Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou (グラディウスII GOFERの野望, Gradiusu Tsū: Gofā no Yabō, Gradius II: Gofer's Ambition), known as Vulcan Venture in arcades outside Japan, 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 Family Computer (under the shortened title of Gradius II), PC-Engine Super CD-ROM², and the Sharp X68000 in Japan.