The Power Capsule (パワーカプセル Pawā Kapuseru) is the main power-up item found in all games that comprise the Gradius series. They are always found upon destroying certain enemy formations or red-colored enemies.
Power Capsule types
Common types
- Red Capsule: The main type of capsule found in the games. When picked up, the Red Capsule will light up the Power Meter. Each time you pick another Red Capsule the next power-up will light up in the meter, allowing the player to choose the desirable weapon they want to equip. In certain games, it grants you some points to tally your score. (e.g. 300 points for every red capsule in Gradius III Arcade, 800 points in Gradius V).
- Blue Capsule: Dropped after a certain amount of Red Capsules, the Blue Capsule automatically destroys all minor enemies onscreen when picked up and damages larger enemies and stations. The flash that ensues upon pickup doesn't destroy onscreen enemy projectiles, though. It is given a buff in Gradius Gaiden and Gradius V as the effect includes on-screen bullets, essentially made that similar to Mega Crush.
- Salamander Power Capsule: These Power Capsule types first seen in the MSX Version of Salamander and later reappears from the Japanese version of Life force, Salamander Power Capsule Edition in Gradius Origins and the Prize Version. These are 2x larger than the ones in the Gradius Series glowing in dark green and blinking in bright green. The MSX Version remains static but is still identical to the Power Capsules in the Arcade ports. The Prize Version is slightly altered in color, turning the green into the Usual Gradius-like, it has been changed into an orange color glowing and blinking in Yellow, acquiring this also gives 2000 points and is the bountiful score than most power capsules in the Gradius games.
Unique types
In any Gradius game with special stages (i.e., the MSX and PC Engine ports of the original game, Nemesis 2 (and Nemesis '90 Kai), the Super NES version of Gradius III, and Gradius ReBirth) players can exclusively find these types of capsules.
- Yellow Capsule: Consecutively adds to your score for each capsule picked, giving 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,000 points.
- Green Capsule: Gives an extra life. In Gradius NEO, it will light up a second Power Meter for Option formations instead.
- Purple Capsule: In the PC Engine port of Gradius, it gives rapid fire ability to the Vic Viper for a short amount of time. In the NES port of Salamander/Life Force, it is hidden in some tricky locations and gives an extra life.
- Gray Capsule: Exclusive to the PC Engine port of Gradius. Stops auto-scrolling for a short amount of time.
Notes
- Depending on the game (including spin-offs), the player may or may not earn points when collecting Power Capsules, and their value may also vary. For example, in the original Gradius, collecting capsules won't give any points, while in Gradius III and Solar Assault, they give 300 points, and in Sexy Parodius, they only give 100 points.
- Normally, a blue capsule won't spawn in boss fights. For the NES port of Salamander/Life Force, by cheating to get a blue capsule in boss fights, it can damage any boss by one phase, such as wiping out the arms and removing one layer of the core barrier of the Tetran.
Gallery
Below are Power Capsules in the Gradius series:
Artwork from Gradius.
Power Capsule in Yu-Gi-Oh!
A Power Capsule seen from Salamander Power Capsule Edition. These are 2x larger than the ones in the Gradius Series, they also appear in the Japanese version of Life Force.
Power Capsule from Life force. ditto.
The Power Capsule from the Prize Version of Salamander, it is now identical to the Power Capsules from the Gradius series but is still twice as large than a regular Power Capsule. Acquiring this item also grants 2000 points.