More TRP-STGT goodness, although not much to say overall. This game loops infinitely, so if you're looking for a game to counter stop in 5+ hours then this might be for you! If you just want a simple 1-loop clear, you should be able to ignore rank control without too much trouble.
In no particular order, rank increases by:
- powering up your weapons
- using charge shots
- getting the "Perfect Bonus" by grabbing all the "P" items on a stage
For weapons, you can collect them safely for points if they are cycled to the Main weapon (blue "S"). You may also consider grabbing a single Homing weapon (yellow "M"). For bonus "P" items, just make sure to miss at least one on a stage. I don't know if rank gets super bad down the later loops. At the very least, you'll delay it long enough to get your counter stop.
For comparison, take a look at the 2nd loop of these 2 replays:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqQsZ3UwQas#t=30m23s - gets a single Homing powerup, avoids Perfect Bonus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV83ICS6KHw#t=31m40s - no rank control whatsoever, notice how aggressive enemies are and how much firepower it requires to kill them