Gradius II (グラディウスII GOFERの野望, Gradiusu Tsū: Gofā no Yabō, Gradius II: Gofer's Ambition), known on the Nintendo Family Computer as simply Gradius II (グラディウスII, Gradiusu Tsū) and as Vulcan Venture in Arcades in Europe, is a horizontally-scrolling shooter originally released for the arcades in Japan in 1988. It is the sequel to original Gradius and was succeeded by Gradius III: From Legend to Myth. Ports of Gradius II were released for the Nintendo Family Computer, PC-Engine Super CD-ROM², and the Sharp X68000 in Japan. The original arcade version is also included in the Gradius Deluxe Pack compilation for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn and in Gradius Collection for the PlayStation Portable.