Gradius III Arcade - Bonus Levels

For whatever odd reason, Konami put in two bonus stages in Gradius III.

Why they did that is unclear, since those stages require you to do something that you'd think you would die from. And the stages themselves are very difficult. There are no bonuses for completing the stages, except I guess for the fact that you did not die.

I can see how you could milk the Salamander stage for points if you wanted to, since it's easier than the Gradius stage. But you get such a laughably low score after doing it, you'd really be better off finishing the game.

This ends all of my Gradius III exploits. From now on I'll get back to other games.

See you next time.

~Seahawk

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Gradius
• III
• gradius3
• bonus
• extra
• hidden
• stages
• グラディウス
• グラディウス3
• グラディウスIII

[oniontrain]

I think these 'bonus' stages are actually punishment for getting hit by Bacterion's attack.

[Seahawk0027]

It's better than dying, you at least have a chance to survive and not lose a life.

[Buzda]

So when you get hit with the final boss's fireball, it will always send you to the Gradius stage first and then the Life Force/Salamander stage second? Or is it just random which stage it sends you to?

[Seahawk0027]

I believe the top always sends you to Salamander, the bottom sends you to Gradius, and the middle one is random.

[GerkIIDX]

I remember running Gradius once and then, the second time through, the projectile outright killed me instead of sending me back.

(This was on the JP version via MAME, I never tried it in the PS2 version...)

[Gilvader210]

Stage 4 also has a bonus stage, on the Super NES version.

[Gilvader210]

Stage 4 also has a bonus stage.

[CobaltiSickle]

@Seahawk0027 Thank you for telling me.

[Seahawk0027]

Don't do it, you'll die. The SNES version has its own bonus stages hidden in stage 2, 3, 5, and 7.

[CobaltiSickle]

@farmerjohn2689 Hmm. Two possiblities. I will either have fun on bonus levels or be a nominee for a RageToon.

[farmerjohn2689]

@CobaltiSickle The SNES version is different from the arcade version (which appears on the PS2 in the game "bundle" Gradius III & IV). The version you are seeing in this video I believe is from the PS2 arcade version. Not sure what happens if you are hit by the final boss' fireball in the SNES version...but I would suspect instant death would occur. lol

[farmerjohn2689]

@Seahawk0027 Interesting. I tried this too and was sent to the evil Salamander stage...not sure which fireball i got hit by tho...i'll take your word for it! lol