Gradius

A landmark Konami arcade release from 1985, Gradius arrived on the NES in 1986 and became one of the defining horizontal scrolling shooters of its era. Players pilot the Vic Viper fighter against the Bacterion Empire across seven visually diverse stages — volcanoes, Moai stone heads, antimatter fields, and more. The game's defining innovation is the Power Meter upgrade system: collecting capsules lights up slots, letting players freely select from Speed, Missile, Double, Laser, Option (a trailing shadow fighter), or Shield. Dying strips away all upgrades instantly, demanding precise play. The legendary Konami Code — Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A — originated here.