Gradius (series)

Gradius is a popular series of horizontal-scrolling shooter games developed by Konami. Its main protagonist is a ship called the Vic Viper. One of its signature enemies is the Moai, an alien space construct based on the real-life Easter Island Moai, which shoots rings of energy.
Castlevania has made several references to the Gradius series.
==References to the Gradius series in Castlevania==
*The Moai is a collectible item worth 4,000 points in the original Castlevania. It later returned in Castlevania Chronicles and Castlevania: Curse of Darkness.
*A tree pruned to resemble a Moai appears in the courtyard area of Block 3 in Castlevania Chronicles.
*One of Vic Viper's signature items is a set of star-shaped shields which appear in front of the ship and which get smaller each time they are hit. This shield also appears in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and is created with a Shield special ability of the Shield Rod.
*The special name entry to enter Fighter Mode in Castlevania: Circle of the Moon is "GRADIUS".
*The Vic Viper's shield returns in Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance when the Bolt Book and Holy Book Shield spell fusion is used.
*The Squire of Ice spell fusion in Harmony of Dissonance is apparently a reference to Rildo, an enemy from Gradius Gaiden. It summons a star-shaped ice drone that follows the player. The enemy in question also behaves and attacks in a similar manner, by hovering along the same area and then rapidly spinning while shooting its pointed shards as projectiles.
*In Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, there are couple of references to the Gradius series; Legion and Man Eater who share resemblance with the Tentacles enemies but also their two respective souls; Legion Laser and Ripple Laser who are a reference to those laser weapons from the Gradius series.
*The Moai returns in Curse of Darkness if a save from Castlevania: Lament of Innocence exists on the memory card. It can be sold at a high price or be used to replenish all health.
*The Bat Company boss from Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow shapeshifts into different forms, one of which is a Moai head complete with the energy rings attack.
*The ship of the Gradius series, Vic Viper, appears as a reward item in Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin.
*Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia has three references to Gradius:
**The boss Rusalka calls down temporary rock platforms in the shape of Moais.
**Musician villager George occasionally hums the first few notes of "Challenger 1985", the main theme song from the first Gradius.
**The Vic Viper itself is a hidden item.
*The Book of Nemesis from Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls details the technology of this series and can launch several Vic Vipers, which shoot out Ripple Lasers.
*The Salamander whip from Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls is a reference to the game of the same name, as well as its snake-like boss.
==Mascot games which contain both Castlevania and Gradius characters==
*Vic Viper and Moai can race against Dracula in Konami Krazy Racers.
*Vic Viper can fight side-by-side with Kid Dracula in Gokujō Parodius! ~ Kako no Eikō o Motomete ~ and Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius ~ forever with me ~.
*Vic Viper and fellow ships Lord British, Option, Multiple and Black Viper, can fight through Dracula's Castle and battle against a giant Medusa in the Gradius parody game Sexy Parodius.
*Vic Viper and Moai can help Simon Belmont in Konami Wai Wai World.
*Vic Viper can fight alongside Simon Belmont in Wai Wai World 2: SOS!! Parsley Castle and Konami Wai Wai Sokoban.
*Moai can play mahjong against Simon Belmont in Hai no Majutsushi.
*Moai can fight against Simon Belmont in DreamMix TV: World Fighters.
==Production similarities between Castlevania and Gradius==
*The ending of Gradius II: GOFER no Yabō (PC Engine) lists Castlevania series producer Koji Igarashi as a programmer.
*The album Konami Game Music Collection Vol. 1 contains music from Haunted Castle and Gradius II: GOFER no Yabō among other games.
*The album MIDI Power 3 contains midi arrangements for both the Sharp X68000 version of Castlevania and Gradius III.
*The first entry in Konami's "ReBirth" series of WiiWare games was Gradius ReBirth. This was later followed up with Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth.
==External links==
*Gradius (series) at the Gradius Wiki
Category:Cameo Games