Darius II

n/a

NTSC-J NTSC-U Saturn Master System
Darius II
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Saturn
Publisher: Taito
Developer: Natsume I.T.L
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Developer(s) of original games: Taito
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (16 tracks)
Genre: Shooting, Arcade
Number of players: 1 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1990-12-20 ¥8,900 (9,167)8,900e T-11083 US 1991-04 T-11016 BR 1992-07 EU 1992-06 7078 PT 199x UK 1992-06 £32.9932.99 7078 AU 199x BR 1992-07 JP 1996-06-07 ¥5,8005,800 T-1104G EU 1996 MK81085-50 DE 1996 MK81085-50 PT 199x UK 1996 £39.9939.99 MK81085-50 PL 1996 AU 199x FDAR07SSC
Non-Sega versions Arcade Game Boy Super CD-ROM²

Darius II (ダライアスII), also known as Sagaia outside Japan, is a side-scrolling space shoot 'em up developed by Taito as a direct sequel to the 1986 game Darius. It was originally released in 1989.

The game was ported to several Sega systems, including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System. A port to the Sega Saturn using the original name was released exclusively in Japan and Europe.

Story

Proco and Tiat, seeing the planet Darius in ruin, create a new planet called Orga. Their descendents, Proco Jr. and Tiat Young, receive a mayday signal from another civilization born from Darius's ruins, prompting them to take the Silverhawk, a ship, back to save this other civilization from evil forces.

Gameplay

Like the first game, the player controls a space ship shooting at various enemies that resemble fish in a non-linear level order.

and shoot; holding them down rapidfires (though there is a break every few bullets). drops bombs (you have unlimited bombs). Powerups are collected in the usual shoot em up fashion and there are powerups for both the gun and the bomb dropper. A score bonus is awarded for defeating groups of enemies.

Versions

Stages in the Mega Drive version differ quite a bit from the arcade version: backgrounds are different (e.g. arcade stage B takes place on a rocky planet surface and in a cave, while the Mega Drive version of stage B is mechanized), enemy placement and behavior has been changed and the bosses have also been modified. The Master System version features a reduced amount of stages.

The Saturn version, conversely, simulates the arcade version's wide screen mode utilizing a zoom feature. However, due to running in a lower resolution mode, it can be very difficult to see enemies and bullets.

Comparisons

Main article: Darius II/Comparisons.

History

Legacy

Darius II was followed by Darius Gaiden in 1994 (originally planned to be released as Darius III).

Production credits

Mega Drive version

• Executive Producer: Takao Ueno
• Producer: Tomohiro Nishikado, Shouji Takahashi
• Director of Software: Yuichiro Kawamuki
• Programmers: Takashi Kuroda, Yoshiaki Ishii, Ayumi Onosaka, Takahisa Horimoto
• Production Designer: Wakadaishou
• Character Designers: Makoto Saitoh, Gota Goto, Keisuke Miyanaga, Nishiyaman
• Team Zuntata
  • Music Composed by: Hisayoshi Ogura
• Programmed by: Mira Turbo, Dogen Shibuya
• Game Checker: Kiyoshi Bandou
• Technical Adviser: Hideaki Tomioka, Haruo Suzuki, Kouji Yamazaki
• Special Thanks to: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Akira Fujita, Akira Ohtsuki, Tatsuo Nakamura
• Game Designed by: Yuji Koga
• Directed by: Yuichiro Kawamuki

© Taito Corporation 1991

• Licensed by: Sega Enterprises Ltd.

