Video Game Vintage Title: Otomedius

Otomedius

Otomedius is a side scrolling shooter by Konami which featured personification of space fighters from various Konami games. The main characters are mostly females, designed by Mine Yoshizaki, with a set of equipment resembling space fighters from side-scroller games by the same company like Gradius, Salamander, Thunder Cross, TwinBee or Xexex. The name is a pun, being a portmanteau of the terms "otome" and "Gradius". The music was composed by Hiroki Koga.

Otomedius Plot

Thousands of years have passed since the war of Planet Gradius and sub-space Bacterion. The legend of the combat aircraft has become a myth...

In 21st century Earth, the mysterious Bacterion visits Earth and continues the war. The St. Gradius high school 2nd grade student Aoba Anoa was sought by the secret anti-Bacterion organization 'G' for her talents, and became the maiden 'Angel'. She was given a Riding Viper named Vic Viper.

Millennia from the legend, new myth has begun.

Reception
Eurogamer editor Jonti Davies rated Otomedius Gorgeous! 7/10 for unbalanced Gorgeous Mode game play, slowdown in Gorgeous mode, but he states the game has more personality than any shoot 'em up since Choaniki.