Nemesis 2 (MSX)

Nemesis 2
European cover art
Developer(s)Konami
SPS (Kai)
Publisher(s)Konami
SPS (Kai)
Designer(s)Naoki Matsui
Composer(s)Kinuyo Yamashita
Motoaki Furukawa
Masahiro Ikariko
SeriesGradius
Platform(s)MSX, X68000, PC, PlayStation Portable
ReleaseMSX
  • JP: August 22, 1987
  • EU: 1987
X68000
  • JP: November 5, 1993
PC
  • JP: January 27, 2015
Genre(s)Horizontal Scrolling Shooter
Mode(s)Single-player
multiplayer (alternate)

Nemesis 2, released as Gradius 2 (グラディウス2, Guradiusu Tsū) in Japan, is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up video game released for the MSX computer in 1987 by Konami. The game is a sequel to the MSX conversion of the first Gradius, which was released under the Nemesis title in Europe. It predated the similarly titled arcade sequel Gradius II (which used the Roman numeral 'II' and was distributed in Europe as Vulcan Venture). It was the first Konami cartridge for the MSX to employ their proprietary sound chip the SCC, which adds five extra wave sound channels in addition to the three default channels used by the MSX's standard PSG.

In a departure from other games, instead of controlling Vic Viper, the available ship is called Metalion. Unlike other titles, this game has a heavier focus on story, which is told by cut-scenes. The gameplay is mostly unchanged from the rest of the series, though there are some powerups that temporally gives the ship some enhancements. Also, when the bosses are being defeated, if the Metalion flies where they are, a mini-level can be accessed in order to obtain new permanent upgrades, if the mini levels are successfully cleared.

A remake was released for the X68000 computer under the title of Nemesis '90 Kai (ネメシス'90改, Nemeshisu ninetī kai), with some graphical and aural enhancements.