Favorite "dismantling" levels

[Schrodinger's cat]

I'm not sure if there's already a term for these types of stages, but what I'm talking about here are entire levels devoted to dismantling a boss until there's nothing left but its core (which most of the time turns out to be the stage boss) to destroy. I always seem to enjoy these levels more than normal stages no matter what type of shooter I'm playing. A classic example would be stage 3 of R-Type, where you are slowly destroying the engines and cannons of a ship while flying around it to ultimately destroy its core.

Personal favorites of mine include:

The battleship/train stages in Raiden Fighters 1 and 2 - The frantic left to right (and vice versa) scrolling that occurs when I am trying to destroy different ship/train compartments really reminds me of the fact that I'm fighting against a behemoth against all odds and always makes me feel uneasy regardless of how well I'm doing.

Stage 6 of Biohazard Battle - It looks like a "normal" giant aircraft at first, but after you dismantle the first section you realize that it's a "living" ship with its disgusting organs exposed and odd extremities growing out of it.

Stage 3 of Mushihimesama - This level is a classic and will always draw me back to the game regardless of the fact that I like the sequel better. Each different section of the level is just a blast to play through.

So what are your favorite "dismantling" levels?

Yo dawg, I herd you like bosses... ok I'll stop now

[toaplan_shmupfan]

Darius Gaiden, Zone M: Titanic Lance, hard to beat, but nevertheless it's a fun challenge to try.
Sol Deace/Sol Feace stage 3: giant battleship fight ending in a boss battle in the middle of the battleship, any remaining laser turrets add to the challenge.

[EinhanderZwei]

The first and best stage of this kind I remember is from Final Mission (aka Action In New York aka S.C.A.T.). But yeah, level 3 of R-Type is the real deal... Even on Game Boy Color

[Voxbox]

Yeah Titanic Lance deserves a mention.
The 4th boss in Darius Burst (Mirage Castle) is separate from the stage, but is otherwise true to the concept. It's a huge, rotating fortress that you slowly dismantle in the way you see fit, and eventually reveal the true boss underneath.

[Exarion]

No mention of ikaruga stage 4 yet? I personally like it, even if the boss is harder than the stage 5 boss.

[Ed Oscuro]

The first and best stage of this kind I remember is from Final Mission (aka Action In New York aka S.C.A.T.). But yeah, level 3 of R-Type is the real deal... Even on Game Boy Color

Wow, I didn't realize ol' SCAT (Special Crap And Tacticool-flying) had something like that in it. Definitely need to try that one out again. R-Type on GBC is loltastic though. It's nice that the pod homes right in on the second boss, anyway (easier than arcade by a mile).

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I think it's just as cool when the level itself breaks apart like in Level 7 of Gradius Gaiden. Love that level. But GG also got boss dismantling. The speed boss in Level 9 breaks up as you shoot it and it crashes into columns at high speed. In the end, it blows up into a thousand pieces.

Einhander is got the missile boss in the penultimate level. It's a chase and dismantle to be honest, but hey, it's even more awesome that way.

G-Darius has the Queen Fossil and the Fire Fossil, two of the biggest and more menacing bosses around. I like how they zoom in for you to destroy its different parts but also zoom out so you can see the whole monstrosities.

[BIL]

I think it's just as cool when the level itself breaks apart like in Level 7 of Gradius Gaiden. Love that level.

Same here - I knew there'd be some twist in the old volcano area appearing that late, and wasn't disappointed when the floor started to tear loose. Absolutely chaotic experience no matter how many times I play it.

[Ex-Cyber]

The first half of the second stage of Alpha Mission II / Armored Scrum Object 2 consists of dismantling a huge battleship piece by piece. When only the main piece is left, you go inside to Destroy The Core.

[Gespenst]

Aside from what has been mentioned before (Queen/Fire Fossil, various RF mission bosses, etc)
-The zepplin boss from Strikers 1945 and 1945 II, and Thanatos from Strikers 1999
-Outerlimits from 19XX (the huge carrier)
-The big ship before fight Black Heart Mk II from Garegga
-The plane in the Airport stage from Batrider
-Flagship Hannibal from Raystorm
-Vinogradov from Ketsui. Always nice to reap the 1up from it.
-Battleships from Stage 3 Border Down
-The big blue battleship stage from Mars Matrix
-Oh yeah, the rocket stage from Strikers 1945 too

[Zweihander]

G-Darius -- Queen Fossil
Mushihime-sama -- Stage 3, also taking apart the centipedes on stage 4
R-Type Delta -- Stage 3 (a nice take on the mandatory stage 3 battleship)
Radiant Silvergun -- any boss battle (since I play for 100% destruction bonuses)
Ibara -- the trains on stage 3 (what is it with stage 3 and things which can be dismantled?)
ESPGaluda -- the trains and battleship on stage 3
Mars Matrix -- most of stage 4, including the pre-boss teardown ship
Ketsui -- Vinogradov
Dodonpachi and DOJ -- the stage 3 battleship. Delicious 1-up, om nom.
Einhander -- most of the boss fights, especially the midboss on stage 2

yeah, I know, this thread is supposed to be about stages and not bosses, but some of those bosses are just so damn fun to take apart...

[lgb]

WARNING FOREVER

[Zweihander]

WARNING FOREVER

/thread

[Schrodinger's cat]

WARNING FOREVER

Holy crap, after reading the wiki on it this seems like the shooter version of Shadow of the Colossus. I am so going to be playing this!

[Zweihander]

WARNING FOREVER

Holy crap, after reading the wiki on it this seems like the shooter version of Shadow of the Colossus. I am so going to be playing this!

>comparing Warning Forever to crap like Shadow of the Colossus

D':

[Schrodinger's cat]

>comparing Warning Forever to crap like Shadow of the Colossus
D':

Eh, well what other game is entirely made up of boss battles? :/

[Lurky]

Alien Soldier comes to mind as being mostly boss fights.