100
Whether you’ve never played a game in the Gradius timeline, or if you’re a shoot ‘em up diehard, I can’t see a reason not to pick this collection up. It’s a great introduction to the genre as a whole, and the emulation work put into this release by developer M2 is as amazing a job as anything they’ve produced previously. It’s an absolute must buy in my opinion, so definitely check it out.
90
Gradius Origins brings to PS5 some of the most important horizontal shmups in history, all released between the 80s and 90s, with different versions of each title, in addition to a series of new features and extras that will please both newcomers to the genre and, especially, the most passionate fans.
90
Honestly? If you’ve got any kind of emotional attachment to the series, Salamander 3 alone makes the collection worth it. Gradius Origins doesn’t just bring back the golden age of shmups—it celebrates 40 years of the most influential and prolific franchise in the genre. Even if this style of game doesn’t carry the same appeal it once did, at least Konami made the effort to keep it alive in our memories.
4
A poor collection that misses many notable titles. Gradius 4, 5, Advance, and Gaiden are excluded, as well as the SNES version of Gradius 3---the only really acceptable version of that game, as the various arcade versions are so hard as to be utterly unplayable. And for some strange reason M2 opted to include the "trade show" version of Gradius 3, which actually has an unkillable final boss before the game abruptly glitches, ends, and loops. Nor is the NES version of Life Force included, which is a shame, because it is vastly superior to either Salamander or the arcade version of Life Force. However, the most egregious problem is Salamander 3, a brand new title that misses the mark so badly it shouldn't be considered a Gradius game, but a Gradius-flavored spinoff. It utilizes the powerup-pickup system rather than the power capsule weapon selection system, which means you're constantly scrambling to grab what you can before it scrolls away. Add to that the poor weapon selection---missiles, ripple lasers, and standard lasers are all you get---and gameplay becomes stale before the end of the first stage. You can get an alternative option formation powerup, but it's the godawful "snake" formation that nobody in their right mind ever chooses, and if you accidentally get it, you're stuck with it until another option powerup comes along, which is often a very long time. The levels scroll by far too fast for a Gradius game, and are thematically boring. The bosses are uninspired, and the final battle has to be one of the dullest boss battles I've ever played in a shooter. Add to all this that the music is all old Gradius songs, remixed to the point to where they're no longer the jaunty, adventurous tunes they once were, but barely recognizable, soulless audio wallpaper. As a last insult, why does Salamander 3 insist on making the story about the Lord British ship? This is GRADIUS. It doesn't even matter gameplay wise as both Vic Viper and Lord British use the exact same weapons, adding to the dullness of the game overall. The only good points of this collection are the original Gradius, Gradius 2 and Salamander 2, and with the exception of Salamander 2 these games are all available under Arcade Archives, and for much cheaper. I'd advise staying far away from this collection.
4
Gradius 4 and 5 are not included.
The new Salamander 3 has poor game balance and boring stages.
Everything else is pretty good.
Gradius Origins
Released On:
Aug 7, 2025
Metascore
Generally Favorable
84
User score
Generally Favorable
7.8
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
94% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
6% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sep 5, 2025
100
Whether you’ve never played a game in the Gradius timeline, or if you’re a shoot ‘em up diehard, I can’t see a reason not to pick this collection up. It’s a great introduction to the genre as a whole, and the emulation work put into this release by developer M2 is as amazing a job as anything they’ve produced previously. It’s an absolute must buy in my opinion, so definitely check it out.
Aug 4, 2025
90
A loving tribute to Gradius and its spin-off series, with some of M2’s best archaeological work and an excellent retro sequel in Salamander 3.
Aug 20, 2025
85
Gradius Collection honors one of Konami's flagship franchises, demonstrating its importance to the genre and revealing a title that was previously considered a myth. Furthermore, the work done to make all titles accessible and preserve their original structure makes this collection a treasure for shoot 'em up fans of all ages.
