RSS Feeds
toys
The Gradius II Vic Viper Model Shoots The Core Of My Heart
Posted by Michael McWhertor at 1:18 PM on January 30, 2008
Another Gradius game is looking less and less likely, now that talk of Gradius VI for the PlayStation 3 has been completely silenced, but shmup fans can at least remember the good old days with this excellent Vic Viper model. Based on the Gradius II design and expected to ship in April, the Atelier Sai distributed ship follows a trio of previous Vic Vipers. Those three were based on Konami's slightly creepy Sky Girls anime, which featured spindly teenage girls in exoskeletons. Targeted at the aircraft fetishists who like women with wings for legs, the Sky Girls Vic Vipers was tainted with off-canon colours, but still looked pretty snazzy.
Fortunately, that's all in the past.
The 7.75" Gradius II Vic Viper model should set you back about $US 42 (or 4500 yen) if you find a retailer who stocks it. Play-Asia carried the previous versions, if you're so inclined. If you want to pick me up a pair—the second for a custom Player Two paintjob—I won't refuse.
Gradius II Vic Viper [HobbyStock]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Lumines
Posted 1:54 PM 30/1/08
Looks like a StarWars ship...I would have rather liked the Axelay ship over this.
Lumines
SkutSkut
Posted 1:54 PM 30/1/08
yes Do want. If only the R-Type ships got this much love (R-13 Cerberus especially)
SkutSkut
Kirbytheslayer: Grammar Communist. Not a Nazi
Posted 1:54 PM 30/1/08
Hmm...Cool.
Gradius was probably the first video game I played extensively.
Once again, another game I could never beat.
Kirbytheslayer: Grammar Communist. Not a Nazi
Shindokie (PSN and XBL)
Posted 1:54 PM 30/1/08
Thats real hot stuff. When are they going to bring back Gradius to either psn live or vc. JUST BRING IT!
Shindokie (PSN and XBL)
PriorMarcus
Posted 1:54 PM 30/1/08
Oh. My. God. Want.
PriorMarcus
Kenofthedead
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
It shall be mine!
It will go right next to the Zone of Enders Vic Viper.
Kenofthedead
Rambozo
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@T1nman33: Life Force is a modified version of Salamander, which is a spin-off of Gradius. Gradius 2 never received a release in North America, so Life Force was marketed as the sequel.
Rambozo
zanzibarlegend
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@icepick314: nice! good to see some serious collectors on here@Bluur: that my friend would fucking own like hell
zanzibarlegend
Vabor
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
That's just awesome.
Vabor
zanzibarlegend
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
sexy. will order this friday! Nice tip Michael!
zanzibarlegend
phextin
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
Nice! But I like orbs better :]
phextin
kyletothejones
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
I would suggest, for the budget-minded shmup and toy fan , the fine Shooting Historica Gashopons. You get a random model, sure, but its from a collection of really awesome classic shooters.[www.play-asia.com]
kyletothejones
T1nman33
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
Technically, the player 2 model is the RoadBritish Space Destroyer...at least, it was in Life Force, which I remembered as being basically Gradius II on the NES. That is one nice model tho.
T1nman33
thisbeatisbadass
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@Kirbytheslayer: Grammar Communist. Not a Nazi: I only evntually beat it after roms and saved states and the such.
Japanese sure know how to design badass looking mechs and ships and stuff :)
thisbeatisbadass
Plan303e
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
Cue "Burning Heat: Full Option Mix"
Plan303e
Bluur
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
Now all I need is the Vic Viper from ZOE 2.
Bluur
icepick314
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
also there are 2 more color variations besides blue...
one red...[www.amiami.com]
other cyan...[www.amiami.com]
icepick314
icepick314
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@Rambozo:
this is the one i preordered...
[www.amiami.com]
in Japan, you can pick the Gradius 1/100 scale model for about $40 with shipping....
such is life for us the collectors...
icepick314
Rambozo
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
I got the Sky Girls one, but I have yet to assemble it. I think I will have to pick up one of these as well, I just hate paying $50 shipped for a model... I never had any Gradius merchandise and then they suddenly make the gashapon and models. It is pricey, but I cannot resist buying such awesome stuff.
