Gradius III hits PS4 and Switch as this week’s Arcade Archives release

Vic Viper jets off once again

Hamster has once again dipped into its bottomless sack of shmups for this week’s Arcade Archives release, pulling out Konami’s classic arcade sequel Gradius III.

Released in 1989 among a deluge of space shooters, Gradius III sees legendary starfighter Vic Viper jet off for another war with the ominous Bacterion Empire. For the most part, Gradius III follows its predecessors, with Vic fighting off waves of enemies and boss characters whilst bagging new weapons and other buffs.

In something of a departure from the previous two games, Gradius III includes a bonus stage from a alternate perspective, and a selection of hidden stages paying homage to the series’ past. You can check out the action below in this video from YouTuber World of Longplays.

Gradius III is available to download now on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, priced at around $8.