Software:Gradius III and IV

From HandWiki
Gradius III and IV
Japanese box art
Developer(s)Konami
Publisher(s)Konami
SeriesGradius
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: April 13, 2000
  • NA: November 13, 2000
  • EU: November 24, 2000
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a video game compilation for the PlayStation 2 combining ports of the arcade versions of Gradius III (1989) and Gradius IV (1999). It was released in Japan on April 13, 2000, and North America and Europe in November 2000. The game was a launch title for the PS2 in PAL regions.

Gameplay

Main articles: Software:Gradius III and Gradius IV

The overall gameplay is similar to the arcade versions, but included with a stage select and option menu. The option menu is similar to the configuration menus in the arcade versions, except that the ability to save and load high scores and adjust the screen has been added. For Gradius III, the option to change the amount of lag has been added because the PS2 processor is much faster than the arcade processor and for Gradius IV, the option to change sound (stereo/mono) and screen size (PCB/full-size) has been added.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic64/100[1]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStar[2]
Edge6/10[4]
EGM6/10[5][lower-alpha 1]
Famitsu28/40[6]
Game Informer5/10[7]
GameFan(J.W.) 72%[8]
54%[9][lower-alpha 2]
GameSpot6.3/10[10]
GameSpy67%[11]
IGN6.5/10[12]
Jeuxvideo.com10/20[13]
Next GenerationStarStar[14]
OPM (US)StarStarHalf star[15]

By December 25, 2000, Gradius III and IV had shipped 84,703 units in Japan alone.[16]

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[1] Some critics felt that they were still fun to play, while others said they were dated and suffered from a lack of updated features.[14] GameFan listed Gradius III as the worst of the two due to suffering from "mundane" level design, a mediocre soundtrack, and a high difficulty level. They concluded their review of the Japanese import by mockingly commenting: "Please, let the PS2 be part of your rebirth.... and not something for non-gamers to get their groove on with."[8] Game Informer stated that neither games were bad, but were technologically unimpressive. They labeled the game as "just a classics collection being pawned off as a PS2 title", confused as to why such a compilation was even on a modern console with little to no additions made to it.[7] GameSpot claimed that neither game was of bad quality, and that they were still fun to play, but had begun to show their age.[10] The high difficult of both titles was also disliked by several.[10][14]

The presentation of the collection itself also received a polarizing reception. While several publications praised its quality, many also expressed confusion that Konami decided to release a collection like this for a modern system.[14] GamePro wrote that the collection itself was a nice package of old games, and that "It's nice to know that with all the hype surrounding the PlayStation 2 launch, classic gaming hasn't been completely forgotten."[17][lower-alpha 3] Jeuxvideo.com recommended the game primarily to Gradius fans, adding that its release as a launch title was "a way of welcoming PlayStation 2 with new and old, a kind of transition in kind of sweetness."[13] Both Game Informer and Famitsu said that the pack was solid, but showed confusion towards Konami deciding to release something like it for a recently released, modern 3D game system, alongside the lack of any additional features such as graphical and sound enhancements.[7][6] IGN said the game was "retro gaming done properly", but added that it appealed to a relatively niche market.[12] AllGame was particularly negative towards the game in their review harshly criticizing the package for its difficult and technologically-inferior games.[2] They wrote: "Gradius III and IV is only enjoyable if you equate fun with frustration, but most gamers have long since outgrown that philosophy, as have most games. Yet Gradius III and IV clings to its roots like a long rotting tooth."[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 7.5/10, 7/10, and 3.5/10.
  2. ↑ In GameFan's viewpoint of the Japanese import, three critics gave it each a score of 47, 61, and 55.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 4/5 scores for control and fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Gradius III and IV". Fandom. Archived from the original on March 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240315155410/https://www.metacritic.com/game/gradius-iii-and-iv/. Retrieved March 15, 2024. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kwiatkowski, Michael. "Gradius III and IV - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115112822/http://allgame.com/game.php?id=25301&tab=review. Retrieved March 11, 2020. 
  3. ↑ Rector, Brett (December 14, 2000). "Gradius III and IV". CNET. Archived from the original on January 28, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010128082200/http://www.gamecenter.com/Ps2/Reviews/Gradius/. Retrieved January 1, 2022. 
  4. ↑ Edge staff (December 2000). "Gradius III & IV". Edge (Future Publishing) (91): 118. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230612225635/https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f6/Edge_UK_091.pdf. Retrieved March 15, 2024. 
  5. ↑ Johnston, Chris; MacDonald, Mark; Kujawa, Kraig (January 2001). "Gradius III and IV". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (138): 208. Archived from the original on January 26, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010126032000/http://www.zdnet.com/egm/stories/main/0,11589,2658684,00.html. Retrieved April 9, 2020. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "グラディウスIII＆IV 〜復活の神話〜 [PS2"] (in ja). Famitsu (Kadokawa Corporation). Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191218001137/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=9418&redirect=no. Retrieved March 11, 2020. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 McNamara, Andy (December 2000). "Gradius III & IV". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (92): 99. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200012/R03.0807.1158.27499.htm. Retrieved March 19, 2020. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Weitzner, Jason "Fury" (July 2000). "Gradius III and IV: Fukkatsu no Shinwa". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (7): 84. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_07/page/n87/mode/2up. Retrieved March 19, 2020. 
  9. ↑ Van Stone, Matt "Kodomo"; Ngo, George "Eggo"; Mylonas, Eric "ECM" (July 2000). "Gradius III & IV". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (7): 13. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_07/page/n13/mode/2up. Retrieved September 10, 2020. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Davis, Ryan (November 22, 2000). "Gradius III & IV Review [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006""]. Fandom. Archived from the original on January 24, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010124085100/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2657315,00.html. Retrieved March 15, 2024. 
  11. ↑ Turner, Benjamin (March 29, 2001). "Gradius III & IV". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on June 6, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010606012238/http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/2001/gradius3and4/. Retrieved March 19, 2020. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Smith, David (November 15, 2000). "Gradius III and IV". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230419014607/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/16/gradius-iii-and-iv. Retrieved March 15, 2024. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Kornifex (January 5, 2001). "Test: Gradius III & IV" (in fr). Webedia. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210228185036/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001128_test.htm. Retrieved March 15, 2024. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Orlando, Greg (January 2001). "Gradius III and IV". NextGen (Imagine Media) (73): 83. https://archive.org/details/NextGen73Jan2001/page/n83/mode/2up. Retrieved April 1, 2020. 
  15. ↑ Baker, Chris (December 2000). "Gradius III and IV". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (39). Archived from the original on January 27, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010127062500/http://www.zdnet.com/opm/stories/main/0,11891,2646670,00.html. Retrieved March 20, 2020. 
  16. ↑ "Gradius III & IV - PS2". Garaph (based on Famitsu data). Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200311143515/http://garaph.info/softwareindividual.php//gid/576. Retrieved March 11, 2020. 
  17. ↑ Weigand, Michael "Major Mike" (November 2000). "Gradius III and IV". GamePro (IDG) (146): 122. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050206230451/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/7053.shtml. Retrieved March 15, 2024. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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