Vulcan Venture (c) 03/1988 Konami.
The third game in Konami's renowned 'Gradius' series; the prequel being 'Gradius' (known as 'Nemesis' in Europe) and a spinoff called 'Salamander' (also known as 'Life Force'). Vulcan Venture strictly adheres to the shoot-em-up template set out by its hugely successful predecessor, the game eschews the sideways/vertical scrolling alternate levels of 'Salamander' and opts instead for 'Gradius' sideways scrolling-only mechanic. Vulcan Venture is rightly considered to be one of the most demanding and difficult shoot-em-ups ever released.

>>> TECHNICAL DETAILS
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Game ID : GX785
Main CPU : (2x) 68000 (@ 10 Mhz)
Sound CPU : Z80 (@ 3.579545 Mhz)
Sound Chips : YM2151 (@ 3.57958 Mhz), K007232 (@ 3.579545 Mhz), UPD7759 (@ 640 Khz)
Screen orientation : Horizontal
Video resolution : 320 x 224 pixels
Screen refresh : 60.00 Hz
Palette colors : 1024
Players : 2
Control : 8-way joystick
Buttons : 3

>>> TRIVIA
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This game is known in Japan as 'Gradius II - GOFER no Yabou'.
The game forbids the initials 'SEX' on the high score table. If you try, it gets changed to 'ASO'.
Apollon Music released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Space Odyssey, Gradius II - Gofer no yabou - BY30-5202) on 21/07/1988.

>>> GAME UPDATES
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The main differences between Vulcan Venture and 'Gradius II - GOFER no Yabou' are :
* Different title screen.
* Multiple is called Option in 'Gradius II - GOFER no Yabou'.
* No continue available in 'Gradius II - GOFER no Yabou'.
* Pulse Laser is called Ripple Laser in 'Gradius II - GOFER no Yabou'.

>>> GAME SERIES
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1. Nemesis (1985)
2. Lifeforce (1986)
3. Gradius 2 (1987, MSX)
4. Vulcan Venture (1988)
5. Nemesis 3 - The Eve of Destruction (1988, MSX)
6. Gradius III (1989)
7. Gradius - The Interstellar Assault (1991, Nintendo Game Boy)
8. Nemesis '90 Kai (1993, Sharp X68000)
9. Salamander 2 (1996)
10. Solar Assault - Gradius (1997)
11. Solar Assault - Revisited (1997)
12. Gradius Gaiden (1997, Sony PlayStation)
13. Gradius IV - Fukkatsu (1999)
14. Gradius Generation (2002, Nintendo Game Boy Advance)
15. Gradius V (2003, Sony PlayStation 2)

>>> DESIGNERS / PROGRAMMERS / STAFF
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Game programmers : Toshiaki Takatori, K. Tsutsui, T. Horimoto, A. Suzuki, Takehiko Fujii
Graphic designers : Miki Yoshikata, H. Ashida, Michiko Iwamoto, A. Nonami, Kuniaki Kakuwa
Sound editors : S. Tasaka, Motoaki Furukawa, K. Matsubara, S. Hukami
Engineer : K. Hashima
Title designers : F. Shinuya, J. Tanaka

>>> OTHER GAME RESOURCES
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Game's rom.