The Vic Viper (ビック バイパー bikku baipaa) is a guest fighter from the Gradius series of games by Konami. It is custom-sprited by sprite artist Herr Schatten.
Description[]
The Vic Viper is a slower than average fighter with attack configurations that widely vary depending on its Missile weapon and its Laser weapon combined with any of the three user-selectable Option formations. With at least one Option, the Vic Viper and its Options fire Spread Bomb missiles that deal moderate damage and overlapping damage with their explosions.
Special ability[]
The Vic Viper can cycle between three different Option formations by use of the Special button. The three available Option formations are:
- Shadow Options: Follows the Vic Viper's movement, stopping its shadow movement when the Vic Viper is not moving. This is the default formation on every new life and at the beginning of a stage when it has at least one Option.
- Rotating Options: Rotates clockwise around the Vic Viper.
- Formation Options: Forms up to the sides of Vic Viper.
This special ability can only be used if the Vic viper has at least one Option.
Loadout[]
Vic Viper's weapons, Gradius Shield slaves, and Option formation change ability
Laser weapon[]
Laser Array: With 1 or 2 Options, shoots small Twin Lasers forward. With 3 or 4 Options, shoots long Cyclone Lasers forward. The lasers deal moderate to high damage, and synergize well with the Rotating and Formation Options, allowing players to spread out the Laser Array's damage potential over a wider area, and partially cover the weapon's weakness of no defensive coverage. The Cyclone Lasers fire extremely slowly on autofire, but shorter versions can be shot out rapidly by tapping on the fire button.
Missile weapon[]
Hawk Wind Double: Shoots a second bullet diagonally in the direction the Vic Viper is moving. Gives Vic Viper a much needed boost in defensive coverage at the cost of damage output. It does not synergize well with the Rotating Options, since this formation spreads out the Hawk Wind Double's firepower too thinly. However, it synergizes well with the default Shadow Options, allowing a player to converge all their Options in a small area and have all the projectiles hit an enemy for maximum damage potential.
The Vic Viper's Mega Beam Cannon bomber is the most powerful bomber in the entire game, in terms of raw damage output.
Bomber[]
Mega Beam Cannon: Using the same Bomber attack as in the 2003's Xeno Fighters EX, Vic Viper unleashes an energy beam than cancels out enemy projectiles. It is insanely powerful against stronger enemies and bosses, but slows Vic Viper's speed down dramatically until it stops. The Vic Viper is completely vulnerable to the sides while the bomber is active, but it gains one second of invincibility after it dissipates.
Slaves[]
Gradius Shield Slaves: Vic Viper gains Gradius Shields that follow normal Slave movements. It also assumes a rotating formation depending on the player's lives stock and number of Bombs. The Gradius Shield slaves do not attack in any way, but they have 4 times the hitpoints of normal Slaves.
Unlock requirements[]
To be announced. Currently available from start.
Development history[]
Until v0.10 of Xeno Fighters R, the Vic Viper was a carbon copy of its Xeno Fighters EX incarnation, where the design of the ship came from Salamander. In the final released versions of Xeno Fighters R, its weapon mode was switched to Single Weapon Mode, it gains Options upon picking up any powerup, and it has Spread Bomb missiles at all times after gaining at least one Option.
In the 2020 Game Maker Studio port, the Vic Viper underwent a massive overhaul, giving it three user-selectable Option formations and its own unique Slave type. The Mega Beam Cannon's visuals received a modern upgrade as well. It is based on Evil Ryu's Messatsu Gouhadou special attack from Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001, and recolored from purple to blue.
External links[]
Screenshot gallery[]
The Vic Viper's ship select screen portrait. It comes from this model of the Gradius IV version of the ship.
| Playable fighters | ||
| Original ships | Amada Vipros ● Phyxius ● Zaiva ● Xelcor ● Divine Gale ● Bronze Kolibri ● Varuna | |
| Seibu Kaihatsu guests | Raiden mk-II ● Judge Spear ● Raiden mk-IIβ ● Blue Javelin ● Dark Sword ● Miclus ● Lasercopter | |
| Psikyo guests | A6M Zero ● X-36 ● Tengai ● P38 Lightning ● Twin Mustang ● Marion ● Yuan-Nang | |
| Capcom guests | P-38 ● Stearman E75 ● Michelle Heart ● Kevin Walker ● Mega Man | |
| Konami guests | Vic Viper ● TwinBee ● Lord British ● Hikaru ● Grey Layer ● Metalion | |
| Raizing/Eighting guests | Miyamoto ● Silver Sword ● Wild Snail | |
| Namco guests | Gyaraga ● Solvalou | |
| Tecmo guests | Castor ● Pollux | |
| Other guests | Miria ● Hoplon ● R-9Leo ● Opa-Opa ● Infernal Iris ● Core Cannon ● Astro Slug ● TC-17 Twin Cobra ● MiG-31 Firefox ● Fire Leo-03 Styx | |
| Related pages | Removed ships | |