遊戲由橫向卷軸畫面所組成，其中有隱藏的測試結局。總共有七個關卡，分別是火山(Volcano)、巨石陣(Stonehenge)、摩艾石像(Moai)、逆火山(Reverse Volcano)、觸手(Tentacle)、細胞(Cell)、要塞(Base)。

第一關的火山(Volcano)，一開始會有許多機群會以出現上、下、上、下的模式飛來，擊落後就會出現膠囊補給。初期應優先強化機身速度。中期會看到中空的火山石，沿著空間前進就能取得5000分，後期也會看到中空的火山石，穿越也是可以拿到5000分。看到空中飄浮的岩石時，設法將機身靠近其右邊的邊邊就能增加一台數。面對頭目只需將戰機停放在左下方，延著火山爆發的口直射而去即可。之後出現的大型航空母艦，只要反方向的上下移動，就能避開攻擊，摧毀母艦的隔板後，擊中中間的圓球即可。

第二關是巨石陣(Stonehenge)，最好在第一時間就將基地摧毀，否則會跑出許多戰機，不容易對付。 舞台有許多小行星的岩石群組成，紅色岩石可以破壞。一樣有隱藏的5000分區域，Boss區會先看到許多會追著我方飛機的氣泡，可以躲在左下方，把分機放在上方，然後不斷射擊即可。看到最後的航空母艦時，保持安全距離，開始在下方掃射，當他開始移動後就跟採反方向移動，不斷射擊就能擊倒。  

第三關是摩艾石像紅焰區(Moai)，關卡設置許多會噴出藍離子砲的摩艾，攻擊速度密集又快，最好能清除，否則就盡快離開。擊中砲塔後，通常都會出現武器膠囊，有時候是藍色的全滅膠囊。頭目是大量的吉利戰艦，可以用分機去碰觸，就能成功摧毀， 也可以快速移動到他的後方，就可避開攻擊。

第四關是逆火山(Reverse Volcano)，是第一關的舞台，以倒立方式呈現，但是敵人數量及攻擊卻大幅增加。大部分的砲臺都在上方，最好使用雙門砲(Double)及分機的綜合武力盡快摧毀，否則敵人的攻擊會變得相當猛烈。穿越中空的火山石，仍然可以拿到5000分。看到漂浮的岩石，將機身靠近其右邊的邊邊仍可以增加一台數。面對頭目只需將戰機停放在左上方，延著火山爆發的口直射而去即可。之後出現的大型航空母艦，只要反方向的上下移動，就能避開攻擊，摧毀母艦的隔板後，擊中中間的圓球即可。

第五關是觸手(Tentacle)，初期會有機群迎來，摧毀後就能拿到膠囊，後會出現移動緩慢，但是相當難纏的許多觸手，最好使用雷射應戰。擊中手臂粉紅色的圓點，才能消滅觸手，否則會不斷試圖抓住我方戰機，等他們手臂開始彎曲時，攻擊的空檔就比較容易出現。頭目是航空母艦，攻擊模式跟之前都一樣，並不難對付。

第六關是細胞(Cell)，沿路的細胞會不斷襲來，最好能搭配雷射及分機，不斷上下開出前進道路，須注意只要不小心碰到細胞可能就掛了。在此關卡最好能預備防護罩，讓武器處於防護罩欄位，等失效後再按B紐，就會再次出現。碰到Boss的時候，如果火力足夠就可以直球對決，直接射擊就可擊倒，如果火力太弱，可以躲在畫面最左下的空間，躲避攻擊外還可以反擊。

第七關要塞(Base)，也是最後舞台，上下方到處都有砲臺，最好使用雙門砲(Double)及分機的綜合武力盡快摧毀。快要抵達頭目時，會看到閘門，要在第一時間趕快移動到閘門前，如果門關起來沒有進去，當畫面不斷向右移動時就會GG。最後頭目是人工電腦，完全不會有任何攻擊，直接持續射擊，就能看到飛機離開行星的結局畫面。開始第二輪挑戰時，敵人數量會變得非常多。當結局畫面出現時，按AB紐後按控制鍵，就能看到測試人員的隱藏訊息 "KONAMI ONE GRADIUS ONE"。 

Level Design

The game consists of seven levels:

Volcano: Initial enemy formations appear in a fixed pattern, providing capsules when shot down. Strengthen the ship's speed first.

Stonehenge: Destroy bases quickly to prevent numerous enemy ships from appearing.

Moai: Features many Moai statues that shoot blue ions; it's best to clear them out or leave quickly.

Reverse Volcano: Similar to the first level but with increased enemy numbers and attacks.

Tentacle: Encounter slow-moving but persistent tentacles; best to use lasers.

Cell: Cells continuously attack, requiring lasers and options to clear a path.

Fortress: Turrets everywhere, use double shots and options to destroy them. Face the final boss, which is an artificial computer.

