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Big Core MK I (ビッグコアMk-I?) is a recurring boss in the Gradius series.

Description[]

Big Core MK I is the famous staple boss in the Gradius series. They're usually found in a Gradius game in one form or another as an actual stage boss, in a boss run, or as regular enemies (in Gradius V, they're very numerous in Stage 3 at several parts, and in Stage 7 at the beginning of the stage). In Gradius Gaiden, it appears in the second stage as one of the boss debris. In Nemesis 2 (MSX) before the fourth boss, a fleet of them appear for you to destroy.

Other games feature several variants of the Big Core MK I that have extra armaments, different attack patterns or transformations.

In Gradius NEO Imperial, Big Core MK I is the player's vessel instead of the Vic Viper. Here, some additional weapons are available besides the traditional four laser shots.

Attack patterns[]

Big Core MK I attacks by shooting four blue lasers (which, in some ports, like the NES and MSX versions, resemble missiles) at the player while moving up and down. They have only one core (the weakness for most bosses) which is protected by four panels. It's usually easy to destroy.

In Solar Assault, it retains its traditional four laser shots along with new tricks. After it's done using its signature attack, it releases missiles aimed at you and rams you while using its four laser shots.

However, in Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius, it becomes a little harder to deal with. At first it will attack normally, but then it will suddenly turn around and begin attacking the player from behind. When it returns to the right side, it will move faster and shoot its lasers haphazardly and non-sequentially.

Anime[]

The Big Core appears in the second episode of the Salamander anime series. It emerges from the Bacterian infested planet the heroes investigate, sending a huge wave of Rugals when they retreat. It reappears again later, although the Gradian forces shoot it down and apparently destroy it.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

Gradius
Ships Vic Viper
Stages VolcanoStonehengeMoaiReverse VolcanoWasteland (PCE) • TentacleCellBase
Sub Bosses VolcanoZub RushMother and ChildIron MaidenTentacleElectronic Cage

Re-Bone (PC Engine) • Tornado (MSX) • Tyran Pace (MSX)

