Konami has a long and storied history with retro gaming, and in recent years, their anniversary and classic collections have become a staple for fans eager to relive the company’s golden age. From the beloved Castlevania Anniversary Collection to the nostalgic Contra Anniversary Collection, these bundles have provided a new generation of players with a taste of gaming history. But with the release of the new Gradius Origins collection, Konami has not only raised the bar for its own retro offerings but has arguably set a new standard for the genre. This definitive collection is a masterpiece of emulation, preservation, and innovation, and it stands as the best Konami has ever produced. It’s a love letter to one of the most foundational shoot ’em up series of all time, and it’s a must-have for fans and newcomers alike.

The Gradius series, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, holds a special place in gaming history. It’s the franchise that popularized the side-scrolling shooter and introduced the iconic power-up bar, a revolutionary system that gave players an unprecedented level of strategic control over their ship’s abilities. For decades, these games have been scattered across different platforms, making it difficult for players to experience the entire saga. Gradius Origins solves this problem with style, bringing together a staggering collection of seven games with 18 different regional variations. This includes arcade classics like Gradius, Gradius II: GOFER no Yabou, and Gradius III: Densetsu kara Shinwa e, as well as the fan-favorite spin-off series Salamander. This is more than just a simple collection; it’s a comprehensive museum of a legendary franchise.

Beyond the Classics: A New Game and Unprecedented Features

What truly sets Gradius Origins apart from Konami’s past collections is its a commitment to both preservation and new content. The collection was developed by the legendary M2, a studio renowned for its meticulous emulation and its work on the Sega Ages and ShotTriggers series. Their expertise is evident in every aspect of the game, from the pixel-perfect visuals to the tactile, responsive controls. But the star of the show is an entirely new title: Salamander III, the first new entry in the franchise in over 15 years. This brand-new game is a stunning display of 2D pixel art and classic gameplay, a genuine surprise that gives this collection a level of value that no other Konami collection has offered before. It’s a testament to the company’s newfound commitment to its classic IPs and a brilliant way to celebrate the series’ history while also looking to its future.

Beyond the games themselves, Gradius Origins is packed with a wealth of modern quality-of-life features that were largely absent from Konami’s earlier collections. These features are designed to make the notoriously difficult games more accessible to newcomers while also providing new challenges for veterans. The collection includes:

• Competitive Online Leaderboards: For the first time, players can compare their scores with others around the world and even upload replays of their best runs.
• Rewind and Save/Load Functions: New players can practice difficult sections and master the games with the ability to rewind gameplay and save their progress at any point.
• Reduced Hit Detection and Invincible Mode: These “Easy Mode” options allow players to experience the game’s story and art without the frustration of the arcade-level difficulty.
• Training Mode: A robust training mode lets players adjust settings like restart points, loop counts, and power-up statuses, making it the perfect tool for perfecting a high-score run.
• Extensive Museum Content: The collection includes a comprehensive gallery with original art, instruction cards, design documents, and a full sound gallery with the original soundtracks.

These features, especially the inclusion of a brand-new game and the robust online leaderboards, put Gradius Origins in a league of its own. It’s a stark contrast to some of Konami’s earlier collections, which were often criticized for being barebones and lacking in modern features. This new approach, which treats the games with the respect they deserve while also making them accessible to a wider audience, is a perfect blueprint for future retro collections. It shows that Konami is listening to its fans and is committed to delivering a high-quality product that honors its legacy.

In a world where retro collections are often just a simple emulation dump, Gradius Origins is a breath of fresh air. It’s a game that is not only packed with content but is also a celebration of the art, history, and legacy of one of the greatest shoot ’em up series of all time. For anyone who loves classic arcade games, this collection is an essential purchase, and it’s a powerful statement from Konami that their retro collections are getting better and better. With this new benchmark set, we can only hope that future collections from the publisher follow the same path of excellence.