Source:

In-game credits

Master System version

• Executive Producer: Tomohiro Nishikado
• Producer: Kimio Hirota
• Director: Iku Mizutani
• Programers: Moriyuki Kanaya, Yuji Akita
• Graphics Designers: Isao Inoue, Yasunari Hayami
• Music Director: Iku Mizutani
• Music Composer: Hisayoshi Ogura
• Character Designers: Yasunari Hayami, Isao Inoue
• Original Game Designer: Fukio Mitsuji
• Special Thanks: Yuji Koga, Kohji Yamazaki

Taito Corporation 1992 All Rights Reserved

Source:

In-game credits

Saturn version

The Credits

• Directed And Produced by: Hidehiro Fujiwara
• Game Designed by: Hidehiro Fujiwara, Takatsuna Senba
• Programmed by: Akira Ohtsuki, Tatsuo Nakamura, Masashi Tsuzura, Shinji Soyano
• Art Designed by: Masami Kikuchi, Takatsuna Senba, Hisakazu Kato
• Cabinet Design: Yoshinori Aiura
• Hardware Designed by: Toshiyuki Sanada
• Team Zuntata
  • All Music Composed And Arranged by: Hisayoshi Ogura
  • Sound Editor: Yasuhisa Watanabe, Norihiro Furukawa
  • Sound Soft Ware: Naoto Yagishita
• Special thanks to: Onijust, Akira Fujita, Takamasa Hori, Masaki Yagi, Masahiko Takaki, Ogr Young, Zippy Aoki, Kouji Tsunekiyo, Hikaru Taniguchi, And Staff Of Kumagaya

© Taito Corporation 1989 All Rights Reserved

Taito

Source:

In-game credits. Original credits only.

サターン版 「ＤＡＲＩＵＳII」 スタッフ

• プログラム: 金子 道明, 南雲 泰人, 阿部 央, 関 拓志, 赤座 清敬
• グラフィック: 高須 雄二, 小松崎 成俊, 山田 耕司, 栗原 義昭, 藤原 淳

Source:

Staff.txt (in CD-ROM)

Magazine articles

Main article: Darius II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Darius II/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 70 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 40 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 67 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 80 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) NTSC-J 83 Console XS (UK) NTSC-J 83 Computer & Video Games (UK) NTSC-J 79 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 75 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 60 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 70 Games-X (UK) PAL 77 Génération 4 (FR) NTSC-J 69 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 30 Joystick (FR) 89 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-J 65 Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J 77 Mega Action (UK) NTSC 87 Mega Play (US) NTSC-U 73 MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J 83 Mean Machines (UK) NTSC-J 83 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 83 Power Play (DE) 72 Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J 75 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J 87 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J 83 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 75 Supergame (BR) 90 Tricks 16 bit (RU) NTSC-U 69

	74
Based on 28 reviews

Darius II

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Consoles + (FR) PAL 82 Game Power (IT) 90 Hobby Consolas (ES) 81 Joypad (FR) PAL 91 Joystick (FR) 90 Mega Force (FR) PAL 65 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 72 Mean Machines (UK) PAL 67 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 67 Player One (FR) 80 Play Time (DE) 52 Sega Power (UK) PAL 78 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 23 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 43 Sega Force (SE) 50 Sega Force (UK) PAL 51 Supergame (BR) 88 Supersonic (FR) 92 Video Games (DE) 73

	70
Based on 19 reviews

Darius II

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual Manual (3L)

Master System, PT
Cover

Master System, AU
Cart Manual

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score CD Consoles (FR) PAL 40 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 60 Fun Generation (DE) NTSC-J 30 GameFan (US) 70 Intelligent Gamer (US) NTSC-J 75 Joypad (FR) NTSC-J 60 MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J 68 Mega Force (FR) PAL 55 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 36 Player One (FR) 75 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 63 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 63 Sega Power (UK) PAL 28 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 53 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 68

	56
Based on 15 reviews

Darius II

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc

Saturn, EU
Cover
Disc

Saturn, DE
Cover
Disc

Saturn, PT

Saturn, AU
Cover
Disc

Technical information

Main article: Darius II/Technical information.

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Super Darius II

Darius games for Sega systems
	Darius II (1990) | Darius (2019) | Darius Extra Version (2020)
	Sagaia (1992)
	Darius Gaiden (1995) | Darius II (1996)