Aug 14, 2025
80
This well-crafted collection offers a strong selection of classic Gradius and Salamander arcade titles enhanced with modern quality-of-life options and the excellent addition of Salamander III, though it feels incomplete without key entries like Gradius IV and Gaiden, preventing it from being the definitive anthology.
Aug 8, 2025
80
The collection provides a huge array of titles with iconic, timeless gameplay, and a brand new title that deftly reinvigorates the franchise. If you like shmups, this one is a must.
Aug 6, 2025
80
Konami keeps its promise to revive love for its most classic franchises with Gradius Origins. A love letter to the beginnings of the series, it takes the titles from the first 11 years and adds a kind of “what if” scenario that for many will be the biggest draw of the compilation. Six classic titles, all the arcade versions, and a juicy bonus, the previously unreleased Salamander III, are joined by a host of customization options and a perfect recreation. The result? A compilation that manages to hook us back into a saga that hasn't lost an ounce of its epicness.
Aug 13, 2025
70
This collection is specifically designed for the most die-hard purists, and I think it's a shame that M2/Konami didn't take the opportunity to build the perfect, definitive Gradius collection. Gradius for the NES should obviously have been included, as should Gradius 4, Gradius V, Gradius Rebirth, and Gradius Gaiden. That didn't happen, and there's nothing wrong with the package we got instead, but it does gnaw at me a little that Konami, after the absolutely fantastic Contra collection, didn't quite hit the bullseye here.
User score
Generally Favorable
67% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
17% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
17% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Oct 9, 2025
4
A poor collection that misses many notable titles. Gradius 4, 5, Advance, and Gaiden are excluded, as well as the SNES version of Gradius 3---the only really acceptable version of that game, as the various arcade versions are so hard as to be utterly unplayable. And for some strange reason M2 opted to include the "trade show" version of Gradius 3, which actually has an unkillable final boss before the game abruptly glitches, ends, and loops. Nor is the NES version of Life Force included, which is a shame, because it is vastly superior to either Salamander or the arcade version of Life Force. However, the most egregious problem is Salamander 3, a brand new title that misses the mark so badly it shouldn't be considered a Gradius game, but a Gradius-flavored spinoff. It utilizes the powerup-pickup system rather than the power capsule weapon selection system, which means you're constantly scrambling to grab what you can before it scrolls away. Add to that the poor weapon selection---missiles, ripple lasers, and standard lasers are all you get---and gameplay becomes stale before the end of the first stage. You can get an alternative option formation powerup, but it's the godawful "snake" formation that nobody in their right mind ever chooses, and if you accidentally get it, you're stuck with it until another option powerup comes along, which is often a very long time. The levels scroll by far too fast for a Gradius game, and are thematically boring. The bosses are uninspired, and the final battle has to be one of the dullest boss battles I've ever played in a shooter. Add to all this that the music is all old Gradius songs, remixed to the point to where they're no longer the jaunty, adventurous tunes they once were, but barely recognizable, soulless audio wallpaper. As a last insult, why does Salamander 3 insist on making the story about the Lord British ship? This is GRADIUS. It doesn't even matter gameplay wise as both Vic Viper and Lord British use the exact same weapons, adding to the dullness of the game overall. The only good points of this collection are the original Gradius, Gradius 2 and Salamander 2, and with the exception of Salamander 2 these games are all available under Arcade Archives, and for much cheaper. I'd advise staying far away from this collection.
Aug 10, 2025
4
Gradius 4 and 5 are not included.
The new Salamander 3 has poor game balance and boring stages.
Everything else is pretty good.
SummaryThis collection features 18 versions across all seven arcade titles in the series, including the first-ever appearance of Gradius III AM Show Version on home consoles. A variety of helpful new features have been added to the games, including save states, a rewind feature, and Invincible Mode. The new Training Mode lets you adjust sett... Read More
Rated E +10for Everyone +10
