* Area 7, being the game's WhamEpisode:
** You face off against ZODIAC Virgo, who has previously toppled Cancer and then wipes out [[spoiler:Human Virgo]]. Suddenly, [[FromBadToWorse things get worse]] when [[spoiler:he unleashes a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on your ship, the Phoenix, wiping the ship's LifeMeter and killing the pilot (which in itself is an Awesome Moment for Virgo)...but then the Phoenix reawakens as ZODIAC Ophiuchus and its AI kicks in, now with wings, stronger firepower, and an infinite-use shield. Virgo freaks out and [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere boosts away]], but you catch up to it, destroy its engines, and force it to stand its ground.]]
** Virgo firing a WaveMotionGun that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9EWIFg82Ss&t=6m45s COVERS THE ENTIRE SCREEN]].
* Between Areas 7 and 8, [[spoiler:ZODIAC Ophiuchus obliterates ten other [=ZODIACs=] by itself. Unfortunately, the awesomeness is severely subverted by the extreme damage the battles cause to the Earth and humanity, and Ophiuchus's programming doesn't care, only concerned with destroying its targets.]]
* The {{Final Boss}}es, ZODIAC Libra and [[spoiler:two VideoGame/{{Kamui}} fighters.]] One of the best moments is when Libra [[spoiler:fires a massive laser at you and the two Kamui fighters (or one if you managed to wipe the other out). While the two Kamui lose their shields gradually and explode spectacularly, Ophiuchus's shield is, once again, completely unfazed. Libra tries to hit you again and... ''cripples itself'', losing a significant chunk of its LifeMeter.]]
** The implication that behind the last part is that ZODIAC Libra was just that terrified/desperate to destroy the [[spoiler:ZODIAC Ophiuchus, perhaps hoping two would be enough to get through its shield.]]
** It's very possible to kill Libra before it even begins its final attack phase. The opportunity to do so occurs during its TeleportSpam drone phase, which has blue bullets you can use the "photon blaster" attack on to pierce Libra's shield, damaging Libra. Defeating it normally gets you 1 million points, but defeating him through photon blasts will net you a whopping ''4 million'' due to the reflect multiplier.