Rambozo
GizFanAlpha
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
Reminds me of a EF-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon.
GizFanAlpha
Phaelog
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
This must join my fleet of Space Cruiser Yamato models I got when I was seven. Gimmie!
Phaelog
Draconis
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
$42...fair price.
Draconis
GospelX
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@Shindokie (PSN and XBL): Gradius is already on the VC. Gradius 2, however, appears to be a no-show.
GospelX
Maldron
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
*Whimper*
Maldron
NeoAkira
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@GUNDAM-RX-78-2: @rbenchley:
Thank you. That game is pwnage I wish they'd release it for America.
NeoAkira
daibondo
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
Is this a "make it yourself" model? If so, seems like a cool project. If not, it's just cool.
daibondo
rbenchley
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@NeoAkira: [en.wikipedia.org]
rbenchley
GUNDAM-RX-78-2
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@NeoAkira: There is. I believe it has Gradius 1 through 4 and Gradius Gaiden (unreleased in the states). If you want more info checkout the Konami wabsite.
GUNDAM-RX-78-2
McWhertor
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@icepick314: I'm not! I'm just dissing its fans. Creepy lot! :)
McWhertor
icepick314
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
HEY!!
don't be dissing Sky Girls!!!
icepick314
subnet6
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
Man that is one slick looking viper. Just seeing it makes me want to go load up a game.
subnet6
MyD12
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
@NeoAkira: Snes/Ps1 emulator ftw.
MyD12
Torgen thinks AAA has lost all meaning
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
At least No More Heroes has a Shmup level.
Torgen thinks AAA has lost all meaning
NeoAkira
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
is there a gradius game for the PSP? I think it would kick ass on the PSP
NeoAkira
Erwin211
Posted 5:54 PM 30/1/08
Grandma Generic Geriatric says:
"$42 is a lot for a toy. How about this nice toy race car instead?"
Erwin211
Aegis
Posted 6:55 PM 30/1/08
@T1nman33: Dunno where you got 'RoadBritish' from but in Salamander, the player 2 ship was called the 'Lord British' - oh, and DO WANT! *drool*
Aegis
sheppyboy2000
Posted 6:55 PM 30/1/08
Play-Asia has em for $39.90 but a warning must be issued as I've received mine already.
If you're expecting a Bandai or Tamiya quality kit, prepare yourself. The molding is very poor quality (has mold lines everywhere) and the actual kits fits together quite poorly. It's supposed to be a snap together kit but by following their directions so far, the slots mismatch and cause warping of the surface. I stopped by stage three and started removing the "snap together" features of the kit itself and started sandpapering down the pegs.
So if you want this kit, and who doesn't want a Vic Viper, just prepare yourself for a large amount of work to go into it.
sheppyboy2000
Foxstar Sixtail
Posted 9:54 PM 30/1/08
@Lumines: Axelay was a one title flash in the pan that never had a follow up after Treasure left Konmai. Gradius is a whole other beast, tons of games, huge following.
Foxstar Sixtail
Dang-fuzz
Posted 4:56 AM 31/1/08
Gradius VI canceled? NO!
Dang-fuzz
GhaleonUnlimited
Posted 4:56 AM 31/1/08
When did people start typing/saying "shmup"? Not my favorite genre abbreviation. Can anyone say that with a straight face?
Hot model
GhaleonUnlimited
Dang-fuzz
Posted 5:56 AM 31/1/08
Wait: 1up.com says the Gradius cancellation rumors were false: [www.1up.com]
Dang-fuzz
JoltFiend
Posted 5:56 AM 31/1/08
@NeoAkira: is there a gradius game for the PSP? I think it would kick ass on the PSP
There was a Gradius compilation released for the PSP a while back.
JoltFiend
Figdbl
Posted 10:55 AM 31/1/08
Do ever so want.
Figdbl