Gradius Gaiden

"Gradius Gaiden is a horizontal scrolling shooter set between Gradius III and Gradius IV that includes ships and weapons new to the series."

Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo·Konami· August 28, 1997· Main Game

Gradius Gaiden is a horizontal scrolling shooter set between Gradius III and Gradius IV that includes ships and weapons new to the series. It is the first Gradius-named title to incorporate 3D graphics

Released 28 August 1997 for PlayStation by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, published by Konami. Up to 2 players locally.

Story

The setting is between Gradius III and Gradius IV.

During the " Third Bacterian War ", the planet Gradius defeated the Bacterians, and peace returned to Gradius. After two hundred years passed, Gradius prospered, but when the disappearance of a science vessel which went to a nebula known as "The Evil Range", the colony planets of Gradius were attacked by some unknown force that destroyed 99% of the Gradius Army. The Gradius Army Headquarters decided to launch a desperation attack on the "Dark Nebula", which was the source of the invaders. Four Hyper Space Fighters launched from the mothership with orders to stop them.