Product Overview
- Product Name: Gradius III
- New or Used: Used
- In Box or Loose: Loose
- Overall Condition: Very Good
- Save Battery Status*: Not Applicable – Does Not Use Battery
- Notes: Overall in very good condition with only light cosmetic wear, no tears or writing on label, manual in very good condition for a loose copy - Clean contacts, tested and plays great!
Photos show actual product for sale — no stock images used.
What's Included
- SNES Game Cartridge: Yes
- Manual / Instructions: Yes
- Cartridge Dust Cover / Sleeve: No
- Original Retail Box: No
- Extras:
Game Description
Explore the far reaches of space with the legendary starfighter in Gradius III for the Super Nintendo (SNES). As pilot of the iconic Vic Viper, you take on the ruthless Bacterion Empire in a relentless horizontal scrolling shoot-’em-up that defined the genre. The SNES conversion brings the arcade action home — blasting through alien armadas, dodging wave after wave of bullets, and charging up powerful weapon-systems to take down monstrous bosses.
What makes this SNES version especially sought-after by retro collectors is its place in history: it launched in North America in 1991 as one of the early flagship titles for the 16-bit era and stands as a high-water mark for shoot-’em-up gameplay on the platform. With refined visuals, rich soundtrack, and Konami’s signature “Power Meter” upgrade system, the game delivers intense arcade thrills in living room form. For dedicated fans of the genre, this cartridge is a cornerstone of the shoot-’em-up library and a highlight in the SNES shoot-’em-up catalogue.
From the eruptions of volcanic planets to the haunting Moai ruins and high-speed corridors of doom, Gradius III keeps the action fresh and exhilarating across its ten stages and boss rush finales. Whether you're chasing high scores, mastering the Edit Mode weapon customisation, or simply enjoying the pixel art and synth-driven soundtrack, this SNES cartridge captures the essence of classic space shooters — making it a must-own title for serious retro game fans.
Gameplay Features
- Signature “Power Meter” upgrade system: collect capsules and build your custom load-out mid-game.
- Edit Mode customisation: mix and match lasers, missiles, shields and special weapons for pilot-specific builds.
- Ten full stages including iconic volcano, Moai and high-speed corridors for varied horizontal shooter level design.
- Packed with memorable boss battles and massive screen-filling enemy waves for deep score-chasing replay value.
- Authentic SNES cartridge release from Konami, delivering console-perfect visuals and soundtrack in 16-bit glory.
- Collector-friendly title for SNES shoot-’em-up completists — exemplifies the golden era of Konami shmups.
Historical Trivia or Fun Fact
Developed and published by Konami, Gradius III originally hit arcades in 1989 before being ported to the Super Famicom in December 1990 and the SNES in the U.S. in August 1991. The SNES version was part of the system’s early North American lineup and helped define the look and feel of 16-bit space shooters for years to come.
Gradius III stands as one of Konami’s most celebrated console shooters of the early ’90s. The game’s orchestral-style soundtrack and richly detailed sprite work showcase the SNES’s 16-bit power in its infancy, while the ability to customize weapon loadouts through Edit Mode gave players unprecedented control. Longtime fans often rank this cartridge alongside Axelay and R-Type III as essential entries in the golden age of space shooters — a defining piece of Konami history that helped inspire the next generation of shmups.
Additional Details
- Variant: Standard Release
- Genre: Shoot-em-up
- Year Released: 1991
- Publisher: Konami
- Developer: Konami
- ESRB Rating: N/A
- UPC: 083717150008
- SKU: 6944
- Format: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES) game cartridge
- Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) 16-bit video game console
- Region: NTSC (North America, Canada)
Important Information
- *Save battery (if present) has been tested or replaced and is verified working at the time of listing.
- Photos show the exact item for sale — we never use stock images for used games.
- All used items are cleaned, tested, and 100% guaranteed to work.
- Backed by Retro Game Fan’s 60-day warranty.
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