Editing Darius II (video game)

{{short description|1989 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Darius II
|image = Darius II flyer.jpg
|caption = Arcade flyer
|developer = [[Taito]]
|publisher = Taito
|release = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|September 1989}}|
'''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 1989|EU|1989|NA|1989}}'''Sega Genesis'''{{vgrelease|JP|December 20, 1990|NA|1991|EU|1991}}'''Game Boy'''{{vgrelease|JP|December 13, 1991}}'''Master System'''{{vgrelease|EU|1992}}'''Super CD-ROM²'''{{vgrelease|JP|December 24, 1993}}'''Sega Saturn'''{{vgrelease|JP|June 7, 1996|EU|1996}}
}}
|genre = [[Shoot 'em up#Scrolling shooters|Scrolling shooter]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer video game|two-player]]
|platforms = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[Arcade game|Arcade]]}}|
[[Sega Genesis]], [[Game Boy]], [[PC Engine]] ([[TurboGrafx-16#TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM²|Super CD-ROM²]]), [[Master System]], [[Sega Saturn]]}}
|director=Hidehiro Fujiwara
|producer=Hidehiro Fujiwara
|designer=Hidehiro Fujiwara <br> Takatsuna Senba
|programmer=Akira Otsuki <br> Tatsuo Nakamura <br> Masashi Tsuzura <br> Shinji Soyano
|artist=Masami Kikuchi <br> Takatsuna Senba <br> Hisakazu Kato
|composer=[[Hisayoshi Ogura]]
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Darius II'''''|ダライアスII|Daraiasu Tsū|group=lower-alpha|lead=yes}} is a 1989 [[arcade video game|arcade]] [[shoot 'em up|shooter]] video game developed and published by [[Taito]]. It is a direct sequel to the 1987 title, ''[[Darius (video game)|Darius]]''. It was later released as {{nihongo foot|'''''Sagaia'''''|サーガイア|Sāgaia|group=lower-alpha|lead=yes}} in Japan in 1991 for the [[Game Boy]] as well as non-Japanese ports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=4187|title=Sagaia|work=arcade-museum.com|access-date=June 11, 2011}}</ref> A remake was released for the [[TurboGrafx-16#TurboGrafx-CD/CD-ROM²|PC Engine Super CD-ROM²]] as {{nihongo foot|'''''Super Darius II'''''|スーパーダライアスII|Sūpā Daraiasu Tsū|group=lower-alpha|lead=yes}} in 1993.

==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"/>

==Plot==
''Darius II'' takes place sometime after the first ''Darius'' game. The colonized planet Darius is recuperating from its invasion from the alien Belser Army thanks to that game's heroes Proco and Tiat. Darius' inhabitants have since situated themselves on the planet Olga while Darius' societies, architecture and attacked areas were being repaired. The space flight Headquarters established on Olga picks up an [[SOS]] signal coming from Earth, where the first colonists originated before colonizing Darius. The signal included the description of alien ships similar to those of the Belser Army. Suspecting these might be their remaining Earthling ancestors, the people of Darius sends both Proco Jr. and Tiat Young to help them.

==Ports==
A [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive]] [[porting|conversion]] was released in Japan in 1990; it was later released for the Genesis in the United States and Brazil in 1991, where it was renamed ''Sagaia''. Changes include a boss rush mode (via a code) and various modifications to levels and mechanics, such as the boss Steel Spine being moved to another level and the boss Killer Higia being replaced with a similar creation called Nehonojia. This conversion does not support two players, so the ability to choose between Proco Jr. and Tiat Young was added; Proco plays like normal, while Tiat starts every life off with one power level to each weapon.

A [[Master System]] conversion, developed by [[Natsume Co., Ltd.|Natsume]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=山村智美|date=March 4, 2019|title=【インタビュー】「ダライアス コズミックコレクション」インタビュー後編|language=JA|website=GAME Watch|location=Japan|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/1171817.html|url-status=live|access-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809013009/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/1171817.html|archive-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref> was released in Europe and Brazil in 1992, also titled ''Sagaia''. It is somewhat based on the Mega Drive port, and while Tiat Young and her abilities are still present (though even more limited), many zones (and thus bosses) have been completely removed.

The [[TurboGrafx-16|PC Engine Super CD-ROM²]] version was published by [[NEC Avenue]] and released in 1993 under the title ''Super Darius II''. This version features an entirely new set of bosses, major changes to levels, and a fully arranged soundtrack including new songs.

In 1996, a port of the arcade version itself was released in Japan and Europe for the [[Sega Saturn]], complete with two-player mode and stretchable wide screen modes. The arcade version is also available in the Japan-only ''[[Taito Memories]]'' series of [[Emulator|emulation]]-based compilations.

The arcade version, as well as console versions of ''Darius II'', was included in ''[[Darius Cozmic Collection]]'' for the [[Nintendo Switch]] on February 28, 2019, and the [[PlayStation 4]] on March 5, 2020 in Japan, and worldwide three months later on June 16, 2020. It was also included as part of ''Taito Milestones 2'' on August 31, 2023 in Japan for the Switch, and worldwide the following day. On October 5, 2023, it was released for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 by [[Hamster Corporation]] through the ''[[Arcade Archives]]'' lineup. This version has a rarer three-screen mode found in ''Taito Milestones 2''.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
 | CP = 82% (Master System)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Sagaia |magazine=Consoles + |date=July–August 1992 |issue=11 |pages=118–9 |url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=51&num=1464&album=oui}}</ref>
 | rev1 = ''[[Commodore User]]''
 | rev1Score = 84% (Arcade)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Arcades |magazine=[[Commodore User]] |date=October 1989 |pages=104–6 |url=https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/284/98}}</ref>
 | rev2 = ''[[Sega Master Force]]''
 | rev2Score = 46% (Master System)<ref name="SMF-Sagaia">{{cite magazine |date=October 1993 |title=Sagaia |magazine=[[Sega Master Force]] |url=http://www.smspower.org/Scans/SegaMasterForce-Magazine-Issue3?gallerypage=49 |issue=3 |page=49 |access-date=December 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
{{expand section|date=August 2015}}

In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Darius II'' on their November 15, 1989, issue as being the sixth most-successful upright/cockpit arcade unit of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 – アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=368|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=November 15, 1989|page=25|lang=ja}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{KLOV game|id=7516|name=Darius II}}
* {{KLOV game|id=9405|name=Sagaia}}
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/sagaia ''Sagaia''] at [[MobyGames]]

{{Darius series}}

[[Category:1989 video games]]
[[Category:1993 video games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Arcade Archives games]]
[[Category:Darius (series)]]
[[Category:Sega Genesis games]]
[[Category:Game Boy games]]
[[Category:Master System games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:NEC video games]]
[[Category:TurboGrafx-CD games]]
[[Category:Sega Saturn games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Hisayoshi Ogura]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional planets]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters]]
[[Category:Taito arcade games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]