用十字鍵就可進行移動，按A紐就可以選定想要增強的武器，最強的狀態可以往八個方向掃射。B紐是攻擊，達到一定的分數就會增加台數。每次拿到膠囊，符號就會向右移動，選項有1.加速 (Speed):取得後就能增加移動速度，最多可以增加十四次。須注意若速度太快，容易撞擊敵人或是障礙物。基本上只需要拿到兩個就可以，超過三個以後，機身會變得很難控制 2.飛彈 (Missle):空對地的射擊，飛彈會沿著障礙物前進，並掃除敵人 3.雙門砲 (Double):射出後會往前方及上方攻擊 整體威力會減半 4.雷射 (Laser):最強的武器，可以貫穿敵人，武器只能從雙門砲或雷射擇一使用 5.分機 (Option) :火力增倍，最多可以有兩個(沙羅曼蛇則是三個) 6.防護罩 (Force):可以承受敵人五次的攻擊後消失，被擊中四次就會變成紅色。若撞擊到障礙物一樣會被摧毀。須注意當飛機被擊落，當重新出現的時候，之前累積的火力也會消失。

Controls and Gameplay

D-Pad: Move

A Button: Select weapon upgrade

B Button: Attack

SELECT Button: View current armament status

Every time a capsule is collected, the symbol moves to the right, and the options are:

Speed (Speed Up): Increases movement speed, up to 14 times. Note that if the speed is too fast, it can be difficult to control the ship and avoid obstacles. Generally, just two speed upgrades are enough.

Missile (Missile): Ground attack missile that travels along obstacles and clears enemies.

Double (Double): Fires forward and upward, but halves the overall power.

Laser (Laser): The most powerful weapon that can penetrate enemies. The weapon choice is either Double or Laser.

Option (Option): Multiplies firepower, up to two options (three in "Salamander").

Force Field (Force): Can withstand five enemy attacks before disappearing. If hit four times, it turns red. Colliding with obstacles will also destroy the force field. Note that when the ship is shot down and reappears, all accumulated firepower will be lost.

一開始會有3次闖關機會，達3萬分就會增加一機台，之後每8萬分增加一機台。80年代的玩家應該對遊戲密技相當熟悉，當GG的時後，出現GAME OVER畫面時趕快輸入下、上、B、A、B、A、B、A、B、A即可，或是遊戲一開始按開始鍵暫停，之後輸入上、上、下、下、左、右、左、右、B、A，然後按START鍵進行遊戲，就會發現已經有兩個子機及護罩，但每關只限用一次。

遊戲還有跳關的密技，前面的三個關卡，只要達到條件就能跳關，首先在第一關的千分分數是偶數時，將敵方四個基地全部摧毀就可跳關，第二關則是需要在兩秒內將頭目航空母艦擊毀就可跳關，難度相當高，第三關的條件則是需要摧毀十個摩艾像即可。

當年許多人在玩的時候，並不知道有跳關的條件設定。前面三關都可以進行跳關，經過實測在第一關的千分分數是偶數時，將敵方四個基地全部摧毀，打敗頭目後，畫面就會出現許多透明小摩艾，這時候就直接跳到第三關。第二關條件是兩秒內將頭目航空母艦擊毀就可跳關，難度相當高，直接衝撞或是用分機去摧毀都很難成功。在第三關的條件則是需要摧毀十個摩艾像即可，如果成功打敗Boss後，小摩艾畫面又再次出現，會直接跳到第五關觸手區。 

At the beginning, players have three lives. Upon reaching 30,000 points, an extra life is awarded, and for every 80,000 points thereafter, another extra life is granted. Players from the 1980s might be familiar with some cheats for the game. When the GAME OVER screen appears, quickly enter DOWN, UP, B, A, B, A, B, A, B, A to continue. Alternatively, at the start of the game, press START to pause, then input UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, B, A, and then press START to resume the game. This will grant two options and a shield, but this cheat can only be used once per level.

The game also has level-skipping cheats for the first three stages if certain conditions are met. In the first stage, if the thousand-digit score is an even number and you destroy all four enemy bases, you can skip to the next level. In the second stage, if you destroy the boss aircraft carrier within two seconds, you can skip the level, although this is quite challenging. In the third stage, the condition is to destroy ten Moai statues to skip the level.

Many players at the time were unaware of these level-skipping conditions. Through experimentation, it was discovered that in the first stage, if the thousand-digit score is even and all four enemy bases are destroyed, after defeating the boss, a screen with many transparent small Moai will appear, allowing you to skip directly to the third stage. The condition for the second stage is to destroy the boss aircraft carrier within two seconds, which is very difficult and often fails even with direct collision or using options to destroy it. The condition for the third stage is to destroy ten Moai statues; if successful, after defeating the boss, the small Moai screen appears again, and the game skips directly to the fifth stage, the Tentacle Zone.