Gradius Origins Review – Retro Shooter Reborn in HD - Game Reviews

Gradius Origins Review – A Glorious Return to Retro Space Combat

The name Gradius carries a legacy that stretches back to the golden age of arcades. With Gradius Origins, Konami attempts to reignite the spark by blending the iconic 2D shoot-’em-up formula with modern enhancements. But does this reboot hit the hyperspace sweet spot or fizzle out in the void?

Let’s dive in.

Story & Setting

Gradius Origins doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to plot—nor should it. It’s the classic tale of the Vic Viper defending the galaxy from the Bacterion Empire. However, this time, players are treated to some unexpected lore-building through minimalist cutscenes and collectible data logs scattered throughout missions.

While it won’t win storytelling awards, it adds just enough context to make every boss fight feel a little more epic.

Gameplay – Classic Core, Modern Precision

This is where Gradius Origins truly shines. It sticks to the traditional horizontal-scrolling shooter format but sharpens it with pixel-perfect controls and fluid animation. You’re dodging swarms of bullets, collecting power-ups, and choosing your upgrade path from the classic Gradius power meter system.

New mechanics include:

Dynamic difficulty scaling: the better you perform, the harder the game pushes back.
Modular weapon loadouts: giving you more strategy in how you build your Vic Viper.
Checkpoint saves (optional): a modern quality-of-life feature for less hardcore players.

Whether you’re a veteran or a newcomer, the game feels tight, fair, and consistently exciting.

Visuals & Audio

Visually, Gradius Origins goes for a hybrid style—pixel art with dynamic lighting, particle effects, and high-resolution backdrops. It respects its retro roots while embracing modern flair.

The soundtrack? Pure 16-bit bliss, remastered for surround sound. Expect adrenaline-pumping electronic scores and remixes of classic Gradius tunes that will stick with you long after you quit the game.

Boss Fights – Creativity Reborn

Each stage culminates in a visually unique and mechanically clever boss. From a multi-stage alien behemoth with destructible limbs to a giant time-warping space eel, the boss design feels fresh yet nostalgic. They’re difficult but never unfair—a perfect challenge for fans of the genre.

Platform & Performance

Available on:

PC (Steam)
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X|S

The game runs at a buttery-smooth 60 FPS on all platforms, with lightning-fast load times and no noticeable bugs during our playthrough. Switch users will appreciate the optimized handheld controls, while PC players get full controller and keyboard/mouse support.

System Requirements

Minimum:
    Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    OS: Windows10 64bit
    Processor: Intel Core i5 6400
    Memory: 8 GB RAM
    Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 530 nVidia Geforce GT730
    DirectX: Version 11
    Storage: 3500 MB available space

Recommended:
    Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    OS: Windows11 64bit
    Processor: Intel Core i5 8400
    Memory: 8 GB RAM
    Graphics: Intel Arc B580 nVidia Geforce GTX1050 AMD Radeon RX560
    DirectX: Version 11
    Storage: 3500 MB available space