Originally released in arcades in 1985 by Konami, Nemesis (widely known as Gradius in other regions) is a genre-defining horizontal shoot ’em up. Piloting the Vic Viper spacecraft, you battle the Bacterian Empire through diverse stages, utilizing a revolutionary power-up meter that lets you strategically choose your upgrades by collecting capsules.
How to Play
Your objective is to survive waves of enemy ships, navigate treacherous terrain, and defeat the core boss at the end of each stage. Insert a coin using Shift (or 5) and press Enter (or 1) to start. Use the Arrow keys to maneuver the Vic Viper, press Z to shoot, and press X to activate the currently highlighted power-up on your meter.
Tips
- Speed is essential: Grab the first capsule you see and immediately activate the “Speed Up” option. The ship is dangerously sluggish at its default speed.
- Maximize your Options: The “Option” (Multiple) power-ups create glowing orbs that follow your path and copy your attacks. Prioritize getting them early to drastically increase your screen coverage and damage.
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