
In the far end of the blackest reaches of space lies a galaxy built from layers upon layers of darkness. Bacterian, the mysterious god of destruction born from this unknown region, has once again emerged from his lair. In order to achieve his wicked goals, Bacterian deploys his Dark Force for one final attack. The Dark Force promptly envelops all of space in an energy field more powerful than any of us could have imagined as it carries out its rampage of destruction and carnage. The dark invasion picks off one planet after another surrounding Gradius, and now the home planet finds itself in mortal peril. To deal with this threat, the Gradius federal government orders its entire army to build a massive defense network as it launches an all-out attack, but against an army as unprecedented as the Dark Force, even this desperate defense is about to break. Now, once again, the super-dimensional fighter Vic Viper launches. It takes off toward the boundless darkness, entrusted with the very fate of the universe...
| Edition | Platform | Release Date | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | Arcade | Dec 11, 1989 | Worldwide |

In the far end of the blackest reaches of space lies a galaxy built from layers upon layers of darkness. Bacterian, the mysterious god of destruction born from this unknown region, has once again emerged from his lair. In order to achieve his wicked goals, Bacterian deploys his Dark Force for one final attack. The Dark Force promptly envelops all of space in an energy field more powerful than any of us could have imagined as it carries out its rampage of destruction and carnage. The dark invasion picks off one planet after another surrounding Gradius, and now the home planet finds itself in mortal peril. To deal with this threat, the Gradius federal government orders its entire army to build a massive defense network as it launches an all-out attack, but against an army as unprecedented as the Dark Force, even this desperate defense is about to break. Now, once again, the super-dimensional fighter Vic Viper launches. It takes off toward the boundless darkness, entrusted with the very fate of the universe...
| Edition | Platform | Release Date | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | Arcade | Dec 11, 1989 | Worldwide |