Bosses Big CoreCell NucleusXaerous Brain
Gradius II: GOFER no Yabō
Ships Vic Viper
Stages (arcade) Artificial SunAlienCrystalVolcanoRevenge of MoaiHigh Speed MazeBoss RushGofer Ship Interior
Port-exclusive stages Gradius II NES Stage 2 (NES) • Volcano - Crystal (NES) • Enemy Base (NES) • Gofer's Lair (NES) • Temple (PC-E)
Bosses PhoenixBig EyeGiga (NES) • Crystal CoreDeath MK IIJumping MoaiBig MoaiDesert Core (PC Engine) • Big Core MK IIZub RushBig CoreGolemTetranGawIntruderZelos Force (NES) • Covered CoreDemosCrabGofer
Gradius III
Ships Vic Viper
Stages DesertBubble ZoneVolcanic PlanetHigh Speed DimensionMoai ZoneCell PlanetProminence PlanetPlant PlanetCrystal ZoneBoss RushMechanical Base
SNES exclusive stages High Speed ZoneFortressCell
Bosses GoliathBubble EyeGodreiBig Core MK IIIDogasVaifTwin Vaif (SNES) • GregolWyvernVulture DragonChoking WeedLizard CoreBeacon (SNES) • TetranCovered CoreBig Core MK IICrystal CoreDeath MK IIDellinger CoreDisruptShadow GearShadow Gear MK II (SNES) • Big CoreGolemBacterian
Gradius V
Ships Vic Viper T-301
Stages Planet Gradius Satellite OrbitPlanet Gradius City Sky APlanet Gradius Urban Underground HierarchyBacterian Cell CenterAsteroid Front BaseBacterian Multiplication PlantBacterian Fortification CenterPlanet Gradius City Sky B
Bosses Big Core MK-I Rev.2Venom (lower) • Death MK IIITetranBig Core MK IIBig Core MK IVGround SpiderHuge HeartBlaster Cannon CoreRolling CoreCircle CoreBig Core MK IIICovered Core MK IIBeaconKeeper's CoreElephant GearVenom (upper)
Gradius NEO
Characters/Ships Force ViperBig Core CustomLars Empire
Gradius NEO Bosses Satellite CoreCrystal MoaiGiganticOgre ShieldBig Core X 3Central Server
Gradius NEO Imperial Bosses Big CoreSatellite Core MK IIDeadalusCrystal MoaiGenocide Core
Salamander
Characters and ships Vic ViperLord British (Lord British)• Saber Tiger and Thrasher (Iggy Rock and Zowie Scott) • Van Landroth FrehleyLars XVIIISuper CobraGalaxyPurple EmperorRed Devil
Salamander stages Bionic GermMeteorite SpaceBurning ChaosVolcano AreaSalamander Planetoid
Salamander (MSX) stages Top Flight Speed to LatisConduct to Space Station ZotSet the Crush Blow System - Planet EioneusSet the Crush Blow System - Planet LaviniaSet the Crush Blow System - Planet KierkeWrath of VenomCrush Salamander
Life Force-only stages Organic Speed ZoneTemple Zone
Salamander 2 stages Sub-life SpaceProminence FortressBio HazardHuge BattleshipAsteroidDoom Fortress
Salamander bosses GolemTetranIntruderFortress ValisDeathBig Core X3Jumping MoaiZelos Force
Port exclusive bosses ZylomGawGigaTutankhamonDead EndEnigmaTrue VenomMetal SlaveZelos Barrier
Salamander 2 bosses BiterHydraAbadonTenny RopPlate CoreCerberusDoom
Nemesis
Characters James Burton (Metalion) • David Burton (Vixen) • GaudieVenomVenom's AidesLars 17thWreek
Nemesis 2 stages Colossus PlanetPlant PlanetAncient PlanetFloating ContinentsPlanet of FireLiving PlanetSinAsteroid BeltWater PlanetVenom Mothership
Nemesis 3 stages SunPlantGravityPast-BossMoaiHellSandCellFactoryGofer Ship
Nemesis 2 bosses SoddRiot WarshipMisfit WarshipBig Core X10Mayhem WarshipDoomSinarAbaddon WarshipVenom
Nemesis '90 Kai exclusive bosses Lizard CoreLaser CoreBig Core MK II KaiBeta Core
Nemesis 3 bosses Geezer ButlerHans NaughtyTetranAbaddon WarshipMisfit WarshipBig CoreArmored SaintLynyrd SkynyrdTriumph KicksKiller DwarfCrab WarlockQueensrÿcheGofer
Solar Assault
Ships Vic ViperLord BritishAlpinia
Stages The River StyxFierce BlazeCurseAbyssal ForestSpeed DemonSolar Assault
Bosses Big Core MK IIntruderTutankhamonDinosaurBig Core MK IICrab
Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius
Characters Takohiko and BelialVic Viper and Lord BritishPentaro and HanakoTwinBee and WinBeeSue and MemimMike and RanSoitsu and DoitsuUpa and RupaDracula-kun and Kid DraculaMr. Past Glory
Stages Hip Hop DiscoSchoolDonburi FieldsEdoSweet LandHigh Speed PatrolFiesta BasePolygon Space (Omake 1) • Grand Prix (Omake 2)
Bosses Mirror BallJudyEnormous Hikaru and AkaneMardock and Warumon's ShipsBaronBeeBoinBeeGoemon CompactDecoration Core MK IICat Battle TrainBig Core MK I (SNES) • Ghost Woman (SNES) • Big BaronBee (SNES) • John Wanjiro (PSX) • Penkuro (PSX) • Temple LordMr. Goldfish's Selling FortressChichibinta RikaBacteriyaRobot Wall
Otomedius
Main Characters Aoba AnoaErul TronEmon • 5MadokaDiol TweeTita NiumEsmeraldaPoini CoonArnvalStrarfGesshi HanafuumaKokoro Belmont
Supporting Characters OperettaPrincess IreneKonami LadyEmon • 8Pastel
Antagonists ElizaTiti XIVYoshikoGofer SistersMeta LiumNeko SenchoT.B. RikaRyukotsukiShiori FujisakiRuby and CobaltDark Force
Otomedius / Gorgeous stages San Salvador IslandTokyoCanadian RockiesEaster IslandAlexandriaAntarcticaValhalla
Otomedius Excellent stages The Big WaveMidnight TetranSpelunker of HellThe Ancient BacterianThe Return of Cosmic WarDark Force's Ambition Part 1Dark Force's Ambition Part 2Dark Force's Ambition Part 3Skills to the TestMessage from Emon-5The Reunion
Otomedius / Gorgeous bosses Princess SeirenEyegolBig Core DX-01Scarab CoreCrystal Core D-X02Big CoreAbaddon WarshipMayhem WarshipTetranViva CoreManbowBig Core MK IIRolling CoreCovered Core MK IIDeathZelos Force FortuneOdin Core
Otomedius Excellent bosses Mirrored CoreTri-Pod CoreSerpent-CoreBig Core DXOld Big CoreHeaven's GatePerla MeraldaNeo Big CoreMisfit WarshipDellinger CoreMetal SlaveGunner WallBlack ViperDeath BringerScramble ShipBisumaru ExcellentWinBee
Core Warships
Big Cores Big Core MK IBig Core CustomBig Core MK-I Rev.2Big Core MK IIBig Core MK II KaiBig Core MK IIIBig Core MK IV
Big Core variants BeaconBig Core DuoBlaster Cannon CoreBoost CoreBubble CoreCircle CoreCoreshipCrater CoreCrystal CoreDellinger CoreDesert CoreHeaven's GateJuggler CoreLaser CoreLizard CoreNeo Big CorePerla MeraldaPlanet CoreRexion CoreRolling CoreShining CoreSuper Big CoreTerra CoreVanishing CoreGenocide CoreOdin Core
Core-style bosses Abaddon WarshipCovered CoreCovered Core MK IIDead EndKrakenMayhem WarshipMetal SlaveMisfit WarshipQueensrÿcheRiot WarshipPlate Core
Pseudo-Cores DeathDeath MK II (DeathDouble) • Death MK IIIBeta CoreNobilTriple CoreCrash Bam
Tetran variants Tetran (Zylom) • Covered TetranCrystal Core D-X02Laser TetranTenny Rop
Parody Cores Candy CoreDecoration CoreDecoration Core MK IIViva Core
Salamander (OVA)
Episodes Episode 1: SalamanderEpisode 2: Paula's MeditationEpisode 3: Gofer's Ambition
Characters Ike Lord BritishDanStephanie McBainEddie EvansDoromoMinistersLee McBainPaulaGofer
Enemies RugalSharp CrossGolemGigaZelos ForceIntruderTentacleBig Core MK IMoaiXaerous BrainFire DragonDeath HandBig EyeDee-01PhoenixAmoebaNucleus
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