The protagonist is the opposing force through the use of a customized version of the Big Core. However, since the Big Core in this game is a rogue ship escaping from the Lars Empire, which is the enemy in Gradius NEO, the protagonist will not fight against the Gradius Union. Also unlike Gradius NEO and other Gradius games and traditional shoot 'em ups where the scrolling is toward the right, in this game it is done toward the left.
