Collect Double
Collect Reduce Shield

First Boss
Stay about 1/4 from the left and in the center vertically on the screen, just fire and dodge the exploding pattern when it goes horizontal

Stage 2 Bubble Stage
Collect Option #2
Collect Twin Laser
Collect Option #3
Collect Option #4
(If you collect #4 the Option hunter will spawn)
Blow up all teh bubbles
[There is a bonus area in this stage]

Stage 2 Boss
Stay at the top of the screen until his eye opens then center yourself and just blast away

Stage 3 Reverse Basic Stage
Collect Double
Collect Option #4 if not already
Once fully powered up, try to keep the weapon bar on the ! tile for shield refresh
Milk the volcanoes
Once in the downtown area, make sure not to get hit by the false ceiling
When you are clearing out the dirt area, remember boulders are worth 300 points each
Twin upside down volcanoes area - position yourself under the right one and centered vertically on the screen

Stage 3 Boss
Position yourself in the second diamond pattern and just wait
When the eyes start to open you can get some shots fired off
When he shoots the blue laser pattern, position yourself to be right under the top most one he fires
When he opens again repeat the diamond pattern and clear out the shields and cores
Repeat the closed laser pattern

Stage 4 Moai Head Stage
Option hunter spawns near the start of the level, dodge
Milk Moai Heads
Once at the Moai Totems, just fly down and stay closer the left of the screen and just fire

Stage 4 Boss
Wait until the bottom mouth opens then fire into it blowing it up
Shoot the falling rocks and repeat for the upper mouth

Stage 5 Fire Stage
MILK ALL FIREBALLS
Collect enough powerups to leave one tile left to !
Later in the stage you have to squeeze through an area and are forced to pick up a powerup
Option Hunter appears shortly after entering fire area from space

Stage 5 Boss
Wait until his body gets more out in the open instead of hiding in the upper and lower portions
If he pops out and you're in his loop, he will most likely pop you
Once blowing off the first head, the dragon will then switch directions
Lead him out in the open and bast his head, careful he is spitting fireballs with more intensity

Stage 6 Botanical Gardens
The area where the flower arms appear, a option hunter will show his ugly face

Stage 6 Boss
Stay in upper left corner dodging the 3 way shot
When it opens it's mouth, there is a vacuum, hold left, this is also it's weak spot

Stage 7 Perimeter Defense
This stage sucks
You're going to have to memorize this stage
Stay towards the center is the only advice I have

Stage 7 boss
Boss approaches from the left
Avoid lasers and bouncing cores and blow up the cores

Stage 8 Boss Rush
Destroy them all

First boss
Shoot the front and dodge the missiles

once the front is blown off, avoid the blue laser

Second boss
Stay to the bottom as he appears from the left
Avoid little shots and his blue lasers

Third Boss
Just avoid lasers and blow up cores

Fourth Boss
Avoid dropping grenades and destroy core

Stage 8 Boss
Avoid lasers and destroy core
Watch out for suicide attack

Stage 9 Inner Base
Watch out for moving areas, if it's wide open, it's a trap
No area here will close all the way leaving you to die, just be patient
Except for when the ceiling drops, make sure you are center of screen vertically after wards or will be pinched

Stage 9 Boss
Starts with the wall, blow it up
Ceiling and floor tiles start to attack you dodge and fire
Laser batteries need to be taken out
Walking sentries, watch its footwork and work your way under them and shoot the blue core. Two show up

Stage 10 The Gooey stuff
Starts off with nuclei that grows arms, keep shooting
Keep your firing to a minimum, area regrows itself
Once you get to the closed area with the cells, move towards the upper area and shoot yourself a hole

Stage 10 Boss - Final
Avoid his three pulses coming out of his mouth, once the pattern is decided by the middle of their travel you can avoid
He shoots this 9 times, then dies

End

Brah. It's October 2nd.
 

The_Chosen_One

Buriki One Master
Joined
Feb 4, 2003
Posts
2,241
He must have taken a vacation day...

Haha, shit I laughed way too much at this. October 2nd and Pandas already demolished us all.

