Gradius becomes pure ASCII: PC remake offers text screen and saving screenshots as .TXT

Gradius gets a 100% ASCII remake on PC via Steam, featuring 5 stages, giant bosses, and retro display modes. Includes Textshot that saves screens as .TXT.

Gradius enters the text realm with Battle for Asciion

A complete remake transforms the classic Gradius into a 100% ASCII experience on PC. Titled Battle for Asciion, the game uses only characters to compose everything that appears on screen — without sprites, textures, or embedded images.

Even so, the action occurs with surprising speed and detail, maintaining the spirit of a horizontal scrolling shoot 'em up. The title presents five long stages with giant bosses at the end of each phase.

Retro features and display modes

Among the options, there are modes reminiscent of old monitors, with simulated scanlines and phosphor dots in green, amber, or white colors. The developers suggest that the game could even run on old CRT machines connected to screens, maintaining the retro vibe.

The Textshot feature saves the current screen as an editable .TXT file — perfect for sharing or printing the game progress in text format.

Controls, requirements, and compatibility

For a precise experience, keyboard use is recommended, but Battle for Asciion offers controller support via Steam Input and is compatible with the Steam Deck.

Additionally, the 2026 version is described as RAM-friendly, with modest requirements: 2.0 GHz dual-core and 4 GB of RAM.

History and behind the scenes

The project's history dates back to previous versions circulating on the web as early as 2012, when Flash dominated the scene and platforms like Newgrounds and Miniclip were popular.

The studio responsible for the remake, Relevo, was founded in 2009 and has already released games for PC, web, and retro hardware, including MSX, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC.

If you like the idea, Battle for Asciion emerges as a faithful reinterpretation of Gradius, combining the essence of the original with the uniqueness of a title entirely in text and the convenience of saving screens as text files.

Which feature caught your attention the most: the 100% ASCII style, the retro modes, or the Textshot possibility? Tell us in the comments below and share your opinion.

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