Gradius Origins

Gradius Origins feels like a more niche collection in some ways. Fighting games are at a relatively high point in popularity, so it makes sense that the Capcom’s of the world would pump out collections of their huge library. Side-scrolling space shooters haven’t hit the same kind of resurgence, so what we’re left with is a series of similar-playing shooters wrapped in a best-in-class collection of features that make them just close enough to playable. I appreciate the level of effort that was made for Gradius Origins, it has been treated with a kind of reverence that makes me think M2 truly cared about preserving these games. That said, in practice it feels more like a niche history lesson rather than a source of deep fun.