Gradius - The Interstellar Assault (GB)

**Gradius - The Interstellar Assault** is a classic side-scrolling shoot 'em up that puts players in the cockpit of the legendary Vic Viper spaceship. Your mission is to battle against the formidable Bacterion Empire through challenging stages set in outer space.

A defining feature of **Gradius - The Interstellar Assault** is its unique power-up system. Instead of picking up individual icons, players collect power-up capsules and activate them via a selection bar at the bottom of the screen. As you collect enough energy, an option on the bar lights up, allowing you to choose your desired upgrade. These upgrades include: Speed Up to increase your movement speed; Missile for additional firepower against ground or underwater targets; Double for two-way firing; Laser for powerful concentrated beams; Option (also known as "Doppelganger") which creates orbiting energy spheres that fire alongside you, significantly boosting your offensive capabilities; and Force Field (shield) to protect your ship from damage.

The game features multiple diverse stages, each with its own unique environments and enemy types, ranging from small enemy craft to colossal creatures. At the end of each stage, players will confront a powerful boss, requiring strategic maneuvering and precise dodging to defeat. The Game Boy and Game Boy Color versions of **Gradius - The Interstellar Assault** were optimized for the handheld's smaller screen and limited graphical capabilities, yet they successfully retain the fast-paced action, strategic gameplay, and signature difficulty of the Gradius series. The music and sound effects are also impressively recreated, contributing to an engaging space shooter experience on the go.