The Lars Empire (ラーズ帝国,Rāzu Teikoku?) is the main antagonistic force of Gradius NEO from thousands of years after the heyday of the Gradius civilization. They, along with the Gradius Union, acquired ancient Gradian and Bacterion technology and used it in a campaign to destroy the Gradius Union.
James Burton, the main character of the MSX Nemesis and pilot of the Vic Viper and later the Metalion, is crowned Emperor Lars the 18th. Whether this implies a connection is yet to be determined.
"Lars" is the name of the drummer of the American trash and heavy metal band Metallica.
