Konami’s Gradius Collection shouldn’t be one of our favourite compilations. There are only five games on offer, they all play more or less the same as each other, and it’s far from a complete collection as it only includes around a third of the games that make up the actual franchise.

Nevertheless, along with Ultimate Ghosts ’N Goblins this has remained one of our most played PSP games this month, mainly because it includes the awesome Gradius Gaiden. Indeed, before Treasure’s Gradius V appeared, Gaiden was arguably the greatest Gradius blaster – hell it was one of the best shooters on the PlayStation – yet criminally, it never appeared outside of Japan. Meticulously crafted levels (that lovingly reference past Gradius games) eyesearing visuals and a stunning soundtrack all combined to create one hell of a blaster and now we can take it wherever we go. Yay!

While its two-player mode – a first for the Gradius series – has been cruelly axed, this is otherwise a perfect port of the original PlayStation game, and as with every other title on this compilation, it comes with a ridiculous amount of extras.

Lives, key configurations and the screen size can all be altered. Slowdown can be entirely eliminated and it’s even possible to increase or decrease the size of your hitbox (thus making your craft easier or harder to hit). Throw in a selection of videos and seven complete soundtracks, and you have one of the most beautifully crafted compilations we’ve ever seen. Indeed, Konami’s loving attention to detail was so intent that we almost forgot that Gradius V hadn’t been included… almost.

While Gradius Gaiden is obviously the game of choice, it’s backed up by four equally solid blasters that will test both your thumb and X button to the limit. Gradius may look a little basic compared to its peers, but it plays like a dream and has the sort of catchy music that will burrow into your brain and refuse to leave, while Gradius II is just as impressive but features enhanced visuals and better level design. The weakest game in the series is Gradius III, and that’s only because it’s so insanely difficult (although Jude, being the type of fellow that he is, claims to have completed it on just one credit). Lastly is Gradius IV, which effectively features the best levels from Gradius II and III but looks far prettier.

So, four great games and one stunning one – sounds like a bargain to us.

Darran Jones