Editing Darius II (video game) (section)

==Gameplay==
The game is set in the inner half of the [[Solar System]], and has the same branching level structure as ''Darius''.<ref name="gamespy">{{cite web|url= http://hardcoregaming101.net/darius/darius.htm|title= Hardcore Gaming 101: Darius|publisher= [[GameSpy]]|access-date= November 7, 2009|archive-date= November 3, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151103125228/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/darius/darius.htm|url-status= dead}}</ref> Similar to the first ''[[Darius (video game)|Darius]]'' game, ''Darius II'' was programmed for multiple screens; while a three-screen version like the original exists, ''Darius II'' is more commonly and generally represented as a two-screen game.

The red/green/blue powerups from the first game return, and have the same function, respectively. They provide upgrades to the "missile" main weapon, the "bomb" subweapon, and a shield to absorb damage. Two new powerups were added: a yellow powerup that adds a new "laser" main weapon which functions somewhat similarly to the bombs, and a rainbow powerup that grants one upgrade to ''all'' the players weapons. Acquiring these powerups and the upgrade path is vastly different from ''Darius''. A formation of a specific enemy must be completely destroyed (and a formation may not have a powerup), and every single powerup now grants some kind of upgrade. Furthermore, the various weapons upgrade differently, though the shield upgrade is the same as before.

Another new feature in ''Darius II'' is the appearance of [[miniboss]]es known as "captains"; large enemies that appear somewhere in the level before the main boss. In ''Darius II'', these are all smaller versions of bosses from the first game, with similar abilities.<ref name="gamespy"/>