I’ve never played Gradius III much, I’ll pop it in tomorrow and see how I do. I typically spend my gradius time on II or Gaiden
 

Kid Panda

The Chinese Kid
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Posts
12,514
In my defense, I've played this game pretty much once a month for the better of 20 years, my loadout is the most efficient but you can have fun with the other loadouts. The E Laser pointblanked in some boss literally kills them in one hit but oh man, it's unsafe to use that thing. I may try to do a 8-9 All later in the month but I'm going to spend most of my time on the pcb. And fuck is it hard and not the same as the snes version. Plus no continues.
 

Ralfakick

J. Max's Chauffeur,
20 Year Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2001
Posts
3,771
Ralfakick - 268,900 SNES
IMG_3259.jpg

Played it a few times so far no speed up/codes just vanilla SNES
Made it to the twin dragon on the 5th level and got clipped and lost all of my power ups
 
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The_Chosen_One

Buriki One Master
Joined
Feb 4, 2003
Posts
2,241
60e0980875a06b362c298b7f2ff1fefd.jpg


Chosen One - 337,600 - Stage 7 SNES

Pandas right, Stage 7 sucks. I had around 7 lives and lost them all. I did finally make it through, went down to the boss with two cores left on him. I was sorely underpowered.
 

100proof

Insert Something Clever Here
10 Year Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2014
Posts
3,646
Kidpanda 1,653,200 - 3-All - SNES
e26afce64751f5bd1a96a0d09ad1f575.jpg

I bet you cheated and have no life and a small penis and I fucked your mom and I'm awesome at shooters but will never post a score.

Am I doing it right? :lolz:
 

BerryTogart

Bolt Thrower.,
Joined
Mar 21, 2014
Posts
1,408
I got a few rounds in on my new PSP today. Wow... these are fuzzy graphics. Controls are a something to get used to too. Paired with my mediocre skill this means I don't even manage to finish Level 1.
As there is not a single PSP entry on the table yet I'm looking forward to claiming the victory there though.
 

andsuchisdeath

General Morden's Aide
20 Year Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2003
Posts
7,576
I've always struggled with Gradius III and had zero interest in participating, however, I wanted to try KP's loadout. I did, and I am impressed!

After maybe 5 runs with this loadout, I've had the best run of my life. I'm not sure if I'll keep playing this month, but I will be coming back to the game at some point!

gradius3.jpg

andsuchisdeath - 471,800 - stage 10 - SNES
 
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Kid Panda

The Chinese Kid
Joined
Jun 13, 2010
Posts
12,514
I've always struggled with Gradius III and had zero interest in participating, however, I wanted to try KP's loadout. I did, and I am impressed!

After maybe 5 runs with this loadout, I've had the best run of my life. I'm not sure if I'll keep playing this month, but I will be coming back to the game at some point!

View attachment 55037

andsuchisdeath - 471,800 - stage 10 - SNES

Yes! I'm glad you checked it out, all the loadouts are interesting and some are down right horrid, but I give big points for them adding some things from the arcade version and even though the stages are different they still keep the same theme for each very very well.

Not the greatest shmup, but it holds a soft spot in my heart.
 

andsuchisdeath

General Morden's Aide
20 Year Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2003
Posts
7,576
Yes! I'm glad you checked it out, all the loadouts are interesting and some are down right horrid, but I give big points for them adding some things from the arcade version and even though the stages are different they still keep the same theme for each very very well.

Not the greatest shmup, but it holds a soft spot in my heart.


No doubt. I still can't fathom how people complain about the slowdown in this game.

So, I couldn't pull myself away just yet. I no-missed the first loop, but ended up ruining my run during the third boss in the boss rush. My loop 1 strategy was thwarted (I would always stay above or below lasers, essentially "outrunning" them, while my options automatically hit the core. Well, this boss seems to shoot faster than I can move in loop 2, so I died. I ended up using two extra speed ups to compensate, killed this boss and the other two. I intentionally killed myself in the beginning of stage 9 because I knew there was no way I could keep playing with that much speed. And...I never really regained my power up footing from there.

newgradiusIII.jpg


andsuchisdeath - 964,600 - stage 2-9 - SNES

EDIT: Also, thanks for posting your strats. They proved quite helpful.
 
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