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[]
- Big Core MK I appears as a Yu-Gi-Oh! card called B.E.S. Big Core and also appeared in episode 71 of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.
- In Rocket Knight Adventures, the design of the Big Core is used as a miniboss called the Pulsating Plasma Blaster. It initially travels on legs and then flies once they're destroyed. In flight, it also utilizes multiple tentacles similar to Tetran.
- It also guest stars in a mini game in Blades of Steel.
- In Otomedius Excellent, if Tita Nium is used by the player, then she comments that Old Big Core's code is incompatible (to her BC-SYSTEM, it would seem) when she enters the barrier section of the ship to fight the gunwall.
- The background video for the song GRADIUS 2012 in beatmania IIDX 20 tricoro sees the Vic Viper joined by a friendly Big Core MK I.
Gradius | ||
Ships | Vic Viper | |
Stages | Volcano • Stonehenge • Moai • Reverse Volcano • Wasteland (PCE) • Tentacle • Cell • Base | |
Sub Bosses | Volcano • Zub Rush • Mother and Child • Iron Maiden • Tentacle • Electronic Cage •
Re-Bone (PC Engine) • Tornado (MSX) • Tyran Pace (MSX) | |
Bosses | Big Core • Cell Nucleus • Xaerous Brain |
Gradius II: GOFER no Yabō | ||
Ships | Vic Viper | |
Stages (arcade) | Artificial Sun • Alien • Crystal • Volcano • Revenge of Moai • High Speed Maze • Boss Rush • Gofer 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 | Phoenix • Big Eye • Giga (NES) • Crystal Core • Death MK II • Jumping Moai • Big Moai • Desert Core (PC Engine) • Big Core MK II • Zub Rush • Big Core • Golem • Tetran • Gaw • Intruder • Zelos Force (NES) • Covered Core • Demos • Crab • Gofer |
Gradius III | ||
Ships | Vic Viper | |
Stages | Desert • Bubble Zone • Volcanic Planet • High Speed Dimension • Moai Zone • Cell Planet • Prominence Planet • Plant Planet • Crystal Zone • Boss Rush • Mechanical Base | |
SNES exclusive stages | High Speed Zone • Fortress • Cell | |
Bosses | Goliath • Bubble Eye • Godrei • Big Core MK III • Dogas • Vaif • Twin Vaif (SNES) • Gregol • Wyvern • Vulture Dragon • Choking Weed • Lizard Core • Beacon (SNES) • Tetran • Covered Core • Big Core MK II • Crystal Core • Death MK II • Dellinger Core • Disrupt • Shadow Gear • Shadow Gear MK II (SNES) • Big Core • Golem • Bacterian |
Gradius NEO | ||
Characters/Ships | Force Viper • Big Core Custom • Lars Empire | |
Gradius NEO Bosses | Satellite Core • Crystal Moai • Gigantic • Ogre Shield • Big Core X 3 • Central Server | |
Gradius NEO Imperial Bosses | Big Core • Satellite Core MK II • Deadalus • Crystal Moai • Genocide Core |
Nemesis | ||
Characters | James Burton (Metalion) • David Burton (Vixen) • Gaudie • Venom • Venom's Aides • Lars 17th • Wreek | |
Nemesis 2 stages | Colossus Planet • Plant Planet • Ancient Planet • Floating Continents • Planet of Fire • Living Planet • Sin • Asteroid Belt • Water Planet • Venom Mothership | |
Nemesis 3 stages | Sun • Plant • Gravity • Past-Boss • Moai • Hell • Sand • Cell • Factory • Gofer Ship | |
Nemesis 2 bosses | Sodd • Riot Warship • Misfit Warship • Big Core X10 • Mayhem Warship • Doom • Sinar • Abaddon Warship • Venom | |
Nemesis '90 Kai exclusive bosses | Lizard Core • Laser Core • Big Core MK II Kai • Beta Core | |
Nemesis 3 bosses | Geezer Butler • Hans Naughty • Tetran • Abaddon Warship • Misfit Warship • Big Core • Armored Saint • Lynyrd Skynyrd • Triumph Kicks • Killer Dwarf • Crab Warlock • Queensrÿche • Gofer |
Solar Assault | ||
Ships | Vic Viper • Lord British • Alpinia | |
Stages | The River Styx • Fierce Blaze • Curse • Abyssal Forest • Speed Demon • Solar Assault | |
Bosses | Big Core MK I • Intruder • Tutankhamon • Dinosaur • Big Core MK II • Crab |
Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius | ||
Characters | Takohiko and Belial • Vic Viper and Lord British • Pentaro and Hanako • TwinBee and WinBee • Sue and Memim • Mike and Ran • Soitsu and Doitsu • Upa and Rupa • Dracula-kun and Kid Dracula • Mr. Past Glory | |
Stages | Hip Hop Disco • School • Donburi Fields • Edo • Sweet Land • High Speed Patrol • Fiesta Base • Polygon Space (Omake 1) • Grand Prix (Omake 2) | |
Bosses | Mirror Ball • Judy • Enormous Hikaru and Akane • Mardock and Warumon's Ships • BaronBee • BoinBee • Goemon Compact • Decoration Core MK II • Cat Battle Train • Big Core MK I (SNES) • Ghost Woman (SNES) • Big BaronBee (SNES) • John Wanjiro (PSX) • Penkuro (PSX) • Temple Lord • Mr. Goldfish's Selling Fortress • Chichibinta Rika • Bacteriya • Robot Wall |
Salamander (OVA) | ||
Episodes | Episode 1: Salamander • Episode 2: Paula's Meditation • Episode 3: Gofer's Ambition | |
Characters | Ike Lord British • Dan • Stephanie McBain • Eddie Evans • Doromo • Ministers • Lee McBain • Paula • Gofer | |
Enemies | Rugal • Sharp Cross • Golem • Giga • Zelos Force • Intruder • Tentacle • Big Core MK I • Moai • Xaerous Brain • Fire Dragon • Death Hand • Big Eye • Dee-01 • Phoenix • Amoeba • Nucleus |