LogFAQs > #976517725

For Gradius one of the big things to learn is which levels you should use Laser and which you should use Double Shot. The moai stage is at least twice as hard if youre not using Double. And sometimes when you die its more important to rush for an Option than to get some of the other powerups. Source: I 1CCd the arcade version

NES version has some cheats and level skips too if you want, though most of them have unusual criteria to use